Behavioral Health ACT Therapist

Works with ACT team professionals in providing clinical services to adults with serious persistent mental illness (SPMI).

Mental health counseling, group and family therapies, crisis interventions, psychosocial rehabilitation and case management services will be provided in both a clinical and community based environment, requires a high degree of independent decision making.

Completes a wide range of psychosocial evaluations, assessments, and diagnostic services to create person centered treatment plans in a team setting. May provide cross-training to ACT team members as appropriate to the position.

40 hour work week with on-call, weekend/holiday hours that are shared with other team members.

$57,000 - $85,250 DOE.

Eligible for quarterly and patient incentive bonuses.

On call pay: $50 per day even if no calls are taken, if employee takes a call then they will receive O.T. for any time spent on the call. If employee takes calls on holidays, they will get paid double time for the time spent on the calls.

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s in Counseling, Social Work, or an equivalent field. Current State of Idaho Master of Social Worker or Professional Counselor license in good standing required, or license eligible.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

Knowledge and understanding of graduate level, evidence-based counseling principles, methods, procedures, and standards for adults. interviewing and psychological/developmental evaluation skills.

Preparing and maintaining patient records as required by company policy and requirements from outside agencies.

• Knowledge of community resources.
• Knowledge of clinical operations and procedures for SPMI patients.
• Knowledge of the principles and methods of social and vocation rehabilitation as they relate to clinical practices for patients with SPMI.
• Ability to create, compose, and edit written materials.
• Ability to make administrative and procedural decisions and judgment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to evaluate the progress of therapeutic programs and to make individual modifications.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.
• Ability to observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress.
• Knowledge of legal and ethical issues related to patients’ rights.
• Ability to problem solve effectively with multidisciplinary teams.

Description of Duties

Provision of intensive, integrated professional MH services and treatment planning with a multidisciplinary team in both office and community environment.

• Provision of professional leadership in the determination of appropriate therapeutic approaches and methods.
• Complete integrated ACT assessments, work with team on preparing treatment and discharge plans, and follow-up care programs.
• Collect data about patients through interview, case history, screenings, and observational techniques.
• Evaluate data to identify causes of problems and to determine the proper level of care.
• Consult with other ACT team members, as appropriate in the performance of therapeutic or casework.

Provides psychotherapy/counseling, skills building to patients and families as appropriate to the ACT model; prepares treatment plans, discharge plans, and follow-up care programs; provides therapeutic crisis intervention and emergency services as appropriate for ACT patients in a crisis condition.

• Refer patients to appropriate social service agencies for financial assistance and other required services.
• Follow up to determine reliability of treatment used; change method and degree of therapy when indicated.
• Establish and maintain case files, referrals, and other related documents for the treatment of clients.
• When appropriate may prepare related documentation for civil commitments hearings or other legal proceedings
• Keep abreast of patient data to ensure appropriate treatment and care are delivered.
• Consult with other legal and/or treatment agencies and individuals in relation to patient and client records.
• Establishes and maintains contact with the Idaho ACT CoE for ongoing coaching and consultation.
• May provide formal teaching, consultation, and in-service training to relevant professionals, while ensuring proper handling of a variety of matters.
• May plan and implement outreach and education programs, workshops, and activities.
• May supervise clinical activities of lower-level counselors and interns for identified program.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Other Responsibilities

Safety

Family Health Services enforces a safety culture whereby all employees have the responsibility for continuously developing and maintaining a safe working environment.

Each employee is responsible for completing all training requirements, participating in emergency response tasks as requested, and serving on safety committees and teams as requested.

In addition, employees must accept the responsibility for maintaining the safety of themselves and others by adhering to all written and verbal instructions, promptly reporting and/or correcting all hazards or unsafe conditions, and providing feedback to supervisors and management on all safety issues.

Compliance (Medicare)

Family Health Services is committed to the very highest standards of ethics and integrity. It is our policy to properly determine the accuracy of reporting and billing our services in accordance with the rules, laws and regulations of FHS, the state government, and the federal government.

FHS employees will do their part to ensure accurate documenting and billing practices, participate in compliance trainings and will identify and report any concerns or activities that may violate these standards.

Each employee will be trained on the FHS Medicare Compliance Plan and the Standards of Conduct and asked to sign a Conflict of Interest Statement at hire and annually thereafter. A copy of the Medicare Compliance Plan and the FHS Standards of Conduct are available on the FHS home page under the Compliance tab.

Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH)

Family Health Services is committed to providing our patients with the highest standards of care by becoming recognized as patient centered medical home. FHS staff is expected to participate in this process by being an active and willing PCMH team member. Specific duties and expectations may vary and will be identified by position and site.

Procedure Compliance

Employee must read and understand the general and specific operational, safety, and environmental requirements of all plans, procedures, and policies pertaining to this job.

Working Conditions

Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment. No or very limited physical effort required. No or very limited exposure to physical risk.