Behavioral Health Therapist-LCSW-LPC

Title: Behavioral Health Therapist-Safety Sensitive 

Department: Behavioral Health Clinic

Reporting Relationships: The Behavioral Health Therapist will directly report to the Clinical Supervisor and indirectly to the Program Director for Behavioral Health.

Job Summary: The Behavioral Health Therapist is responsible for direct patient care including services to individual patients and their families, including social assessment and referral to community resources. The Behavioral Health Therapist is responsible for the timely and accurate delivery of services upon referral of patients, assuring that services are delivered in a courteous and professional manner and in accordance with applicable policies and procedures, rules, regulations, and prevailing law. The Behavioral Health Therapist will maintain effective relationships with other community agencies to support cross-referral of patients. 

Job Duties: 

1. Provide direct patient care.

2. Completes evaluations with variety of diagnostic tools, following best practices.

3. Provides acute and chronic care according to behavioral health principles and practices. 

4. Monitors effective therapy.

5. Knowledge of the development and maintenance of information/referral systems.

6. Triages patient phone calls and evaluates patient problems.

7. Demonstrate a sensitivity and responsiveness to a variety of cultural values and beliefs and social determinants of health. 

8. Conduct basic screenings of patients, including review of barriers to health self-management; depression; stress; and substance use. 

9. Provide basic crisis intervention services to patients in need. 

10. Provide basic case management supports regarding health and mental health needs, functional abilities, readiness to change, caregiver stability, social supports, financial resources, environment and safety concerns, life care planning and self-management skills.

11. Communicates effectively with colleagues, patients, physicians and administration.

12. Demonstrates positive and effective verbal and writtent communication skills with patients, families and co-workers, and in patient documentation.

13. Educates patients and families.

14. Provides staff with education formally and informally through peer review processes.

15. Demonstrates efficient management of time and resources.

16. Utilizes and conducts research/inquiry appropriate to clinical setting.

17. Maintains a current level of clinical practice by selecting appropriate avenues for professional growth and routinely seeks continuing education according to best practice. Evaluates goal attainment and revises goals on an on-going basis.

18. Adheres to and enforces WRHS policies and procedures.

19. Maintains productivity equivalent at or above 75% of paid worked hours (i.e., 6 hours of billable time on an 8 hour paid worked day).

20. Completes documentation on date of service or within 24 hours of delivery.

21. Performs other duties as assigned by supervision. 

Qualifications: 

1. Education: Master’s degree/licensure required; independent practitioner including LCSW, LPC, PhD, or LPE-I

2. Training and Experience: must be license eligible in the state of Arkansas

3. Job Knowledge: Knowledge of acute and chronic care protocols in the delivery of behavioral health care, knowledge of assessment of patient health, knowledge of health promotion principles, techniques, and patient learning measurements, knowledge of access to resources and systems of care. Must have a working knowledge of and adhere to all WRHS policy and procedure. Must have a working knowledge of and adhere to all unit/department policy and procedure including medical record documentation and utilization of up-to-date forms. Must demonstrate working understanding of HIPAA, Patient Rights, and appropriate conduct. Must demonstrate the continued ability to create and maintain a positive culture that is respectful of patient and employee rights, consistent with WRHS Standards of Behavior.

Essentials:

1. Must be able to report to work fit for duty and free of any adverse effects of illegal drugs, medical marijuana, prescription medication, and/or alcohol. 

2. Must be able to effectively communicate both orally and in writing with other individuals. 

Physical Demands: Sitting, standing, walking, and lifting will occur for the majority of the shift. Must be able to lift 20 pounds. Must be able to sit/stand for extended periods of time. Fine motor skills. Visual acuity. Depth perception.