Mental Health Practitioner

About the role

The Mental Health Practitioner provides counseling services including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for clients/patients experiencing social, behavioral, and mental health issues. This position does not directly manage other caregivers.

Responsibilities

• Participate with team members in facilitating patient and family learning throughout the continuum of care.
• Reinforce patient’s continued healthcare through teaching and/or referral to community agency follow-up.
• Perform patient assessment of social, economic, emotional, and family situations.
• Provide diagnostic, preventative, and treatment services of a psychosocial nature pertaining to personality adjustment, behavior problems, and interpersonal dysfunction.
• Respect the privacy and protect the confidentiality of patients and family members while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Function as a member of the Interdisciplinary Care Team to ensure care is accomplished effectively and efficiently in a cost-effective manner.
• Provide therapy using a variety of treatment modalities, interventions, and strategies.
• Complete Psychosocial Assessment, Trauma Assessment, Substance Abuse Assessment, and an individualized, measurable treatment plan in compliance with department and regulatory standards.
• Assess the potential threat of harm to self and/or others and/or inability to care for oneself.
• Determine, in coordination with the treatment team and county, the legal status of patients in accordance with State Civil Commitment laws.
• Work with the psychiatrist to develop a working diagnosis and treatment goals; coordinate morning multidisciplinary treatment team meetings.
• Provide individual, group, and family therapy using a variety of treatment modalities, interventions, and strategies.
• Provide psycho-education to patients and their families.
• Provide thorough documentation of all patient interactions in accordance with hospital, state, federal, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate aftercare with outpatient providers including therapeutic appointments, medication management, and follow-up medical appointments.
• Provide crisis intervention to patients in immediate crisis on the unit and to recently discharged patients as needed.
• Participate in AVADE interventions as needed.
• Maintain knowledge of all state and federal regulations as they apply to the admission, care, and discharge of patients from an inpatient psychiatric facility, including civil commitment procedures and protocols.
• Support the vision, mission, and values of the organization in all respects.
• Support Value Improvement Practice (VIP-Lean) principles of continuous improvement, functioning as a champion of change.
• Provide and maintain a safe environment for caregivers, patients, and guests.
• Conduct all activities with the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Comply with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures, supporting the organization’s corporate integrity efforts by acting ethically and reporting known or suspected violations.
• Deliver customer service and/or patient care in a manner that promotes goodwill, is timely, efficient, and accurate.
• Participate in creating a healing environment that supports all aspects of the care environment and the wholeness of each individual, patient, and caregiver.
• Provide a therapeutic presence by purposefully responding to patient needs, including introducing oneself, explaining one’s role, using preferred names, active listening, and effective communication through touch and eye contact.
• Document all patient care with proficiency in compliance with hospital policies, procedures, and regulatory agencies.

Education

• Required: Master’s of Social Work or related field

Licensure/Certification/Registration

• Required: Valid Oregon driver’s license and ability to meet St. Charles Health System driving requirements
• Preferred: Licensure for Outpatient Behavioral Health; Membership in the National Association of Social Workers or another national association

Experience

• Required: Two years of experience in the mental health field
• Preferred: Experience in an inpatient setting; Post-graduate clinical experience

Physical Requirements

• Continually (75% or more): Use of clear and audible speaking voice; ability to hear normal speech level
• Frequently (50%): Sitting; keyboard operation
• Occasionally (25%): Standing; walking; bending; stooping/kneeling/crouching; climbing stairs; reaching overhead; lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 1–10 pounds; grasping/squeezing; operation of a motor vehicle; ability to hear whispered speech level
• Never (0%): Climbing ladder/step-stool; lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 11–50 pounds
• Exposure to Elemental Factors: Occasionally (25%) chemical solutions for Laboratory Caregivers; Rarely (10%) wet/slippery areas
• Blood-Borne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Category: Risk for exposure to BBP

Schedule

• Weekly Hours: 0
• Shift: Variable
• Scheduled Days of the Week: Variable
• Shift Start & End Time: Variable

Pay

• Relief Pay Range: $40.75 – $61.14 per hour