Associate Behavioral Health Clinician - AMFT

Status: Full-Time

Location: San Mateo, CA

Pay: $75,000 with Full Benefits.

OUR IMPACT

For over 50 years, Samaritan House has been leading the fight against poverty in San Mateo County. We’re the only organization that delivers the full breadth of essential services and personalized support to the working poor. By ensuring our clients are fed, clothed, healthy, and housed, we help them create their own stability and remain an active, successful part of our community. After all, an enduring community is only possible when every person has the resources they need to live.

OUR CULTURE

We’re passionate about providing our employees with a supportive work environment and experiences that help them grow. We offer excellent opportunities for individuals with proven strong, creative, results-driven leadership skills and stellar work ethics. We welcome candidates who love working with people of diverse backgrounds and want to make a difference by fostering community care for our neighbors in need.

YOUR IMPACT

Under the general supervision of the Associate Director of Behavioral Health Care, the Associate Behavioral Health Clinician (AMFT) is responsible for delivering mental health services within the clinic and for coordinating referrals to clinically indicated services outside the clinic. The clinician will practice under the supervision of a licensed clinician in accordance with California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) requirements. This position does not include supervisory responsibilities. All services are to be delivered in both English and Spanish as needed.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Please note our preferred and in some cases required qualifications for this position:

EDUCATION:

·         Masters in Behavioral Sciences, Counseling Psychology or related field.

EXPERIENCE:

·         Minimum one years’ experience in the following:

·         Mental health counselor or related field;

·         Screening, assessment and treatment planning for mental health disorders;

·         Non-Profit experience working with underserved and transient populations;

·         Working with patients who have co-occurring mental health trauma, and physical problems;

·         Practice evidenced based psychotherapy e.g.: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based therapy (MCBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), motivational interviewing (MI), etc.

CERTIFICATIONS and LICENSES: Independently licensed in the State of California

·         Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) with the California BBS. Must maintain registration in good standing. Clinical supervision will be provided by a licensed mental health professional.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Bilingual and Bicultural English/Spanish candidate preferred but not required.
• Strong initiative and ability to work independently and collaboratively in an ever-changing environment and team setting or under ambiguous circumstances.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to ensure compliance with agency, local, state, federal and industry regulations.
• Ability to work within deadlines and ensure all administrative duties related to this position are completed in a timely fashion and with little to no error.
• Ability to thrive and enjoy working in a fast-paced dynamic work environment with confidence, resilience, flexibility and a good sense of humor.
• Ability to create a supportive working environment and to create meaningful work experiences for our constituents while maintaining appropriate and professional boundaries.
• Excellent interpersonal skills- Must be able to build and maintain excellent relationships with all Samaritan House constituents including but not limited to clients, staff and volunteers.
• Must be able to engage patients in a therapeutic relationship and work with them remotely or in person.
• Exemplary communication skills are required as well as be bilingual English and Spanish.
• Excellent working knowledge of differential diagnosis of mental health disorders.
• Excellent working knowledge of evidence based psychosocial treatments for mental health disorders.
• Knowledgeable with psychopharmacology for mental health disorders that is within appropriate scope of practice for type of provider filling role.
• Excellent computer proficiency including Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook), and ability to quickly learn other database programs as needed.
• Ability to deliver the mission of Samaritan House and to translate this to current and prospective volunteers, community members/leaders and local organizations.
• Must be able to conduct all Samaritan House business with high level of integrity and ethics. Must be able to successfully take direction from clinical and non-clinical leadership or dotted line positions.
• Must be able to occasionally drive to various locations- Valid driver license, excellent driving record with valid insurance.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND BACKGROUND CHECK

Candidate must have the physical, visual, and auditory ability to perform the essential functions of the job and to respond to emergencies with or without reasonable accommodations. Reference checks and background checks will be performed prior to and at commencement of employment. Candidate must be able to work in a clinic environment with occasional-to-regular interruptions. Activities may include but are not limited to: repetitive hand/arm motion (computer work), extended periods of standing and/or sitting at a computer workstation, regular travel, occasional bending, pulling, pushing, reaching, lifting, and carrying up to 20 pounds. This position will require the usage of a mobile device or other assigned equipment, which will be provided. Position is on site with occasional travel to partner agencies as assigned. Traditional business schedule while program is developed. When program is launched schedule will require flexibility to meet with clients which includes some evenings as needed.  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

1.       Responsible for the direct delivery of assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and care coordination for mental health services.

2.       Manages and maintains appropriate and timely documentation of treatment progress and care coordination as indicated by the agency.

3.       Perform all work within assigned schedule, on agency job sites, using agency equipment and tools provided.  If other tools required to perform the job this must be discussed with your supervisor. 

4.       Perform all work within appropriate professional boundaries.

5.       Screen and assess patients for mental health disorders.

6.       Provide patient education about common mental health disorders and available treatment options.

7.       Monitor patients (in person or remotely) for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications.

8.       Support supervisor and licensed staff with mental health program structuring, evaluation, and services delivery as assigned.

9.       Support psychotropic medication management prescribed by PCP or psychiatrist, focusing on treatment adherence, side effects and other complications, and effectiveness of treatment.

10.    Provide brief interventions using evidence-based techniques such as Behavioral Activation, Problem-Solving Treatment, Motivational Interviewing, or other treatments appropriate for primary care settings.

11.    Provide or facilitate in-clinic or outside referrals to evidence-based psychosocial treatments (i.e.  CBT, IPT) as clinically indicated.

12.    Participate in case consultation with the psychiatric consultant and communicate resulting treatment recommendations to the patient’s PCP. Consultations will focus on patients who are not improving as expected.

13.    Facilitate patient engagement and follow-up in care.

14.    Track patient follow-up and clinical outcomes using a registry. Document in-person and remote encounters in the registry and use the system to identify and re-engage patients.

15.    Document patient progress and treatment recommendations in the registry so they can be easily shared with PCPs, the psychiatric consultant, and other treating providers.

16.    Facilitate treatment plan changes for patients who are not improving as expected in consultation with the PCP and/or the psychiatric consultant. These may include changes in medications or psychosocial treatments or appropriate referrals for additional services.

17.    Facilitate referrals for clinically indicated services outside the primary care clinic (e.g., social services such as housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, mental health specialty care, substance abuse treatment).

18.    Support supervisor with mental health program structuring, evaluation and department performance assessment as needed. 

19.    Report and complete any necessary incident reports within 24 hours.  Review the incident report(s) and discuss with Clinic Manager, as needed

20.    Attend trainings and meetings as assigned including but not limited to case management meetings, staff meetings, and meetings with other service providers in the community as required

21.    Other duties as assigned.