Mental Health Intern

Rate of Pay: $25/hour

Hours: 16-29 hours per week

Eligible Benefits

• Employee Assistance Program
• 5% Retirement Match with no waiting period 

Position Summary

The Mental Health Intern is a paid position eligible as temporary part-time employment (16-29 hours per week). To be considered for this position, the candidate must be concurrently enrolled in a related degree program at an educational institution. The duration of the assignment will depend on the educational institution's internship requirements, with a maximum assignment length of ten months.

The Mental Health Intern is responsible for providing clinical supports to include mental health and substance use disorder screenings, assessments, individual and group counseling, case management and administrative tasks under the supervision of licensed mental health professionals. This position collaborates with external community partners, and a multi-disciplinary team of Bridges to Change (BTC) providers and staff to ensure the best possible outcomes and care for participants.  The Mental Health Intern role provides learning opportunities for students in master’s level psychology, social work or related fields to gain practical, hands-on-experience and skills in clinical care and documentation, therapeutic interventions, crisis management and navigating integrated community-based behavioral healthcare settings.  This position will attend BTC orientation, have exposure to various departments and leadership at BTC, and access to the agency training portal, and internal and external workshops or seminars hosted during their internship. This is an onsite position.

Key Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Serves a diverse population effectively, through trauma informed, culturally responsive and evidenced-based approaches to care
• Conducts mental health and substance use disorder screenings and assessments and makes diagnoses using DSM-V-TR criteria and ASAM PPC
• Provision of culturally responsive individual, family and group counseling services congruent with BTC clinical orientation and care models. Maintains fidelity to evidence-based treatment models and practices
• Develops individualized treatment plans for participants in consultation with the participant, other BTC providers, the participant’s family (whenever appropriate), and representatives of BTC partner organizations
• Engages in care coordination and case management with participants and other service providers internally and externally, and assists clients in developing and accessing natural community supports and community resources
• Provides crisis screening, assessment and intervention services to clients to assist in minimizing periods of crisis, severe dysfunction and acute care utilization
• Organizes and manages schedule to meet a minimum 50% of hours providing direct face-to-face services with BTC participants and successful billing for these services
• Completes and maintains accurate and same-day treatment documentation including individual service notes; services and supports plans; assessments; and closure summaries that meet Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) and Medicaid documentation standards
• Attends and actively participates in individual and group supervision, weekly MDT & Staff meetings, and other agency meetings as assigned
• Completes agency assigned training requirements on a timely basis and maintains licensing and/or credentialing requirements necessary for the position and agency requirements. Attends assigned seminars, training, and other educational opportunities in order to develop skills and abilities
• Abides by agency policies and procedures and all relevant state and federal regulations and professional ethical standards, including mandatory abuse reporting, and HIPPA requirements
• Performs other duties, as assigned

Eligibility & Requirements

• Meets qualifications of a Mental Health Intern as defined in Oregon Administrative Rules 309-019-0105
• Enrolled in a graduate program that will result in a degree in psychology, social work, or related field of behavioral health, with a formally established affiliation and educational agreement contract with BTC for the duration of the internship.
• Complete BTC’s agency orientation and all agency and intern documentation if accepted into the program
• Be able to earn academic credit or satisfy a degree requirement through the internship
• Can provide proof of employment eligibility in the United States
• State ORCHARDS BCU background check clearance, required
• Demonstrates a desire and commitment to supporting underserved populations in the community
• Ability to consistently maintain ethical and professional standards for conduct and communication with participants, staff, and community partners in accordance with federal, state and agency laws, guidelines and regulations.
• Computer literate; functional ability with Word, Outlook, and the ability to maintain an Electronic Health Record (EHR) that assures compliance with agency, state and federal regulations.
• Understanding of outcomes-based care and willingness to learn and implement tools to assess care

Working Conditions 

Environment and Physical Requirements: The Mental Health Intern works in an office environment and occasionally visits other site locations. These locations are subject to a variety of environmental weather conditions including rain, snow, wind, and dust. The Mental Health Intern interacts constantly with staff, visitors, program participants, government agencies, and others. The position stands, walks, bends, lifts, and moves intermittently during working hours. The incumbent must be able to lift, push, pull and move files and equipment in excess of 15 pounds. 

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: This is a part-time position. Days and hours of work are typically 16-29 hours per week with flexibility in scheduling, based on business need. The Mental Health Intern position also travels occasionally and may be required to work extended hours including evenings during their scheduled work week.

Other Duties and Responsibilities: This job description is a summary of the essential duties and responsibilities for this job, and it does not necessarily represent an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities, tasks or procedures. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instruction or assignments. Nothing in this description restricts Bridges’ right to assign or reassign duties at any time. 

Accommodation Statement: Essential job duties and responsibilities are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform the job successfully, an incumbent or applicant must possess the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform each essential duty and responsibility proficiently. If you require an accommodation in order to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job, please contact the Bridges to Change Human Resources Manager. 

Bridges to Change is an Equal Opportunity Employer 

Salary : $25