LCSW Outpatient Counselor

Freeman Health Partners Medical Services, PC

Mission

Freeman Health Partners’ mission is to provide a variety of quality care options to our community. Integrity, professionalism, compassion, and excellence are a must at Freeman Health Partners.

Live Free. Be Happy. Have Purpose.

LCSW Outpatient Counselor

Job Purpose

The LCSW Outpatient Counselor is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker responsible for providing independent clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and therapeutic services to individuals experiencing substance use disorders, mental health disorders, and co-occurring conditions within an outpatient setting.

This position utilizes evidence-based clinical interventions to support clients in achieving recovery, improving behavioral health functioning, developing effective coping strategies, and meeting individualized treatment goals. The LCSW works collaboratively with medical providers, behavioral health professionals, community resources, and other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team to ensure coordinated and clinically appropriate care.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Conduct comprehensive initial and ongoing clinical assessments to evaluate substance use, mental health symptoms, psychosocial needs, level of functioning, and treatment needs.

2. Assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, behavioral, substance use, and co-occurring disorders within the scope of LCSW licensure and applicable state regulations.

3. Develop, implement, review, and update individualized treatment plans based on clinical assessment, diagnosis, client needs, strengths, recovery goals, and measurable treatment objectives.

4. Provide individual, group, and/or family psychotherapy and counseling services as appropriate to the client’s treatment needs and program structure.

5. Utilize evidence-based and clinically appropriate therapeutic interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), relapse prevention strategies, and other recognized behavioral health treatment modalities.

6. Conduct suicide, self-harm, violence, substance use, and other clinical risk assessments and develop appropriate safety plans and interventions when indicated.

7. Provide crisis intervention and clinical support for clients experiencing acute behavioral health concerns and coordinate higher levels of care when clinically necessary.

8. Support clients in developing coping strategies, emotional regulation skills, life skills, relapse prevention techniques, and other skills necessary to support sustained recovery and improved behavioral health functioning.

9. Monitor client progress toward established treatment goals and modify treatment plans and therapeutic interventions based on clinical presentation, response to treatment, and changing needs.

10. Coordinate care with physicians, advanced practice providers, nursing staff, behavioral health professionals, addiction treatment professionals, case management personnel, and other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team.

11. Facilitate referrals and transitions to appropriate services, including residential treatment, higher or lower levels of behavioral healthcare, medical services, psychiatric services, social services, peer support, and community resources.

12. Maintain accurate, complete, and timely documentation of assessments, diagnoses, treatment plans, progress notes, discharge documentation, and other required clinical records within the electronic health record (EHR).

13. Complete documentation and clinical records in accordance with organizational requirements, payer requirements, applicable laws and regulations, and professional standards of practice.

14. Prepare and submit clinical information, reports, treatment documentation, and other records required by insurance companies, regulatory agencies, and other authorized entities as appropriate.

15. Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, case consultations, care coordination activities, and other clinical meetings as required.

16. Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and ensure client confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, applicable substance use disorder confidentiality requirements, organizational policies, and professional ethical standards.

17. Practice within the professional scope and ethical standards applicable to Licensed Clinical Social Workers and maintain all required professional licensure and continuing education.

18. May provide clinical consultation, guidance, or supervision to other behavioral health staff when assigned and when permitted by applicable licensure requirements and organizational policy.

19. Performs other position-related duties as assigned.

20. Completes required orientation and training as directed by Freeman Health Partners.

21. Follows Freeman Health Partners and OSHA safety rules, policies, and procedures.

Education and Experience, degree and/or Certification required (if applicable):

1. Minimum of one (1) year of related work experience.

2. Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or otherwise meeting applicable Tennessee licensure requirements.

3. Current Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license in good standing in the State of Tennessee.

4. Minimum of one (1) year of related behavioral health, mental health, substance use disorder, or clinical social work experience; experience treating individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders preferred.

5. Knowledge of behavioral health assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and evidence-based clinical practices.

6. Knowledge of substance use disorders, mental health disorders, co-occurring conditions, recovery-oriented care, and appropriate levels of behavioral healthcare.

7. Strong interpersonal, therapeutic communication, and human relations skills.

8. Ability to maintain client confidentiality and comply with applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements.

9. Ability to accurately document, file, and retrieve clinical information within an electronic health record (EHR).

10. Ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team.

11. Ability to adhere to established departmental policies and procedures and applicable legal, ethical, regulatory, and professional standards.