Licensed Outpatient Mental Health Counselor

MINIMUM TRAINING, CREDENTIALS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Master’s degree in psychology, social work, or related human services discipline.
• Active license as a Mental Health Counselor, Clinical Social Worker, or Marriage and Family Therapist under Chapter 491 Florida Statutes, or as a Psychologist under Chapter 490 Florida Statutes preferred.
• Skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses and respect for client rights and personal preferences in treatment are essential.
• Must have a valid Florida driver’s license.

If designated as a Vocational Specialist, a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling is preferred. If designated as a Substance Abuse Specialist, two years' experience in the field of substance abuse treatment is required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (Essential functions of this position are listed below. The position also includes additional functions as needed and/or assigned by supervisor.)

• Provide service coordination (case management) for an assigned group of persons served including coordinating and monitoring the activities of the individual treatment team; assume primary responsibility for developing, writing, implementing, evaluating and revising overall treatment goals and plans in collaboration with the person served and the Individual Treatment Team (ITT); provide individual supportive therapy, psychotherapy, and symptom management; ensure immediate changes are made in the treatment plans as individual’s needs change; educate and support individuals’ families; and advocate for the rights and preferences of persons served.
• Conduct comprehensive assessment of psychiatric history, mental status, and diagnosis; physical health and dental health; use of drugs or alcohol; education and employment; social development and functioning; activities of daily living and family structure and relationships.
• Act as liaison and consult with community agencies and families to maintain coordination in the treatment process.
• Perform shift management in coordination with other FACT shift managers according to established policies and procedures.
• Provide after hour on-call crisis intervention covering nighttime hours and serve as a backup to evening and weekend staff.
• Document progress of individuals to maintain a permanent record of client activity according to established methods and procedures.
• Provide treatment, rehabilitation, and support services, with some interventions directed or performed by staff with specialty training and skills.
• Take the lead role or participate in providing substance use and treatment services.
• Provide ongoing assessment of individuals’ mental illness symptoms and response to treatment. Make appropriate changes in treatment plans to ensure immediate and appropriate interventions are provided in response to changes in mental status or behavior, which put individuals at risk (e.g., suicidality).
• Provide symptom education to enable persons served to identify their mental illness symptoms.
• Conduct direct clinical services including individual supportive therapy and psychotherapy to persons on an individual, group, and family basis in the office and in community settings to teach behavioral symptom-management techniques, to alleviate and manage symptoms not reduced with medication, and to promote personal growth and development by assisting individuals to adapt to and cope with internal and external stresses.
• Provide individual and group treatment in the office and in community settings in a stage-based treatment model that is non-confrontational, considers interactions of mental illness and substance abuse, and has client-determined goals.
• Coordinate with outside inpatient services to detoxify persons served and establish linkage to outpatient treatment, self-help programs (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous), outpatient services, and residential facilities.
• Take a lead role or participate in the provision of rehabilitative services.
• Provide individual vocational-supportive counseling to enable individuals to identify vocational strengths and problems, establish vocational or career goals and plans to reach them, and recognize and target symptoms of mental illness that interfere with work.
• Plan and provide work-related supportive services, such as assistance with grooming and personal hygiene, securing of appropriate clothing, wake-up calls, and transportation.
• Teach job-seeking skills.
• Develop individualized jobs based on the needs, abilities, and interests of persons served.
• Conduct on-the-job performance assessments and evaluations, regular work review sessions with clients and their employers, on-the-job support, and crisis-assistance contacts.
• Perform job coaching, problem solving, and support on and off the job site.
• Coordinate with state vocational rehabilitation and other employment services.
• Provide benefits counseling (e.g., Supplemental Security Income [SSI], veteran’s benefits).
• Provide ongoing assessment, problem solving, side-by-side services, skill training, supervision, and environmental adaptations to assist persons with activities of daily living.
• Assist individuals in finding and maintaining a safe and affordable place to live – apartment hunting, finding a roommate, landlord negotiations, cleaning, furnishing and decorating, and procuring necessities (e.g., telephone, furnishings, linens).
• Assist and support individuals in carrying out personal hygiene and grooming tasks.
• Provide nutrition education and assistance with meal planning, grocery shopping, and food preparation.
• Assist and support individuals in performing household activities, including house cleaning and laundry.
• Ensure that individuals have adequate financial support.
• Teach money-management skills and assist individuals in accessing financial services.
• Help individuals to access reliable transportation.
• Assist and support individuals to have and effectively use a personal primary care physician, dentist, and other medical specialists as required.
• Provide individual supportive therapy, social-skills development, and assertiveness training to increase client social and interpersonal activities in community settings.
• Plan, structure, and prompt social and leisure-time activities on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Provide side-by-side support and coaching to help individuals socialize.
• Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities to structure clients’ time, increase social experiences, and provide opportunities to practice social skills and receive feedback and support.
• Provide practical help and supports, advocacy, coordination, side-by-side individualized support, problem solving, direct assistance, training, and supervision to help persons served obtain the necessities of daily living including medical and dental health care; legal and advocacy services; financial support such as entitlements (e.g., SSI, SSDI, and veteran’s benefits) or housing subsidies (e.g., HUD Section 8); supported housing (e.g., adult foster care, paid roommates, meals brought in for those who need it); money-management services (e.g., payeeships); and transportation.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Master's (Required)

License/Certification:

• LMHC, LCSW, or LMFT (Required)

Work Location: In person