Description

Summary To provide and implement therapeutic counseling to participants and their families within an outpatient setting and acts as a liaison between the program and the school staff personnel.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provides assessments, individual, family and/or group counseling and outreach to individuals.
• Responsible for meeting the required hours of direct service on a weekly basis.
• Responsible for being on time and prepared for scheduled appointments.
• Develops and maintains complete clinical records including assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, case conferences, discharges and other clinical and administrative documents in a timely manner. Ensures charts adhere to established chart sequence, date order, and that all documents are present.
• Completes assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, discharges, and other clinical and administrative documents in accordance with agency, managed care, and licensing requirements and standards. Regularly checks to ensure that content, signatures, credentials, dates, times, service types and legibility meet standards.
• Submits status of all scheduled services with corresponding documentation to designated staff within 24 hours of each event.
• Provides clinical assessments and crisis management in consultation with supervisor, psychiatrist and/or treatment team, as required. Responsible for monitoring individuals in crisis on the unit. Assists with coordinating hospitalization procedures, if necessary.
• Follows unit procedures to schedule appointments with staff psychiatrist as appropriate.
• Attends and participates in case conferences and staff meetings. Utilizes input from those meetings to update treatment plans and/or incorporate treatment strategies discussed.
• Attends bi-weekly individual supervision and bi-weekly group supervision. Comes prepared with an agenda to discuss items such as successes, concerns, ideas or follow-up items.
• Attends and completes trainings and seminars per departmental, agency, managed care and regulatory requirements. Requirements for specific training courses and/or hours of training must be met within designated time frames. Submits verification of course completion to supervisor in a timely manner.
• Makes referrals to other Consortium units, outside agencies, or support networks. Follows-up on referrals to ensure continuity of care. Follows up on referrals related to discharge within 30 days. Ensures all referrals and follow-up efforts are documented.

• Manages caseload to assess individual progress, reviewing appropriateness of and interest in service provided. Engages and encourages treatment through documented outreach effort. Discharges individuals when service is no longer desired or clinically indicated based on reasons referred and treatment plan.
• Completes Utilization Review on peer clinical records as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.
• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Develops realistic action plans.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Quantity - Meets productivity standards; Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity.
• Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Master's degree (M. A.) in Mental Health field; and two to five years related experience working with children/adults within a therapeutic setting and experience in biopsychosocial assessments and intake. Case Management and resource skills for Philadelphia area. Knowledge of State/Local regulatory standards LCSW or LPC; licensure preferred.