Therapist

JOB TITLE:  Therapist – Inpatient / Licensed or Provisional

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Therapist is the point person for the family in order to coordinate clinical and therapeutic treatment.   At WBI, the therapist is responsible for completing the psycho-social assessment within 72 hours of admission, completing the 72 hour master treatment plan, providing individual, family and group therapy as prescribed and overseeing the patients therapeutic treatment & discharge plan.  Treatment is provided to clients with mental disorders in an Inpatient setting using in-person therapeutic case management, treatment and other treatment modalities and techniques at the care site. Therapist may specialize in either Youth or Adult patient populations, but should be familiar with all populations in order to provide Inpatient Hospital coverage.  He/she is responsible for providing accurate and timely communication, clinical consultation, therapeutic interventions, group and individual therapy, problem-solving case management and clinical recommendations to patients and to fully participate in the treatment team consistent with their specialty.  Duties include rotating coverage after hours and for weekends and holidays when needed. Expected to give 30-day notice consistent with licensure expectations. 

The Therapist may provide independent assessment and testimony to the court with regard to patient status, risk, treatment and care in conjunction with the WBI Treatment team. Assist in managing logistics support for court ordered hearings for patients and will review patient info, records and interviews in preparing for court testimony using Therapy/Social Work treatment skills.  Facilitates completion of various treatment activities, therapeutic treatment meetings, assessments, treatment recommendations, court coordination, patient chart documentation to enable treatment for mental health clients, court coordination, and positive treatment outcomes. 

Other duties as assigned. 

WORKING CONDITIONS:  

Duties require sitting, standing, walking regularly although many therapy activities (meetings, treatment teams, therapy sessions) are completed in a sedentary setting. Requires reaching overhead occasionally and lifting occasionally up to 25 lbs.  Position requires that the individual be in good physical and mental health sufficient to support inpatient behavioral health patients of all ages.  Must be able to participate in safe restraint techniques (consistent with Handle with Care Techniques) which requires bending at waist and kneeling occasionally.  Position involves being present at the care site for 40 hours per week to support therapeutic monitoring & interventions for patients, including both indoor and outdoor therapeutic and recreational activities, on site and off site.  Must read, write, understand and speak the English language.  Must be able to record therapeutic recommendations using charting tools and mechanisms, typically typing and handwriting of therapy notes.  Hours may be irregular, duties variable.  May be occasional occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens or other potentially infectious materials consistent with inpatient hospital behavioral health setting. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES REQUIRED:  

Must be 21 years of age or older to perform work at Wyoming Behavioral Institute.  Master's prepared and licensed in the State of Wyoming by the Mental Health Professions Licensing Board with licensure of LCSW, LPC or LMFT. Provisional licensure (PCSW, PPC, PMFT) considered depending upon experience, will train new graduates.  Ideal candidate will have two (2) years of progressive experience in psychiatric acute care, residential care, partial care or equivalent and will have demonstrated ability to successfully meet licensing and accreditation standards.  Must have knowledge of developmental tasks of children, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients and apply knowledge in assessment and planning of care.

PERSONAL TRAITS, QUALITIES & APPTITUDES: 

Demonstrates personal traits/behavior consistent with the values of Wyoming Behavioral Institute.  Must be self-directed/self-motivated; must have good communication and interpersonal skills; must be flexible; must have good critical thinking/decision making skills and must have good understanding of systems and change processes.  Must be able to:  (1) perform a variety of duties often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure; (2) accept responsibility for direction, control and planning of activity; (3) make evaluations and decisions based on measurable or verifiable criteria; (4) work independently; (5) recognize the rights and responsibilities of patient confidentiality; (6) convey empathy and compassion to those experiencing pain, physical or emotional distress and/or grief; (7) relate to others in a manner which creates a sense of teamwork and cooperation; (8) communicate effectively with people from every socioeconomic, cultural and educational background; (9) exhibit flexibility and cope effectively in an ever changing, fast-paced health care environment; (10) perform effectively when confronted with emergency, critical, unusual and/or dangerous situations; (11) demonstrate the quality work ethic of doing the right thing the right way; and (12) maintain a customer focus and strive to satisfy the customer's perceived needs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Essential Functions:

• Complete psychosocial assessment within 72 hours of admission via interviews with patient, family and/or designated guardian (requires regular physical presence in Inpatient hospital setting)
• Utilize treatment information from the referring professional(s) in order to obtain more complete information on treatment prior to hospitalization and to enhance understanding of what their opinion for treatment needs are.
• Attend in-person regular team huddles, treatment team meetings, patient staffing meetings and other departmental and inter-disciplinary team meetings to support patient care and treatment goals.
• Documents & records assessments on approved WBI forms (or electronic formats) and in manner consistent with WBI protocols, TJC (Joint Commission), Medicare and Medicaid requirements.
• Communicate findings in therapist notes in a clear, complete and timely manner.
• Assess patient needs for discharge teaching and/or referral.
• Ensure patient/family involvement in treatment planning, including holding patient individual and family sessions (in person with patients, by Zoom or by phone with families and providers).
• Formulate a plan of care based on the multidisciplinary assessments within seventy-two (72) hours of admission.
• Ensure treatment plans include specific measurable goals/objectives/ interventions and defining actions unique to each patient's needs and personal growth.
• Update (electronically and manually) and revise plans as treatment progresses or goals are met or patients' condition changes—for acute services consistent with hospital prescribed timeframes.
• Ensure documentation on reviews are based on the treatment plan goals/objectives and reflect progress or failure to progress toward goals.
• Communicate on a regular and timely basis with patients, relevant members of the treatment team and family members as appropriate.

Other Functions:

Interventions

• Facilitate in-person group therapy effectively to meet the needs of the population served.
• Conduct individual/family counseling sessions in-person a number of times per week consistent with facility guidelines and Clinical checklists.
• Evaluate and document effectiveness of interventions and patient responses.
• Responsible for following up on clinical diagnosis and assessments of patients who have been involuntarily detained under Title 25 in preparation for court testimony and record presentation (requires time bound interventions and active monitoring of timelines)
• Document daily charges on charge sheets.
• Relate to patients in an age-appropriate manner.

Chemical Dependency / Dual Diagnosis

• Continue professional development in Dual Diagnosis issues and maintain current professional documentation in personnel file.
• Conduct in-person patient/family education groups, step-study groups, group activities and aftercare groups as prescribed by the clinical schedule.
• Provide patient/families with referrals to sponsors, 12-step groups and self-help resources for follow-up care and evaluations where applicable.
• Facilitate the placements of patients in a recovery home or other residential facilities as appropriate.
• Maintain current information on substance abuse community resources and maintain good relationships with referral agencies.

Discharge Planning

• Participate in the development of a discharge plan at admission (and throughout treatment) consistent with patient's therapeutic goals.
• Proficient at coordinating effective discharge processes.  Assesses patient readiness for discharge and related teaching needs and referral.
• Participate in completion of Discharge Instruction Form(s) and documents with patients in person.

Therapeutic Environment

• Contribute to the effective functioning of the assigned programs, the Clinical Services Department and facility-wide activities and services.
• Report unsafe conditions to appropriate personnel.
• Assure patient's rights are upheld.
• Ensures the safe and therapeutic functioning of the milieu.
• Utilize seclusion and restraint procedures with an understanding of the need for modification in regard to smaller body sizes of children, abandonment issues and the history of physical and/or sexual abuse issues.

Provider and/or Supervision of Care

• Collaborate effectively with physicians and other clinical disciplines in making decisions regarding each patient's need for care.
• Consistently documents patient/family education on the patient’s chart throughout the patient's hospitalization.
• Intervenes effectively in unusual and complex patient/family situations in support of patient treatment.
• Completes and documents face-to-face processing with secluded/restrained patients within one hour of incident.  Participate in debriefing. 
• Formulate and conduct educational, therapeutic, and/or support groups at the facility according to prescribed schedules.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, health care team members and community providers regarding patient status and progress.
• Interact and communicate with community agencies in assessment of and service to patients in a timely manner.
• Provide liaison and referral services to community agencies and appears in court when requested or subpoenaed.
• Comply with required standards for medical/legal reporting situations (i.e., child abuse, dependent adult abuse, psychiatric commitment).
• Represent the facility at legal hearings as requested, submits paperwork for legal holds in a timely fashion, act as liaison with conservator's office.
• Ensures that documentation meets policies, procedures, standards, licensure requirements and all applicable laws.