Mental Health Clinician - (San Diego, CA)

MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve people’s lives and instill hope by providing cost-effective community-based mental health, drug and alcohol recovery, and housing services. We continually seek new and improved ways of serving our clients and communities. MHS is an essential business. Mental Health Clinician.

JOB SUMMARY

The STEPS Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program is a fully integrated mental health day treatment program providing services that are intensive to trauma reactive adolescents with sexually abusive behaviors between 6 to 21 years of age. The STEPS Program is an integrated system of care designed to provide a nurturing environment within a structured setting, the goal of which is to reintegrate the youth safely back into the home, community and/or school environment. The Mental Health Therapist (Behavioral Health Clinicians) is responsible for delivery of a full range of clinically related services including direct counseling (individual, family and group therapy), crisis intervention, rehabilitation and collateral services. The Mental Health Therapist (Behavioral Health Clinicians) carries a client caseload as assigned by the Program Manager. Mental Health Clinician.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Behavioral Health Clinicians Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Integrates clinical concepts with sound theoretical and practical applications of rehabilitative and individual group and milieu counseling principles.
• Interacts therapeutically with clients, maintaining distinction between therapeutic and social relationships. Sets regular goals with program participants, including vocational and educational goals.
• Assists other staff in addressing and redirecting challenging client behavior. Sets effective boundaries, ensures clients are informed of inappropriate behaviors, provides support to clients in redirecting behaviors. Role models prosocial behaviors.
• Facilitates assigned groups in a timely manner. Is flexible in providing coverage for other groups and individual sessions, with little or no notice.
• Supports participation by all clients in the milieu. Encourages team building, feedback and problem-solving in participants.
• Assesses and recognizes behavior or changes in mood that indicate suicidal or homicidal intent or plan, and immediately reports any concerns to Program Manager and/or Program Supervisor.
• Provides input to other treatment team members to develop and improve program services and delivery and individual client services. Attends treatment meetings and provides input to treatment plan. Consults with attending psychiatrist regarding medication and treatment of clients.
• Maintains a clinical caseload as prescribed by the Program Manager and supervised by the Program Supervisor. Provides a variety of interventions including individual and group therapy and case management services to each client.
• Provides symptom management skills and information and the leadership necessary to provide clients with the ability to maintain the least restrictive care and the highest level of functioning.
• Develop and implement an individualized, strength based, culturally competent, client and family driven client plans.
• Maintains timely and accurate documentation using assigned forms and formats for each client in caseload per contract and funding source requirements.
• Knowledge of rehabilitation programs and treatment, and the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Model and individual, group, family and cognitive therapy techniques.

• Knowledge of behavioral management techniques and crisis intervention skills.

• Knowledge laws and ethics guiding the profession.

• Recognize mood changes or signs of behavior that indicate de-compensation.
• Assists clients in arranging services for continuity of care following their discharge or graduation from program.
• Participates in quality assurance programs.
• Comply with all MHS and program rules, policies and procedures including HIPAA standards.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of a master’s degree in social work or related field.
• Current BBS registration or licensure as A/LMFT, A/LCSW, A/LPCC.
• At least one-year mental health experience working with children and adolescents, including clinical experience on a cross-disciplinary team.
• Proficient user of Microsoft Office Suite and EHR software.
• Ability to problem solve and react appropriately to emergency situations.
• Ability to work independently and effectively collaborate with a team.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions.

☒ Seeing

☒ Hearing

☒ Speaking

☒ Stooping/Bending

☐ Working in cramped spaces

☒ Moving around office

☒ Moving between offices/clients

☒ Driving

☒ Climbing

☐ Lifting/carrying heavy items

☐ Pushing/pulling/dragging items

☒ Standing for long periods

☐ Working outside/underground

☒ Using hands/fingers

☒ Sitting for long periods of time

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

MHS is committed to Equal Opportunity Employment and to attracting and retaining the most qualified employees without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability or protected veteran status.