Position Description:
GENERAL SUMMARY
Responsible for providing professional clinical counseling to facilitate patients in overcoming specific behavioral and mental health challenges using the tools of psychotherapy and other counseling methods. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in mental health counseling, with a focus on supporting individuals coping with psychiatric disorders or psychosocial stressors in an outpatient environment. Will assist patients in obtaining social services through various welfare agencies and healthcare providers that fall beyond the general purview of mental health counseling by focusing on social, economic, and environmental factors that affect the patients' psychological and physical wellbeing. Social Worker and/or Counselor will also undertake various other duties as outlined to support the wellbeing of our patients within the healthcare setting.
KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments to evaluate patients’ mental health needs, strengths, and resources.

• Develop treatment plans in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members to include behavioral health providers e.g., Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatrist.

• Provide evidence-based counseling and psychotherapy services to patients to address a range of psychiatric disorders and psychosocial stressors.

• Monitor patients’ progress and implement treatment plans as necessary to achieve therapeutic goals.

• Coordinate care and facilitate referrals to medical social workers, lay navigators, community resources, support services as needed.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation or clinical assessments, treatment plans, and interventions in accordance with Cooper Green Mercy Health Authority compliance, policy, procedure, and Standard Operation Procedures.

• Participate in case conferences, team meetings and professional development to enhance clinical skills and knowledge.

• Counsels’ patients using evidence-based methods and therapies specific to the patient's needs and situation.

• Encourage appropriate use of health care services, strive to improve quality of care, and maintain cost- effectiveness on a case-by-case basis.

• Utilizing the facility’s EHR, perform documentation of the patient’s assessment, interventions, and ongoing collaboration with the patient, family/caregiver, providers, and other pertinent stakeholders.

• Displays effective communication skills; adheres to proper communication channels in a courteous, cooperative,

and timely manner.

• Demonstrates personal accountability for professional growth by meeting and maintaining current certifications/ licensure and completing all mandatory facility, department, and role-specific education requirements in advance of due dates.

• Consistently protects patients’ rights and confidentiality.

• Assist in crafting departmental policies and procedures, and ensure they are followed, especially those related to patient care, patient privacy and confidentiality and safety.

CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and engage in interdisciplinary treatment planning.

• Commitment to cultural competence, trauma-informed care, and ethical practice

• Experience and proficiency in crisis intervention techniques for managing acute psychiatric crisis.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish rapport and build therapeutic relationships with diverse patient populations.

• Knowledge of the applicable laws and ethics concerning the treatment of psychologically ill patients

• Proficiency in delivering evidence-based psychotherapy modalities, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy) CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR).

• Experience working in an ambulatory care, outpatient mental health setting or inpatient setting

• Knowledge of community related resources, programs, and agencies related to healthcare/behavioral health care.

• Knowledge of the types of behavioral/mental illnesses and disorders and their characteristics (or behavioral patterns) that typically occur in individuals.

Position Requirements:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited program. Currently licensed as Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). Work experience may NOT substitute for education requirements.

• Master’s Degree in Counseling or related field and licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor. Work experience may NOT substitute for education requirements.

CERTIFICATES/LICENSES/REGISTRATIONS, ETC.

• Currently licensed as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) by the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners.

• Currently licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling

PREFERRED: Three years of experience providing substance abuse, grief therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, etc., in the clinical setting as a LICSW or LPC.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This role may require lifting up to 50 lbs.
The work location for this role is onsite