YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST

Description

 JOB SUMMARY/ACCOUNTIBILITY:

The Mental Health Therapist works with youth who are struggling with mental health and psychiatric illnesses. The goal is to improve emotional, behavioral, and social functioning by treating mental health conditions, teaching coping skills and boosting resilience. The mental health therapist does intakes on referrals, completes mental health assessments, administers appropriate diagnostic tools, diagnoses, develops client centered treatment plans, and provides ongoing mental health treatment. Provides individual, group and family sessions that help young people navigate developmental challenges, manage stress, improve relationships and build self-awareness. Determines appropriateness for psychiatric evaluation and refers as needed. Attends internal and external meetings, participates in the Youth Services team meetings, schedules and attends case conferences with medical and school staff when appropriate, educates service providers regarding availability of service. 

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Demonstrates competency in all facets of clinical interaction including intake, determining appropriateness for admission, provision of mental health assessments and reassessments, administer appropriate mental health tools, and provide accurate diagnoses. 
• Develop, implement, and evaluate appropriate client centered treatment plans. Complete documentation (progress notes) showing progress or reasons regarding lack thereof in client obtaining treatment goals. Revise treatment plan with client, as necessary. 
• All clinical documentation (intake, assessment, reassessment, service plans, progress notes, releases of information, etc.) are completed fully and within time frames designated. All administration documentation (service activity logs, quarterly grant data statistics submission) are completed fully and within time frames designated.
• Educates and builds relationships with other providers of service including physicians, schools and the public. Maintains awareness of community changes which could impact service delivery. Conducts community outreach and networks with other service providers developing new venues for the program to participate in.
• Maintains professional conduct with colleagues and facilitates effective interaction in one on one situations and in meetings. Ability to be a team player. Participates in ongoing trainings to increase skill level as both a presenter and an active audience member. Maintains knowledge of current requirements of regulatory, licensing and accreditation agencies. 
• Maintains professional conduct with clients including being on time for visits, returning phone calls, maintaining professional boundaries and educating clients and families. Understanding of the functions of patient advocacy and knowledge of rules and regulations concerning HIPAA and client confidentiality. Comfortable in a culturally diverse environment and demonstrate awareness of the value of cultural humility. 
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

. POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

• MSW or master’s degree in related counseling services field required. Licensed at highest level of degree obtained and a minimum of one year of providing mental health therapy, preferred. 
• Experience working with young people and their families. 
• Ability to take ownership and showcase interpersonal skillset. Good verbal and written skills. Able to communicate effectively. 
• Understanding of the functions of patient advocacy and knowledge of rules and regulations concerning HIPAA and client confidentiality.
• Well-organized and demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple tasks; self-driven; achieve desired results and adapt favorably to changing priorities. Highly effective  

problem solving ability. Analytical ability sufficient to resolve problems requiring the integration of data from diverse sources. 

• Computer literate, proficient in Microsoft Outlook, able to learn and effectively utilize client software data base. 

WORKING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

Works primarily in a normal office environment with usual pressures and deals with time constraints. Primarily works traditional business hours with a focus on after school hours, may need to be able work non-business hours, such as on weekends or evenings. 

CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND ETHICAL CONDUCT:

All personnel of Matrix must adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics and incorporate Continuous Quality Improvement efforts into their everyday performance. All employees of Matrix Community Health must adhere to the federal regulations and requirements of the respective grant funding their position as well as the Performance Standards, Licensing rules, and be of Good Moral Character as stated in the Code of Ethics.

Demonstrates and actively promote an understanding and commitment to the mission and values of Matrix Human Services