Emergency Psychiatric Assessment Counselor | Behavioral Health | PRN

Avera Health • Sioux Falls, SD

82d • $29 - $46

About The Position

The Emergency Psychiatric Assessment Counselor II provides evaluation and treatment for individuals of all ages who are suffering from an acute mental health crisis through telephonic, face to face, or interactive video communication. This role requires the ability to work in an intense, stressful work environment where rapid assessments and swift treatment decisions are necessary. The counselor applies specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skills in the areas of assessment, diagnosis, and crisis intervention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders, conditions and addictions, including severe mental illness in adults and seniors, severe emotional disturbances in children and adolescents, and acutely intoxicated or withdrawing individuals. The counselor also helps facilitate referral or placement to appropriate levels of care or other resources.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and 10 years hospital assessment experience or Master's must be obtained within 6 months of hire.
• An active license in the state of practice upon hire as a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), Clinical Social Worker - Practitioner in Private Practice (CSW-PIP), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
• 2 years related experience.

Responsibilities

• Answers all inquiry calls in a timely fashion, offers and schedules assessments, completes the database and keeps all information up to date.
• Provides excellent customer service to all callers as the point of contact for all BHC services.
• Completes the psychosocial assessment including suicide/homicide risk assessment, determines appropriate level of care and makes appropriate referrals.
• Manages the Behavioral Health Center emergency room by visiting with walk-in patients, providing a medical screen, and meeting all EMTALA guidelines.
• Assists emergency room physicians, including E-assessment through the E-emergency program.
• Works with law enforcement to petition or place Board of Mental Illness holds when needed, and with security regarding transports and Crisis Prevention Intervention when needed.
• Provides crisis intervention and case management for local mental health clinics, medical clinics, and psychiatry clinics.
• Provides EAP assessment and counseling including phone intervention.
• Manages the psychiatric inpatient beds through a system-wide tracking board, manages the physician rotation assignments and on-call schedules.
• Maintains current knowledge of admitting modules and the ability to register Clinical ARC patients and Pre-admitted patients in a timely fashion.
• Provides ongoing training/orientation for all students including psychiatric residents, nurses, counseling interns, and paramedics.
• Provides mental health support services in the community and promotes mental health services available through Avera Behavioral Health.
• Obtains and completes all insurance pre-certifications and authorizations as determined necessary for pre-certification; coordinates with insurance companies, patients, and clinical staff to obtain information; and maintains complete and accurate documentation.
• Maintains an updated working knowledge of mental illness holds, duty to warn and abuse reporting standards, informed consent, referral sources, level of care criteria, and pre-authorization requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: Bachelor's degree