Job Description

Job Summary:

As an independent clinician and within the scope of practice, responsible for an advanced level of counseling/therapy, providing psychiatric evaluation, clinical risk assessments, care plan development, diagnosis of behavioral health conditions, care coordination, behavior management, assessment regarding need for consultation by psychiatry, care management and disposition planning. As a Licensed Independent Practitioner, functions without a physician sponsor and assumes the responsibility and liability for an independent practice.

Essential Functions:

Provide consultation, assessment, diagnosis, care plans, assertive care management and disposition planning for patients with acute behavioral/medical health needs.
Provides risk assessments (danger to self, others and/or grave disability) to all patients seen and determines need for continued hospitalization or disposition to community services. Works in collaboration with the attending provider and the medical care team. Arranges patient hospitalization, arranges for voluntary/involuntary evaluations when clinically indicated, obtains insurance authorization, and provides disposition planning.
Coordinates patient throughput in the involuntary legal system and maintains level of expertise regarding regulations, the legal and mental health system.
Acts as a physician extender for the psychiatrist and assigned departments. Assists in determining patient level of need and makes recommendations to the care team regarding need for psychiatric consultation, including possible need for medication management.
Attends monthly department meetings and actively participates in continued efforts to best serve the needs of the behavioral health patients both at the medical center and in the community.
Maintains legible, accurate and confidential medical records. Documents all evaluations, consultations, diagnoses, recommendations, treatment, care plans, disposition plans, referrals, outcomes and education according to established standards.
Analyzes new knowledge gained from conferences, workshops, professional literature or “hands-on training” and assimilates this knowledge into clinical practice.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications (Required Unless Otherwise Stated):

Education:

Master’s degree in counseling or related field
Must meet continuing education requirements as prescribed by the State to maintain license requirements for clinical practice.

Experience/Training:

Previous professional Social Work or counseling experience with diagnosing and treatment of patient with mental illness is required.
Minimum of one-year experience or graduate placement in a medical setting.
Competence in area of diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.

License/Certification:

WA: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Mental Health Counselor is required.
Ability to be granted privileges as a Licensed Independent Practitioner and maintain active status.

Other Skills:

Familiarity with medical/psychiatric diagnosis/terminology and conditions as these impact acute care and discharge needs.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Superior ability to work collaboratively within a team.
Must be highly capable of an advanced level, independent counseling practice.
Must have excellent organizational and critical thinking skills.