Outpatient Primary Therapist III

Responsibilities

• Coordinates patient care, facilitates group therapy, and develops programming and therapeutic treatment for identified patients.
• Establishes and maintains positive relationships with patients, physicians, allied health professionals, and all referral sources.
• Plans and facilitates daily adult groups, including educational groups, psychotherapy (talk therapy) groups, and other assigned groups.
• Works cooperatively with Inpatient and Outpatient Manager in program development.
• Monitors patients throughout the day during groups and between group times as needed.
• Completes appropriate documentation for group notes, plan of care therapeutic goals and interventions, plan of care updates, therapist notes, crisis safety plans, and CSSR-S within specified time frames.
• Ensures group notes have correct day and times, with documentation completed within 24 hours.
• Documents calls and related information in the Electronic Medical Record in a timely manner.
• Checks and audits charts for documentation and charge errors monthly (if applicable).
• Participates in discharge planning and referral contacts with documentation of discharge plans (if applicable).
• Takes daily attendance of patients, calls if patients are absent, and documents in the Electronic Medical Record (if applicable).
• Communicates treatment issues and medication concerns to nurses and physicians daily.
• Participates in treatment teams with coworkers and providers, providing feedback on patient progress to plan for future treatment.
• Attends staff meetings as needed and establishes effective working relationships with supervisors and coworkers.
• Performs duties as assigned to maintain a safe and therapeutic clinical environment.
• Provides one-on-one interventions with patients to de-escalate behaviors using intervention when necessary.
• Attends debriefings on patients as needed.
• Handles confidential information and makes decisions concerning the emotional status of patients, including ability to harm self or others.
• Interacts daily with psychiatrists, nurses, social services, and other therapists to provide appropriate services and programs to patients.
• Interacts with family and outside agencies for patient care as needed.
• Stays abreast of the organization’s programs and services.
• Complies with facility safety, infection control, and security programs.
• Attends in-service programs as mandated per policy.
• Manages resources responsibly and maintains a clean, neat physical environment in compliance with infection prevention standards.
• Seeks and identifies opportunities to improve care, patient flow, or utilization of resources.
• Participates in process improvement initiatives for the department and facility as directed.
• Participates in the orientation and supervision of new employees and students.
• Assists in orienting new staff and participates in training and development activities to enhance own knowledge and skills.
• Completes required facility and departmental continuing education.

Requirements

• Licensed by the state of Georgia (LPC, LCSW, LMFT).
• Master’s degree in counseling or related field from an accredited institution.
• Five years of related experience.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Full range of body motion, including handling and lifting patients, manual and finger dexterity, and eye-hand coordination.
• Standing and walking for extensive periods of time.
• Occasionally lifts and carries weight up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to distinguish letters, numbers, and symbols with vision and hearing within normal range to respond to Code alerts and equipment alarms.
• Work-related stress due to volume and time constraints with irregular working hours.