Counselor I

About the role

The Counselor at Hampstead establishes therapeutic relationships with assigned patients and facilitates maintaining the therapeutic environment in the Psychiatric Unit. The Counselor provides progressively basic-to-complex patient care services, increasing independence with experience and skill. This position reports to the Adolescent Services Unit.

Responsibilities

• Creates and implements therapeutic plans and relationships with assigned patients and ensures that treatment plans are followed appropriately so that they may progress toward their goals.
• Provides patient-centered care that is resiliency and recovery-oriented, with a primary focus on patients' health and safety.
• Conducts patient group sessions and patient education that reflect treatment plans and goals; facilitates daily therapeutic activity groups; ensures follow-up with appropriate clinical and/or support staff.
• Assists patients with daily living and maintains a safe and therapeutic milieu along with an orderly work environment.
• Participates in hospital safety training programs and meets with a Senior Counselor and Supervisor for ongoing mentoring, guidance, and supervision.
• Utilizes interventions consistent with current research relevant to developmental, cultural, and disability-specific needs.
• Maintains current knowledge in the field of psychiatric care to apply a broad range of established therapeutic techniques; work becomes more complex and independent with increased knowledge, training, and experience.
• Consults and communicates with other professional treatment staff regarding various treatment interventions, psychosocial and environmental influences, the availability of community resources, and needs for transition to the community.
• Updates and maintains accurate medical records and other documentation in accordance with all Joint Commission, State Licensing, and Medicare standards as applicable.
• Follows program and departmental policies and procedures as well as discipline-specific standards and expectations with regard to psychosocial assessments, progress notes, treatment plans, and other required forms and reports.
• Promotes the hospital culture of patient safety in a non-punitive atmosphere; observes and reports significant events and/or concerns to the Senior Counselor/Charge Nurse/Milieu Supervisor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university with major study in social work, psychology, counseling, or a related behavioral science area. Each additional year of approved formal education may be substituted for one year of required work experience.
• Three years' experience in social work, clinical mental health counseling, or related field in a psychiatric in-patient or clinical environment. Each additional year of approved work experience may be substituted for one year of required formal education.
• Prefer candidate to have a license or be eligible for licensure through reciprocity as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in New Hampshire.
• Experience in providing clinical services within the mental health service delivery system.
• Familiarity with computer applications such as e-mail, basic word-processing, and database input.