MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST - ACCESS CENTER

Essential Duties

• Conduct timely, focused psychiatric evaluations and biopsychosocial assessments to determine level of risk and appropriate disposition.
• Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation for patients experiencing acute behavioral health emergencies.
• Identify patients meeting criteria for involuntary or voluntary psychiatric intervention in accordance with state regulations.
• Serve as a consultative resource to ED providers, offering evidence-based disposition recommendations.
• Collaborate with physicians, nursing, security, and ancillary staff to support safe and efficient patient management.
• Facilitate appropriate transitions of care, including coordination of psychiatric placement, community services, and discharge planning.
• Respond to behavioral codes and hospital-wide crises as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Provide real-time behavioral assessment and lead or support de-escalation strategies to reduce risk of harm to patients and staff.
• Maintain current knowledge of community mental health, substance use, and social support services.
• Engage patients and families in safety planning and resource connection at time of discharge.
• Complete required legal documentation relevant to emergency psychiatric care.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of the Michigan Mental Health Code and applicable regulatory standards.
• Distinguish ED responsibilities from outpatient and inpatient legal processes, ensuring appropriate scope of practice.
• Accurately document assessments, clinical impressions, and disposition plans in the electronic medical record in a timely manner.

Job Requirements

• Current LMSW licensure by State of Michigan OR LLMSW licensure and previous behavioral health experience.
• Ability to interview, assess, organize and problem solve.
• Ability to identify appropriate community resources on assigned caseload and to work collaboratively with patients, families, and interdisciplinary team and community agencies to achieve desired patient outcomes.
• Experience in acute care case management, discharge planning, utilization management, performance improvement and managed care reimbursement, preferred.
• Master’s Degree in Social Work.
• Knowledge of the Michigan Mental Health Code, preferred.

Requirements

• Shift: Days
• Full-time
• Facility: Sparrow Hospital
• Experience Level: 4-9 Years