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. This role provides progressively basic-to-complex patient care services, increasing independence with experience and skill.

This position is 40 hours per week, reporting to the Child Services Unit, with every other weekend required.

Responsibilities

• Creates and implements therapeutic plans and relationships with assigned patients, ensuring treatment plans are followed to help patients 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 reflecting 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, community resources, and needs for transition to the community.
• Updates and maintains accurate medical records and other documentation in accordance with Joint Commission, State Licensing, and Medicare standards.
• Follows program and departmental policies and procedures, as well as discipline-specific standards and expectations for 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.

Requirements

• 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 a 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.
• Preferred 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 email, basic word-processing, and database input.