Therapist, Children's Outpatient (Fairhope)

Children's Outpatient Services provides treatment for children and adolescents and their families and is intended to improve and maintain a child’s or an adolescent’s stability in the community.

Treatment focuses on problem resolution, symptom reduction, stabilization and/or prevention of movement to a higher level of care. Services include individual, family and group therapy, medication evaluation and management, case management, in home intervention, case consultation and summer day treatment services.

The type of treatment is highly variable and depends upon the individual’s existing symptoms and developmental level.

Responsibilities

Primary Job Functions

Clinical Responsibilities

• Provides effective clinical assessment of the consumer
• Utilizes assessment data to support a DSM-5 - TR diagnosis
• Formulates appropriate treatment plan, based on CANS, along with consumer and family/guardian, as indicated
• Provides individual, group, family and play therapy mode, utilizing basic therapeutic models and theories according to consumer needs as stated in the treatment plan
• Provides outreach services to consumers and their families according to their needs

Demonstrates the ability to recognize the elements of a crisis state and knows how to deescalate or resolve the situation

Effectively collaborates with the treatment team members and outside sources in the delivery of clinical services

• Evaluates the consumer for discharge planning
• Completes treatment plan reviews
• Provides clinical supervision as directed
• Adheres to professional code of ethics
• Effectively demonstrates the application of child/adolescent specific competencies
• Completes treatment plan reviews as required, if applicable
• Provides clinical supervision as directed

Supervision and Consultation

• Seeks clinical supervision and consultation as needed
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
• Actively works to enhance clinical skills

Clinical Record Keeping

• Documents in a timely fashion per AltaPointe policy
• Documents appropriate, complete, and clinically comprehensive mental health assessments
• Documents measurable and specific goals in the treatment plan
• Documents in a clear and concise manner, types of consumer problems, treatment goals addressed, services, and techniques used
• Documents case disposition, case closings, follow-up and referrals
• Documents legibly

Case Load Management

• Effectively manages caseload based on consumer needs
• Meets AltaPointe productivity standards
• Courteous and respectful attitudes towards consumers, visitors and co-workers
• Treats consumers with care, dignity and compassion
• Respects consumer’s privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Assists consumers and visitors as needed
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the consumer’s needs, expectations and individual differences
• Is gentle and calm to consumers and families
• Adopts a team work approach with coworkers
• Administrative and Other Related Duties as Assigned
• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Accesses appropriate community resources according to consumer needs

Follows AltaPointe Policies and Procedures

Maintains current license and requirements for renewals (i. e. CEU’s), if applicable, and attends regular workshops and in-services

Qualifications

Master’s degree in a mental health discipline. Knowledge in child/adolescent specialty, outlined below, to be attained within (6) six months of employment:

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in child and adolescent population
• Knowledge of growth and development as related to all intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of consumers
• Knowledge of developmental disabilities and mental retardation in the child/adolescent population

Knowledge of Principles of Play Therapy

• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and interventions common to acute psychotic consumers, as well as, to non-violent crisis intervention practices
• Knowledge of family dynamic and parenting issues
• Knowledge of effects and treatment of physical/sexual/emotional abuse and neglect issues
• Knowledge of community resources as applied to the child/adolescent
• Knowledge of cultural diversity
• Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to child and adolescent population