What are the responsibilities and job description for the Outpatient Therapist position at Friendship House Inc.?
Mental Health Therapist and/or Substance Abuse Counselor
Description: Outpatient Mental Health/Substance Abuse Therapists employed by the Friendship House Counseling Clinic are responsible for providing therapeutic services to children, adolescents, and adults with identified mental health or substance abuse diagnoses. Services are provided with client/family centered approaches and are delivered through intensive, time-limited, goal-specific interventions.
Job Classification: Fully Licensed Counselor/Therapist = Professional exempt
Provisionally Licensed Counselor/Therapist = Professional non-exempt
Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree or higher in Counseling or Social Work, for (P)LMHPs
- Associate’s Degree in Substance Use Counseling or a related field and a minimum of one year of experience in an alcohol treatment setting is preferred for (P)LADCs
- An applicant must be a Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, and/or a Provisionally Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor or Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, on Active Status.
- Must maintain a professional license and remain in good standing (not revoked, suspended, or lapsed in registration)
- Possess a valid driver’s license; possess insured and reliable transportation
- (P)LADC’s must be certified to conduct Addiction Severity Index (ASI) assessment tool or be willing to obtain certification
- Possess knowledge of the dynamics of mental health and/or chemical dependency treatment and a strong understanding and sensitivity to diverse cultures and lifestyles
- Have above average communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to accurately follow written and verbal instructions
- Possess strong organizational and decision-making skills
- Pass a series of background checks and licensure verification
Position Responsibilities:
- Maintains all clinical documentation in accordance with agency policy, state regulations, and national accreditation standards.
- Ensures confidentiality according to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and 42 C.F.R. part 2.
- Attend to emergencies as they arise whenever on-duty and available, including providing emergency therapy sessions, handling emergency phone calls, and making emergency visits as necessary.
- Prepares for, attends and actively participates in all required supervision, staffing meetings, and training sessions.
- Attends approved training opportunities to acquire all CEU’s necessary to maintain licensure.
- Ensures that pre-treatment assessment documentation, client progress notes, staffing summaries, client treatment plans, and discharge documentation are completed accurately and timely.
- Assumes responsibility for ensuring the implementation of treatment plans for each person served.
- Ensures that persons served are oriented to services provided by the Friendship House, Inc.
- Promote the participation of the person served, on an ongoing basis, in discussions of his or her plans, goals, and status.
- Identify and address gaps in service provision.
- Contribute to fostering a trauma-informed and culturally competent environment.
- Share information with persons served on how to access community resources relevant to his/her needs.
- Advocate for the person served, when applicable.
- Conducts individual and group counseling sessions for assigned caseload and provides additional coverage for the counseling team as needed.
- Participates as a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team and attends all clinical staffing and consultations.
- Provides regular progress reports to referring agencies and/or others as requested and in accordance with confidentiality laws.
- Provides case management services and referrals for services not offered on-site for clients.
- Responsible for maintaining a positive therapeutic environment for clients who are experiencing emotional, behavioral and substance use disorders.
- Facilitate transition process, including arrangements for follow-up services.
- Coordinate services provided outside of the organization when necessary.
- Involve family or legal guardian in services, when permitted.
- Completes regular reviews of client charts and treatment plans and documenting such reviews according to agency policy.
- Responds in a timely manner to inter- and intra-agency requests for treatment recommendations, summaries of services delivered, and other documentation pertinent to client care.
- Attends to additional tasks and assignments given by the Executive Director or program manager as deemed necessary to the functioning and success of the Outpatient Services program.
- Develops, implements, and maintains partnerships with other community providers.
- Identifies problems and actively works to find and implement solutions.
- Abides by company policies and procedures at all times.
- Attends all staff meetings, staff training and in-service training as schedule allows.
- Performs all duties as required by the position within the approved schedule and assigned hours. No additional hours may be approved without written approval by the program supervisor and Executive Director.
Salary : $25