Behavioral Health Counselor

JOB SUMMARY:  

Provides assessments for patients suffering from chemical dependency and/or psychiatric illness. Document patients’ clinical needs and interventions. Participates in the Interdisciplinary Team. Provides individual/family or group counseling, assessment, intervention, and documentation of the clinical needs of Behavioral Health patients. Coordinates hospital discharges and patient aftercare plans.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:  Masters of Social Work, Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy Required* * Degree must be from an accredited college or university.

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, and/or REGISTRATION: 

Licensed in Social Work or Counseling in the State of North Carolina.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

1. Patient Assessment
   1. Completes and documents an accurate clinical assessment which concludes with the identification of key findings that support the need for treatment and the level of care placement. 
   2. Quickly assesses patient’s needs, verbally confirms these, and clearly communicates benefits of appropriate treatment program. 
   3. Determines the severity of the patient’s psychosocial stressors and level of functioning by utilizing GAF Scales. 
   4. Responds quickly and with empathy to all assessments or requests for program/treatment information. 
   5. Determines when to consult with a physician/ psychiatrist re: the assessment findings and disposition. 
2. Patient Family Focus 
   1. Involves family members by providing education regarding treatment and aftercare support including intervention assistance through appropriate referrals. 
   2. Works with family members in ways that help them recognize their own dynamics of co-dependency and denial which contribute to enabling/exacerbating the patient’s drinking/using behaviors/ psychiatric symptoms. 
   3. Obtains a family history from a family member which corroborates the patient’s substance abuse history/psychiatric symptoms and identifies the family member’s own recovery needs. 
3. Patient Admissions
   1. Facilitates each admission by obtaining the physician’s authorization according to the physician assignment procedure. Completes all pre-admission financial/insurance verifications in accordance with Hospital Admitting Department policies and procedures. 
   2. Determines financial viability for treatment with the assistance of the admissions personnel. Maintains knowledge of hospital payment policies and practice to include third party payor reimbursement practices, Medicaid, and Medicare reimbursement requirements. 
4. Communication 
   1. Consistently provides direction and information to patients, physicians, families, visitors and staff in a concise, informative, positive and courteous manner. 
5. Customer Focus 
   1. Ensures excellent customer service to patients including excellent communication, treating them in a caring manner, being timely regarding treatment and being professional in their care. 
   2. Consistently demonstrates behaviors that meet or exceed hospital’s standards when interacting with customers. Establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with patients/family members. 
6. Teamwork 
   1. Promotes a positive work environment with co-workers and other customers. 
   2. Attends and participates in required department and hospital meetings and in-services. 
   3. Referrals Makes efficacious referrals to community resources for on-going treatment of patients and family members. 
7. Professionalism 
   1. Upholds a professional working relationship at all times and adheres to department rules. 
   2. Practices teamwork and adheres to Standards of Behavior. 
8. Other Duties Performs other duties as assigned by management.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Excellent decision making skills
• Good judgement
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to quickly assess patient’s needs and verbally confirm these
• Capable of communicating clearly the benefits of appropriate treatment programs required. 
• Knowledge of developmental stages of people from age six years to greater than 65 years preferred. 
• Broad knowledge base of DSM IV diagnoses and treatment modalities required. 
• Computer skills preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Clean, well-lit, comfortable Clinical setting
• May be exposed to Bloodborne Pathogens