Float Mental Health Therapist II - CHOP Behavior Health and Crisis Center

SHIFT: Rotating (United States of America)

Seeking Breakthrough Makers

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offers countless ways to change lives. Our diverse community of more than 20,000 Breakthrough Makers will inspire you to pursue passions, develop expertise, and drive innovation.

At CHOP, your experience is valued; your voice is heard; and your contributions make a difference for patients and families. Join us as we build on our promise to advance pediatric care—and your career.

CHOP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, or any other legally protected categories in any employment, training, or vendor decisions or programs. CHOP recognizes the critical importance of a workforce rich in varied backgrounds and experiences and engages in ongoing efforts to achieve that through equally varied and non-discriminatory means.

A Brief Overview

The Mental Health Therapist II - Float provides professional mental health treatment and crisis evaluations to patients and families, utilizing recognized best practice interventions in assessment, individual, family, and/or group contexts.

These core services include assessment of psychosocial functioning and capacities, ability to complete a mental status examination, ability to diagnose mental health condition, crisis intervention and stabilization when appropriate to context and provide treatment recommendations.

Provide a variety of therapies to address mental health and disorders of addiction (if applicable) diagnosis/s that effect youth and their families. Collaborate across many disciplines, programs, departments, and organizations in the accomplishment of these duties.

Must be able to provide consultation to developing mental health providers in the treatment of youth and their families. This role will float between CRC and AIP based on staffing vacancies and/or patient volume. Schedule may include nights and/or weekends.

What You Will Do

Professional Practice

• Assesses, plans, implements professional interventions based upon knowledge of clinical best practice, rooted in evidence based theoretical orientations of human behavior and the social environment, as well as child and family development and functioning. In the crisis response setting, interventions are intended to de-escalate crisis and stabilize patient and family.
• Evaluates patients in the crisis center in partnership with psychiatry to determine level of care needs
• Engages in stabilization and de-escalation interventions as needed
• Evaluates for suicide risk and performs safety planning to ensure patient’s safety.
• Performs psychosocial assessment with patients and/or family.
• Identifies psychosocial stressors, family dynamics, trauma history, and environmental factors impacting mental health.
• Develops treatment plan to drive care using clinically indicated evidence-based practices consistent with patient diagnosis. Supports cross discipline integration of care through treatment plan reviews.
• Provides individual, group, and/or family therapy using evidence-based and developmentally appropriate interventions.
• Facilitate family meetings/sessions to review treatment progress, address family dynamics, and provide psychoeducation as indicated by service.
• Support caregivers to understand diagnoses, treatment planning, and behavioral support strategies.
• Participate and/or act as a consultant to address crisis interventions and stabilization services during acute psychiatric episodes depending on role and treatment setting.
• Encourages and utilizes feedback from patients, families and collateral providers to support effective continuity of care. Evaluates the effectiveness of professional services and redefines goals or modalities as indicated. Organizes individual workload and sets priorities based on patient care needs and departmental standards. Adheres to DCAPBS productivity standards for assigned areas.
• Coordinate and leads multidisciplinary treatment team meetings and coordinates individual treatment planning needs as appropriate to setting.
• Engage patient and family in treatment and discharge planning when clinically appropriate to promote continuity of care.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary supports (e. g. social work, case management, education, collaborating psychiatry providers) within and outside of the patient's treatment team to provide for management and continuity of care.
• Assess patient’s acuity and adapts plan of care accordingly or supports referral of patient and family to the most appropriate level of care to provide for safety and stability, makes recommendations to treatment team regarding intervention and treatment options.
• Adhere to professional, medical, legal reporting requirements. Seek appropriate supervision on risk management issues.
• Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility to float between CRC and AIP units as needed and directed.

Professional Communications

• Responsible for accurate documentation of professional services in the patient's electronic medical record. All requirements for record keeping and documentation, including billing data, are to be completed in a timely manner.
• Required documentation of assessments and interventions are well organized, clear, and timely.
• All written work is compliant and recorded properly according to hospital policy.
• Required information system data is completed and submitted according to program, department and hospital standards.

Professional Work Environment

• Promote a positive, professional work environment with patients/families, hospital staff, as well as agencies and organizations providing services to patients and families.
• Actively supports the mission, goals and priorities of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
• Maintain positive and effective work relationships with internal and external customers.
• Appropriately exchange constructive feedback with peers, colleagues and supervisory staff.
• Actively participate in team meetings, care conferences, rounds and other forums designed to facilitate the delivery of effective and efficient patient and family care
• Educate others on the psychosocial aspects of health and illness.
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity in all work performed.
• Collaborate with others in the promotion of health through education and wellness initiatives.
• Demonstrate a positive professional attitude and cooperatively and constructively relates to patients, families, staff and guests of the organization.
• Act in advocacy role to develop and improve psychosocial services to patients and families.

Professional Leadership

• Demonstrate leadership in their programs, the department, hospital and as appropriate, the community.
• Identify barriers to effective service delivery or problems in work assignments and demonstrates effective and timely problem solving.
• Plan, develop and implement interventions, systems or programs that improve service delivery.
• Actively participate in one program, department, hospital or community committee.
• Actively participate in quality improvement initiatives in assigned service area.
• Is willing to provide in-service education to interested audiences.
• When appropriate, serve as a field instructor, preceptor or lecturer in the student program or other educational forums of the hospital.

Professional Development

• Responsible for the development and enhancement of professional practice skills.
• Recognize areas of strength and areas for development. Develops plan for supervision, consultation and/or learning.
• Utilize team members, peers and supervisory staff in consultation for professional development.
• Incorporate new knowledge and feedback into practice.
• Meet annual requirements for professional continuing education.
• Meet annual requirements for CHOP mandatory education.
• Adhere to NASW, ACA. ASMFT, NAADAC Code of Ethics, Department standards for continuing education, participation in professional home committees, meetings and available for cross-coverage assignments as needed.

Education Qualifications

• Master's Degree Social Work, Professional Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy or related field - Required
• Experience Qualifications
• At least two (2) years Post Master’s degree providing direct behavioral health/clinical services - Required
• Previous experience in a psychiatric hospital, health organization or mental health agency setting - Preferred
• Skills and Abilities
• Knowledge of typical and atypical child development and related areas. (Required proficiency)
• Knowledge of child psychopathology. (Required proficiency)
• Knowledge of therapy and psychological assessment techniques for youth and families. (Required proficiency)
• Knowledge of behavioral methodology and principles. (Required proficiency)
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing in English. (Required proficiency)
• Ability to direct and motivate staff teams. (Required proficiency)
• Critical analysis and problem solving skills. (Required proficiency)
• Ability to work independently. (Required proficiency)
• Ability to work collaboratively with other health care team providers. (Required proficiency)
• Ability to develop trusting relationships with patients, families and staff. (Required proficiency)

Ability to work with sensitivity to Inclusion and Belonging and assists staff in this undertaking. (Required proficiency)

Ability to identify community resources for families and advocate on their behalf. (Required proficiency)

Ability to present self with professional approach and appearance with high level of emotional maturity. (Required proficiency)

Ability to learn public health policy and health care legislation and respond to it as a family advocate. (Required proficiency)

Licenses and Certifications

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) (New Jersey) - New Jersey State Licensing Board - upon hire - Required or

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) (Pennsylvania) - Pennsylvania