Child and Family Therapist

Sea Mar Community Health Centers•Orchards, WA

About The Position

The Licensed Child and Family Therapist provides diagnostic assessments, referrals for psychiatric services, case management in coordination with other teams or parties involved in the treatment of children and families. In addition, the Licensed Child and Family Therapist provides evidence-based individual and family counseling, crisis stabilization, suicide risk assessment, treatment plans, and leads groups in office, school and/or community settings. Licensed Child and Family Clinical Therapist may provide clinical supervision to other clinicians who are pursuing licensure. They may assist Program Manager or Clinical Supervisor in conducting clinical chart reviews. Assistance to the Program Manager in program development, policy and procedure development, compliance with WACS and RCWs, and other administrative tasks performed are as directed. This job description does not suggest or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The person in this position will be required to follow other instructions and to perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

An understanding of the Behavioral Health Organization, County, and/or MCO contracts with the ability to tier clients in a managed care system. The ability to work effectively with all persons and groups with an open mind towards cultural differences and knowledge of cultures.
The ability to accurately diagnose mental health issues and develop treatment plans based upon diagnoses. The ability to not diagnose behavioral problems as mental illnesses unless appropriate.
An understanding of chemical dependency treatment and an ability to coordinate mental health services with chemical dependency treatment providers if necessary.
Must complete an annual clinical competency test as a mental health therapist.
The Licensed Child and Family Clinical Therapist must sign a permanent oath of confidentiality covering all patient related information.
This person must pass a background check.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, counseling, or social work, which includes course-work in psychological diagnostics.
License in marriage and family therapy (LMFT), mental health counseling (LMHC) or social work (LICSW or LASW) required.
Must meet Washington State requirements as a Child Mental Health Specialist or be working towards credential.
Experience working with children and/or families is required.
This position must obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR within 90 days of hire date and is required to maintain current BLS CPR throughout employment.
Must take a TB test annually and at time of hire.
Annual influenza vaccine required. Only exception is for employees with a medical or religious exemption approved by Administration. Employees with an approved medical or religious exemption must wear a mask at all time during the flu season.

Nice To Haves

Experience in evidence based practices preferred.

Responsibilities

Assists in insuring agency compliance with WAC's, RCW's, and other pertinent laws, regulations, and contracts.
Assists in developing and implementing policies and procedures as directed by the Program Director.
Educates staff regarding the process for mental health service referrals and regarding “psycho educational topics” (suicide risk assessment, behavior modification, etc.) as directed by the Program Director.
Maintains documentation of mental health services, and follow through in client charts.
Provide developmentally and culturally appropriate formal and informal diagnostic assessments.
Maintain appropriate documentation.
Case management and collaborate with involved community based providers such as Primary Care Physicians, Substance Abuse Counselors, schools, case workers, or others involved in the care of the client.
Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the clients served, specifically children and families.
Provide information about assessments and involve family members as active participants in the assessment process, in treatment planning, and in treatment services, where appropriate.
Collaborate with other professionals in conducting family-centered assessments and treatment planning, when appropriate.
Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.
Able to identify and categorize each client’s age-specific grouping of needs, such as those for infant, adolescent, adult or geriatric clients.
Refer clients to psychiatric and medication management services as appropriate. Gather record materials and background information as needed by the community mental health center (See Policies and Procedures). Actively collaborate with the psychiatric service provider to insure accuracy of presentation and that identified needs are addressed. Provide monitoring regarding the effects of medications, and feedback to the psychiatrist regarding effects/side effects.
Provide individual and/or family counseling, utilizing evidence based practices when possible.
Provide suicide risk assessment and develop treatment plans to address suicidal ideation or gestures. Use case management as needed to provide follow through and build community support as follow through. Provide other crisis stabilization as needed.
Gather information regarding past mental health services to be used in the individual’s treatment plan development. Provide mental health services referrals to clients prior to or following admission, and exchange information with outside service providers.
Provide services in the office and community based settings such as homes and schools.
Support other staff regarding mental health needs of staff or clients. Maintain confidentiality, prevent splitting between staff and clients, and offer concrete ideas on handling challenging situations.
Conduct face-to-face encounters that will amount to at least 80 hours per month.