Responsibilities

JOB TITLE: Therapist

REPORTS TO: Director of Clinical Services

SUPERVISES: Not Applicable

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Therapist is the point person for the family. At WBI, the therapist is responsible for completing the psycho-social assessment within 72 hours of admission, completing the 72 hour master treatment plan, providing individual, family and group therapy as prescribed and overseeing the patients discharge plan. Treatment is provided to clients with mental disorders and clinical addictions. He/she is responsible for providing accurate and timely communication, clinical consultation, and problem-solving and recommendations to referral sources and the treatment team. Rotates call after hours and for weekends and holidays. Other duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Duties require sitting, standing, walking, reaching and some lifting. Position involves both indoor and outdoor activities, on site and off site activities, works with others. Hours may be irregular, duties variable. Occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens or other potentially infectious materials.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES REQUIRED:

Master's prepared and licensed in the State of Wyoming by the Mental Health Professions Licensing Board. Two (2) years of progressive experience in psychiatric acute care, residential care, partial care or equivalent is preferred; demonstrated ability to successfully meet licensing and accreditation standards. Must have knowledge of developmental tasks of children, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients and apply knowledge in assessment and planning of care.

PERSONAL TRAITS, QUALITIES & APPTITUDES:

Demonstrates personal traits/behavior consistent with the values of Wyoming Behavioral Institute. Must be self-directed/self-motivated; must have good communication and interpersonal skills; must be flexible; must have good critical thinking/decision making skills and must have good understanding of systems and change processes. Must be able to: (1) perform a variety of duties often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure; (2) accept responsibility for direction, control and planning of activity; (3) make evaluations and decisions based on measurable or verifiable criteria; (4) work independently; (5) recognize the rights and responsibilities of patient confidentiality; (6) convey empathy and compassion to those experiencing pain, physical or emotional distress and/or grief; (7) relate to others in a manner which creates a sense of teamwork and cooperation; (8) communicate effectively with people from every socioeconomic, cultural and educational background; (9) exhibit flexibility and cope effectively in an ever changing, fast-paced health care environment; (10) perform effectively when confronted with emergency, critical, unusual and/or dangerous situations; (11) demonstrate the quality work ethic of doing the right thing the right way; and (12) maintain a customer focus and strive to satisfy the customer's perceived needs.

Qualifications

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential Functions:

• Complete psychosocial assessment within 72 hours of admission via interviews with patient, family and/or designated guardian.
• Utilize treatment information from the referring professional(s) in order to obtain more complete information on treatment prior to hospitalization and to enhance understanding of what their opinion for treatment needs are.
• Documents assessments on approved WBI forms and in manner consistent with WBI protocols, JCAHO, Medicare and Medicaid requirements.
• Communicate findings in therapist notes in a clear, complete and timely manner.
• Assess patient needs for discharge teaching and/or referral.
• Ensure patient/family involvement in treatment planning.
• Formulate a plan of care based on the multidisciplinary assessments within seventy-two (72) hours of admission.
• Ensure treatment plans include specific measurable goals/objectives/ interventions and defining actions unique to each patient's needs and personal growth.
• Update and revise plans as goals are met or patients' condition changes—for acute services, once per week; once per month for residential.
• Ensure documentation on reviews are based on the treatment plan goals/objectives and reflect progress or failure to progress toward goals.
• Communicate on a regular and timely basis with relevant members of the treatment team and family members as appropriate.

Other Functions:

Interventions

• Facilitate group therapy effectively to meet the needs of the population served.
• Conduct individual/family counseling two times a week for acute care/once a week for residential.
• Evaluate and document effectiveness of interventions and patient responses.
• Document daily charges on charge sheets.
• Relate to patients in an age-appropriate manner.

Chemical Dependency

• Continue professional development in Dual Diagnosis issues and maintain current professional documentation in personnel file.
• Conduct patient/family education groups, step-study groups, group activities and aftercare groups as scheduled.
• Provide patient/families with referrals to sponsors, 12-step groups and self-help resources for follow-up care and evaluations where applicable.
• Facilitate the placements of patients in a recovery home or other residential facilities as appropriate.
• Maintain current information on substance abuse community resources and maintain good relationships with referral agencies.

Discharge Planning

• Participate in the development of a preliminary discharge plan at admission consistent with patient's therapeutic goals.
• Proficient at coordinating effective discharge processes. Assesses patient readiness for discharge and related teaching needs and referral.
• Participate in completion of Discharge Instruction Form(s) and documents.

Therapeutic Environment

• Contribute to the effective functioning of the assigned programs, the Clinical Services Department and facility-wide activities and services.
• Report unsafe conditions to appropriate personnel.
• Assure patient's rights are upheld.
• Ensures the safe and therapeutic functioning of the milieu.
• Utilize seclusion and restraint procedures with an understanding of the need for modification in regard to smaller body sizes of children, abandonment issues and the history of physical and/or sexual abuse issues.

Provider and/or Supervision of Care

• Collaborate effectively with physicians and other clinical disciplines in making decisions regarding each patient's need for care.
• Consistently documents patient/family education on the Interdisciplinary Teaching Record throughout the patient's hospitalization.
• Intervenes effectively in unusual and complex patient/family situations.
• Completes and documents face-to-face processing with secluded/restrained patients within one hour of incident. Participate in debriefing.
• Formulate and conduct educational, therapeutic, and/or support groups.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, health care team members and community providers regarding patient status and progress.
• Interact and communicate with community agencies in assessment of and service to patients in a timely manner.
• Provide liaison and referral services to community agencies and appears in court when requested or subpoenaed.
• Comply with required standards for medical/legal reporting situations (i.e., child abuse, dependent adult abuse, psychiatric commitment).
• Represent the facility at legal hearings as requested, submits paperwork for legal holds in a timely fashion, act as liaison with conservator's office.
• Ensures that documentation meets policies, procedures, standards and laws.