Job Overview

This is a union position.

The Clinical Team Leader/Mental Health Therapist works collaboratively with a team consisting of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counselors and SUD Clinical Supervisors to provide valuable insight, direction, and oversight of Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) services. They also participate in a collaborative care process for clients, which includes providing individual and group therapy. Under the DMC model, they are qualified to establish medical necessity and approve SUD treatment plans. Additionally, they are responsible for providing safe, supportive, and confidential counseling; maintaining a culturally competent stance; and creating and maintaining a trauma informed program environment at all times. Conducting mental health and substance use disorder assessments and evaluations to identify behaviors and problems related to a client’s substance use and potential co-occurring disorders. Acts as a liaison between the agency and outside organizations, linking clients with the appropriate resources to meet their physical and mental health needs, as well as, their human service needs. They also facilitate psycho-education groups on a variety of core curriculum and collaborate with care management staff to assist clients in obtaining entitlement benefits, housing, and medical services in the community and participate in discharge planning. In addition, they provide crisis management and facilitate hospitalizations.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Team Leader responsibilities: Schedules weekly team meetings and creates the agenda in coordination with the administrative assistant or other assigned individual, ensuring timely response to required compliance/documentation issues, ensuring completion of all action/follow-up items and overall clinical consultation. They are also responsible for reviewing and signing initial treatment plans and medical necessity forms and adhering to strict DMC timelines.

Provide mental health assessment and evaluation, integrated alcohol and drug counseling, which includes individual therapy, and support: Maintain appropriate/ethical boundaries with all clients and families served. Facilitate timely access to mental health services on site and within the community. Act as a liaison between other programs and referring agencies. Serves as the point of contact and coordinates referrals and follow-ups with health agencies. Conduct mental health assessments and ensure follow up from each client and treatment counselor. Identify treatment needs, recommend treatment plans based on assessment, and works to ensure clients are able meet all requirements. Ensures client is assessed to appropriate level of care. Provides diagnostic feedback and assessment information to facilitate accurate level step up or step down services to support client’s goals. Monitor client conduct, record client activity, and inform colleagues of potential challenges in treatment episodes. Handle crisis interventions and assess situations for further needs

Administration and compliance: Maintain and successfully retain assigned caseload of clients. Initiate and coordinate curriculum development and facilitate curriculum training as required. Maintain files in accordance with governing standards and regulations. Maintain records and document services in a timely manner. Maintain strict confidentiality guidelines regarding all clients, conversations and referrals.

Community Involvement: Maintain accurate knowledge of HR360 programs and services. Maintain and develop positive working relationships with the general public, community based organizations.

Treatment Setting Responsibilities: Facilitates psycho-education groups on a variety of core curriculum topics including CBT, Seeking Safety, DBT and Coping with Stress Triggers. Coordinates discharge planning with client’s Care Coordinator. Provides consultation to staff regarding symptom management, mental health conditions and crisis intervention strategies. Quarterly, two week long on call after hours cell phone rotation as well as rotating ‘Therapist of the Day’ responsibilities during regular business hours. Attends staff and agency meetings. Participates in agency trainings as required. Complies with Board requirements for license registration/renewal.

Self-Care Wellness Plan: In collaboration with supervisor, develop and maintain a self-care wellness plan (strategies to maintain physical, psychological/mental, emotional/relational, and spiritual health) to prevent compassion fatigue.

Documentation Responsibilities: Daily maintenance of monitoring of EMR report, to prevent and clear any compliance errors in records. Conducts assessments, develops treatment plans, completes release and consent forms, billing and reporting paperwork in hard copy and online in various electronic systems. In addition, completes assigned Drug Medi-Cal, Medicare and Medi-Cal documentation and billing. Documents individual and group services delivered in various electronic systems in accordance with guidelines established by HealthRIGHT 360 to satisfy internal and external evaluating requirements.

Other miscellaneous assignments as assigned

Education and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Education and Experience Required:

• Licensed or Board Registered with Board of Behavioral Sciences or Board of Psychology.
• Minimum two years of experience in a substance abuse treatment or community mental health setting.
• First Aid certified within 30 days of employment.
• CPR certified within 30 days of employment.
• A valid California drivers license.

Desired: 

• Licensed with Board of Behavioral Sciences or Board of Psychology.
• Experience with Drug Medi-Cal operations.

Background Clearance Required:

• Ability to obtain and maintain background clearance with successful discharge from probation or parole, and absence of drug/alcohol related arrests or convictions.

Knowledge Required:

• Experience with mental health assessment and diagnosis.
• Experience establishing supportive relationships and working with clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Experience working successfully with issues of substance abuse, mental health, criminal background, and other potential barriers to economic self-sufficiency.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, specifically Word Outlook and internet applications.

Skills and Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of Clinical documentation (treatment plans, progress notes etc.).
• Ability to enter data into various electronic systems while maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the data.
• Professionalism, punctuality, flexibility and reliability are imperative.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills -Integrity to handle sensitive information in a confidential manner.
• Action oriented.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organization skills and ability to multitask and juggle multiple priorities.
• Outstanding ability to follow-through with tasks.
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively as part of interdisciplinary team and independently assume responsibility.
• Strong initiative and enthusiasm and willingness to pitch in whenever needed.
• Able to communicate well at all levels of the organization including working with organization leadership and high-level representatives of partner organizations.
• Must be able to alter work schedule to accommodate client availability.

Desired:

• Knowledge of co-occurring disorders and trauma informed treatment.
• Experience working with criminal justice population.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

In compliance with the California Department of Public Health's mandate, all employees must be able to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Medical and religious exemptions are available.

Tag: IND100.