BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICIAN

SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

This position provides a variety of treatment services including individual, group, family, and marital therapy to any and all clients from birth to elder. This position also provides clinical services such as intake/diagnostic evaluations, case evaluations, and crisis intervention; as well as acts as a liaison with other agencies as required. This position is a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team and provides regular clinical supervision, ensures proper maintenance of clinical records in accordance with insurance regulations and established SEARHC policies and procedures. A clinician ensures that clinical productivity standards as established and followed. This position is available for after-hours telephone contact for clients in crisis when needed and as assigned; in addition to providing clinical support in person or by phone as needed at any SEARHC location within the Behavioral Health Division.

There is no specific responsibility to managing an operating budget.  As a clinician the financial responsibilities lie in documenting all services as outlined first and foremost in the code of ethics of the profession. Clinicians maintain records necessary for rendering professional services to their clients and as required by laws, regulations, or agency or institution procedures. Clinicians include sufficient and timely documentation in their client records to facilitate the delivery and continuity of needed services. Clinicians take reasonable steps to ensure that documentation in records accurately reflects client progress and services provided. If errors are made in client records, clinicians take steps to properly note the correction of such errors according to agency or institutional policies, proper documentation is a requirement to ensure that SEARHC is able to bill accurately for services provided to client in accordance with state, federal, and insurance rules, laws and regulations.   This position is a covered position in accordance with the Indian Child Protection Act (ICPA).

Non-Licensed- $40.00/hr. / LPC/LMFT- $50.00/hr. / LCSW- $$60.00/hr.

This position adheres to the organization mission:  “Alaska Native people working in partnership to provide the best healthcare to our communities,” by providing sound chemical dependency/mental health clinical care and interventions to individuals and families.

• Ability to provide clinically sound treatment services based on client needs and treatment plans.
• Demonstrated understanding of diagnostic evaluation methods, mental status exams, and use of the DSM-IV.
• Ability to respond to a range of clients’ needs using differential diagnoses and treatment approaches.
• Ability to provide appropriate crisis intervention services.
• Ability to maintain clinical records in timely compliance with State, Federal and agency policies, and procedures.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other community agencies on behalf of clients and/or the SEARHC.
• Demonstrated understanding of sound ethical practice in conjunction with the established and defined ethics of one’s training, discipline, and education/license level.
• Ability to effectively organize time, responsibilities, and accomplish task by established deadlines and timeframes.

• Provide screening, assessment, diagnoses, treatment planning, direct therapy and continuing care to individual clients, and/or conduct family therapy with clients ranging from birth to elderly and their families including children and significant others. Facilitate or co-facilitate groups as needed. Provide care coordination, client advocacy, and skill development as needed. Provide discharge planning.  Overall provide clinically related chemical dependence and mental health services as needed based on results of individual assessments.  Communicate and collaborate with clinical and paraprofessional team to achieve program treatment goals.  Provide on call coverage as assigned and assistance in BH programs across the Behavioral Health Department.  Provide crisis intervention services provided within normal clinic hours; on call as needed for after-hours mental health emergencies throughout BH department.

Clinicians who are not yet licensed will receive clinical supervision that meets the requirements stated under the specific license that one is becoming licensed in with documentation of the supervision kept on each person. Clinicians not licensed will provide structured chemical dependency and mental health services with a focus in supervision on providing the appropriate delivery of twelve core functions:  Screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, therapy, case management, crisis intervention, client education, referral, reports and records keeping, and consultation.

• Maintain complete and accurate records (paper and electronic), case notes, statistics, etc., as required by laws, regulations, agency or institution procedures. This is includes federal, state and regulations specific to multiply insurance companies along with the National Accreditation of the Behavioral Health department. As licensed individuals it is each person’s responsibly as outlined in each license to know the regulations of the state for which they are working.  Complete screening, assessments, treatment plans and all other documentation per program standards specifically as this relates to Alaska Medicaid, The Joint Commission, and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) requirements. Provide required reports and documentation to the client chart on a timely basis as required by Medicaid, The Joint Commission, and CARF. Participate and provide assistance in maintaining all state, federal, and industry accreditation laws and standards; as well as SEARHC policies and procedures. Maintain appropriate records in confidential manner according to program policy. Document the provision of services in charting that meets all requirements for state and national accreditation standards within the applications of practice.  Prepare and review treatment and discharge summaries.
• Coordinate with other corporate and community social service resources on both programmatic and case work basis to assure appropriate services are utilized for optimum client care. Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings, assist in developing and monitoring treatment plans, and consult with other professional staff regularly as needed.
• Provides scheduled staff trainings/meetings and help staff integrate new information/practices into delivery of treatment services.
• Incorporate SEARHC Quality Management concepts and skills into delivery of client services. Assist and complete all billing duties assigned by lead program clinical personnel. Complete all required provider enrollment documentation as requested timely.

Education

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling or related discipline from an accredited educational institution. Must be licensed as or in the process of becoming a: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT).
• Clinician who is already licensed and has at least five years of experience working in the field and who will/ could provide supervision to Community Family Service Worker’s or other professionals.

License and Certification

• Meets the educational requirements for licensure in Alaska as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist at time of hire. Applicant may need to accrue supervised clinical hours and/or take the exam for licensure. Once licensure is obtained it is a requirement to keep it current for the duration of employment.
• Valid State of Alaska Driver’s License or can be obtained within 6 months of hire.
• Alaska State Chemical Dependency Counselor I or MAC certificate or equivalent preferred.

Other

• Must be 21 years of age.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Modern methods, techniques and procedures used in marriage, family and child counseling for both mental health and substance using clients.
• Psychological theory.
• Interviewing techniques; crisis intervention techniques.
• Ethical and legal management practices; patients legal rights. Documentation regulations specific to
• State Medicaid regulations, The Joint Commission, and CARF Accreditation requirements.
• Special education laws pertaining to emotionally disturbed children.

Skill and Ability to:

• Perform case management; use tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Observe and record psychiatric behavior and substance using behavior; conduct screening, assessments, treatment planning and document in progress notes.
• Analyze, evaluate and diagnose situations and adopt effective courses of action.
• Write clear/concise reports and chart notes in accordance with professional standards, state regulations and department protocol.
• Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, or tests.
• Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
• Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems.
• Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
• Modify treatment activities or approaches as needed to comply with changes in clients' status.
• Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes.
• Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
• Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.
• Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports.
• Learn about new developments in counseling by reading professional literature, attending courses and seminars, or establishing and maintaining contact with other social service agencies.
• Evaluate clients' physical or mental condition, based on review of client information.
• Act as client advocates to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
• Collaborate with other staff members to perform clinical assessments or develop treatment plans.
• Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge.
• Discuss with individual patients their plans for life after leaving therapy.
• Meet with families, probation officers, police, or other interested parties to exchange necessary information during