School Based Therapist- Buncombe County and Asheville City

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The School Based Behavioral Health Therapist will provide outpatient mental health treatment in an assigned school setting. The Therapist role is multi-faceted and includes meeting clinical benchmarks for quality care and productivity, ensuring proper care is being provided in accordance with program contracts/regulations, fiscal responsibility and/or assigned program(s). This position will report to a Team Supervisor of the School Based Behavioral Health Program.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide individual, family, and group therapy to clients using clinical models and modalities approved by the agency and the service definition for children and adults who are being referred to mental health and substance abuse services.
• Conduct Comprehensive Clinical Assessments, trauma-screenings, threat assessments and comprehensive crisis plans.
• Incorporate internal and external collateral information (i.e. CCAs, Psychological Testing, Medical Evaluations, etc.) into case conceptualization and treatment planning.
• Participate in program and activity planning related to therapeutic activities and treatment.
• Participate in treatment planning and implementation including conducting/participating in clinical service teams, linking and referring clients/families to services, and other programming as described in the service definition or by SBBH Manager.
• Provide support and training to clients and staff related to behavioral strategies and interventions through the use of evidenced-based models.

• Participate in 24/7 on-call crisis support. Some positions may require a primary focus on crisis assessment in the school setting.
• Complete documentation required including progress notes, treatment plans, service authorization requests, and clinical intakes at co-location offices when applicable within the time frame specified.
• Submit clinical assessments, clinical addendums, internal transfer documentation, clinical conference notes, and client discharge paperwork within designated time frames set by SBBH Manager.
• Required participation in clinical staffing, monthly administrative meetings and supervision with team supervisor and/or SBBH Manager.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

Communication Skills

• Effectively and respectably communicate with other individuals, whether it be a colleague, patient, or patient’s family member and appropriately enumerate information in a manner easily understood by all parties. We do this to foster a culture of understanding between all parties, especially in complex and difficult situations, to ultimately provide the best care possible to our patients and their families.

Decision Making

• Ability to make the most appropriate decision in a given situation and then taking the next steps to ensure appropriate and timely completion. This requires conflict resolution skills, critical thinking skills, confidence in your ability to make the right decision in most situations. This also includes ability to prioritize your workday appropriately to ensure the most important tasks are completed on time.

HealthCare Knowledge

• Having the drive to keep yourself abreast and up to date on the new breakthroughs in your area of expertise and communicating them to the rest of the team, as appropriate.  This also includes keeping up with your licensure and yearly training requirements within your area expertise along with MAHEC’s organizational training. Finally, the ability to apply the depth of knowledge maintained and gained through this process in real life scenarios as appropriate.

Interpersonal Skills

• Showing the ability to meet difficult situations with grace, professionalism, and understanding. Within your area of expertise, showing respect and showing empathy where appropriate with your colleagues, patients, and their family at all times, even when its most difficult to do so. This is done, in part, by effective listening, being your authentic self, showing responsibility and dependability, and being patient with others.

Organizational Values

• Adherence to MAHEC’s founding principles and incorporating them every day. This includes, among others, having integrity and accountability, reverence for other cultures and equitable practices, ability to manage change, and displaying a clear understanding of organizational dynamics. Doing these things creates a culture where people want to do the best for each other and gives personal ownership towards the goal of helping people in their time of need.

Problem Solving

• Having an analytical mind and ability to work autonomously to solve complex problems that may arise. The wherewithal to think logically through a difficult problem and come to an appropriate resolution for a given issue. This helps to drive continuous improvement by thinking through where we can improve in a novel way. Measures success by understanding where we are currently and where we want to go and then applying those new ideas to affect positive change.

SPECIFIED SKILLS

COMPUTER

• Excellent skills in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and database applications required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Mental Health, Counseling, or Social Work. Must have qualifying licensure.

REQUIRED LICENSES:

• LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), LMHC (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor) OR
• Doctoral Level Psychologist (PhD, PsyD). Provisional license allowed.
• Some Positions may Require LCAS

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual Spanish/English language skills preferred. Eligible for compensation add on after successful completion of language-proficiency assessment once hired.

SCHEDULE:

• This role is scheduled 11-months annually, off during July. Regular attendance on-site at assigned schools is an essential function of this position. Typical business hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (or flexed to best meet the needs of the clients and/or the Division); 40 hours per workweek.