Mental Health Counselor-Lea County
About The Position
Provide comprehensive mental health assessment and treatment in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team. This role involves developing and reviewing individualized behavioral/mental health treatment plans, monitoring patient progress, and conducting assessments within required timeframes. The counselor will provide regular follow-up, crisis interventions, and individual/group counseling. Responsibilities also include assisting patients with goal setting, observing for psychiatric symptoms, maintaining accurate patient records, coordinating discharges/transfers, and potentially administering/interpreting psychological tests. The position may involve clinical supervisory oversight for non-psychiatric staff and on-call services. The role requires adherence to agency and company policies, federal and state laws, regulations, and HIPAA guidelines, maintaining ethical commitment to confidentiality, and delivering non-judgmental care. This position is classified as 'essential' and requires reporting to work during emergencies when other state agencies are closed.
Requirements
- Degree in psychology, social work, counselling, or related field from an accredited educational institution required.
- Active professional license to practice in applicable state required.
- Must show current tuberculosis documentation and active CPR certification.
- Must be able to pass background investigation and obtain agency security clearance where applicable.
Nice To Haves
- Minimum of two years experience with direct care for individuals with mental illness preferred.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary team members in the development/review of individualized behavioral/mental health treatment plans and in the monitoring and treatment of patients as indicated on the treatment plans.
- Complete behavioral/mental health assessments for patients referred based on admission process, staff referral or patient self-referral. Ensure that assessment is completed within time period required by the type and urgency of referral.
- Provide regular follow-up to assigned patients to monitor current mental status and functioning.
- Inform supervisor and psychiatric staff of significant change in a patient's functioning.
- Provide crisis interventions as required to include precautionary measures, daily follow-up and emergency procedures as needed.
- Conduct individual and group counseling and psychoeducational groups for patients.
- Assist patients in defining goals to achieve personal, social, educational and/or vocational development.
- Observe patients to detect psychiatric symptoms, mental deficiency, abnormal behavior, or maladjustment.
- Update and maintain accurate and legible patient information and records in accordance with policy.
- Inform, coordinate and advise all applicable parties regarding patient discharge or transfer. May act as a liaison with community agencies and contacts providing services to patients.
- Administer, interpret and report on psychological test data as testing standards permit and/or under supervision if required.
- Provide clinical supervisory oversight for non-psychiatric behavioral/mental health staff as requested.
- Provide on-call mental health services if assigned.
- Conduct in-service training on behavioral/mental health related topics for company and community agencies.
- Identify and maintain professional boundaries to preserve the integrity of the therapeutic process and relationship.
- Proactive in performance improvement activities as demonstrated by participating in the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) program (peer review: record reviews; membership on the CQI committee as requested) and modifying clinical practices based on CQI recommendations.
- Acquire and maintain current clinical knowledge and skills and professional standards.
- Ensures compliance with all agency and company policies, federal and state laws, regulations and guidelines including HIPAA.
- Maintain an ethical commitment to ensure confidentiality of the clinical setting.
- Deliver care in a nonjudgemental/nondiscriminatory manner to protect the autonomy, dignity and rights of the patient.
- Essential employees are expected to report to work when other state agencies are closed for emergencies.
- Other duties assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
