Mental Health Therapist

Provide therapeutic services and case management to children with significant mental health issues and their families or caregivers. Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning process for all clients. Provide clinical leadership to the treatment team through multiple channels. Maintain regular contact with external customers. Conducts individual, family, and group therapy for clients as assigned. Must complete all required compliance documentation and participate in regular on-call rotation.

 

Uphold the agency's mission and values in service delivery by being mindful of not only representing the program but of the agency when working with children, families/caregivers, and other professionals. This includes a focus on providing excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.

Provide clinical care and leadership towards high quality residential service for all children by interfacing with other therapists, residential staff supervisors, youth counselors, and other supportive therapeutic staff in meetings, trainings, and discussions about client services. Ensure delivery of services consistent with UMFS values, strengths-based philosophy, licensing standards, and professional ethics.   

Provide psychotherapy services and comprehensive case management to children assigned to caseload. In order to maximize benefit and success, start with rapport building and establishment of therapeutic alliance. Maintain ongoing relationship with each child in order to assist them in their process of meeting their treatment goals.

Conduct at minimum three (3) individual therapy sessions per workweek and conduct family therapy sessions once per week, if required. Sessions must be in person no less than once per four-week period. Other sessions may be conducted via telephone. Provide family engagement activities and DSS/DHS/DFS efforts to identify natural adult supports for children in foster care. Create, encourage, and approve opportunities for contact between child and families/caregivers/natural adult supports.

Act as the point of contact for all therapy services and case management needs (may work with Clinical Case Manager or Intensive Care Coordinator on case management) towards continuation of treatment and successful discharge of child. As needed, keep internal and external customers connected in regards to health care, funding, and psychiatric treatment. External customer include but are not limited to: legal guardians, DSS workers, case managers, probation officers, school representatives, families and other referral sources. Attend FAPT and court hearings as appropriate and represent the program and agency in a professional manner.

Ensure prompt and appropriate attention to crisis management issues by responding to emergencies and potentially unsafe situations for assigned children. Role model de-escalation techniques for residential staff and offer intervention options as needed. Participate in on-call rotation to provide on the phone and in person assistance on assigned weekdays and weekends in regards to crisis management and clinical support needed by youth counselors and residential staff supervisors.

Maintain mandatory record keeping and report writing and follow established procedures in accord with those of the program, UMFS, DBHDS, Human Rights Regulations, DMAS, and COA. Ensure all files and documentation are complete and accurate, all relevant confidentiality and privacy requirements are met, and participate in regular file reviews.

Maintain quota for billable hours related to client services.

Adhere to training needs for the program, agency, and licensure (if applicable) in a timely manner.

Other duties as assigned.