Clinical Therapist (MFT / LCSW) - Outpatient Adult Group Therapy (Full Time - Varied Shift) Job Listing at SutterHealth in Sacramento, CA

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Clinical Therapist (MFT/LCSW)-Outpatient provides psychosocial assessment, individual/group treatment, family therapy, discharge and aftercare planning to patient and their families.  The incumbent will have competency in delivering services and treatments based of recovery-oriented services, family systems, and evidenced based treatments. Provides consultation and training on psychosocial aspects of human behavior and complex environments.  The incumbent is the primary contact for involving and educating patients, families, and significant others in the process of treatment and mental health recovery.  Serves as a liaison to community programs and develop strategic partnerships to enhance aftercare plans of patients and their families. Additionally, the clinical therapist is responsible for completing review with insurance companies to ensure authorization for service. Participates on Committees as required. Other duties may be required or ssigned.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

I.          PERFORMS PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENTS AND TREATMENT PLANNING FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES

·         In a timely manner, gathers appropriate data and formulates relevant assessment of patient and family’s medical, social, and emotional situations using effective interviewing techniques, consultation with healthcare team and chart review.

·         Establishes and periodically revises the treatment plan on the basis of comprehensive and ongoing psychosocial assessment of patient/family's concerns, strengths, needs, clinical impressions, and issues specific to spiritual and cultural values. 

·         Appropriately gathers data reflective of the patient's and family's developmental stages.  Effectively incorporates data including age-specific needs into assessment and treatment planning for patients of all ages.

·         Develop personalized treatment plan to delineate strengths, deficits and high risk psychosocial needs

·         Determine whether patient is appropriate for group or individual therapy.

·         Provide educational and therapeutic groups.  Document patient goals and response to group on therapeutic activity form.

·         Determine whether family/couples session is needed.  Document specific interventions on treatment plan.

·         Provide family therapy and document in the patient record and treatment plan.

·         Attend treatment-planning meetings to give and receive feedback.  Discuss progress/resistance of patient.  Document updates on treatment plan.

·         Provide on-going assessment and creative interventions and document on treatment plan.

·         Work as a multidisciplinary team member to update treatment plan.

·         Support patient in milieu involvement.

·         Supervise interns in effective treatment and interventions.

·         Supervise non-licensed staff on treatment issues. 

            Provides direct clinical services, which may include individual and family counseling, Group Treatment, crisis intervention, facilitating education and support groups and linkage with resources to patients, families, and staff as indicated by psychosocial assessment and treatment plan. 

·         Establishes rapport, communicates effectively and empowers patients/families with diverse cultural norms and spiritual values to maximize and/or develop productive coping mechanisms, behaviors and thought processes.

·         Identifies and effectively deals with resistance and conflict in work with clients (including patients, families, healthcare team members and community representatives).  Appropriately intervenes to decrease tension and assist clients in evaluating non-productive behaviors, thought processes and coping mechanisms.

·         Demonstrates self-awareness by recognizing and monitoring the effects of personal values, boundaries, sensitivities and emotions.  Flexibly and effectively intervenes with emotionally charged issues, conflicts and atypical situations.

·         Demonstrates knowledge of community resources.  Effectively educates patient/family about community resources, and provides linkage between patient/family and appropriate services for the population served.

II.         Provides direct clinical services, which may include individual and family counseling, Group Treatment, crisis intervention, facilitating education and support groups and linkage with resources to patients, families, and staff as indicated by psychosocial assessment and treatment plan. 

·         Establishes rapport, communicates effectively and empowers patients/families with diverse cultural norms and spiritual values to maximize and/or develop productive coping mechanisms, behaviors and thought processes.

·         Identifies and effectively deals with resistance and conflict in work with clients (including patients, families, healthcare team members and community representatives).  Appropriately intervenes to decrease tension and assist clients in evaluating non-productive behaviors, thought processes and coping mechanisms.

·         Demonstrates self-awareness by recognizing and monitoring the effects of personal values, boundaries, sensitivities and emotions.  Flexibly and effectively intervenes with emotionally charged issues, conflicts and atypical situations.

·         Demonstrates knowledge of community resources.  Effectively educates patient/family about community resources, and provides linkage between patient/family and appropriate services for the population served.

III.        Documents in the patient record and other hospital/ department records in an accurate, concise, and timely manner.

·         Maintains accurate, current, legible patient records using approved forms and format.  Documents all assessments, plans, interventions, patient/family involvement, outside agency communication, interdisciplinary contacts and case closure according to social work and patient care area standards.

·         Complies with all documentation and reporting requirements for risk management, mandated reporting and other medical/legal situations, in a manner consistent with confidentiality regulations and department standards.

·         Records activity statistics in accordance with department standards.  Consistently submits complete and accurate reports and statistics within 24 hours of stated deadline.

·         Submits patient billing forms, miscellaneous department and personnel forms (e.g., time cards, time off/schedule change, reimbursement, continuing education, LOA requests), and other information requests or reports to the department, other departments, and community agencies in a complete, accurate and timely manner.

IV.       Establishes and maintains positive, effective relationships with other hospital departments, medical staff and community representatives.

·         Interprets clinical findings, promptly communicates assessment and treatment plan updates, and provides effective consultation on patient care issues to health care team and agency representatives, adhering to confidentiality guidelines.

·         Responds quickly to requests, flexibly adapts to changing priorities, and keeps other departments informed of progress on patient referrals and other work activities to ensure efficient coordination of activities.

·         Develops positive, productive relationships with healthcare team members and representatives of community agencies, effectively collaborating on process improvement activities and staff/community education.

V.        Fosters an environment of mutual support and professional excellence throughout the Social SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

·         Actively builds positive relationships throughout the department.  Uses effective interpersonal communication skills with department social workers, supervisors and support staff to resolve conflicts and sensitive situations.

·         Flexibly adapts to changes in the work environment, resolves issues related to assignments and departmental functioning in a timely, positive and effective manner.  Demonstrates a commitment to teamwork, by willingly accepting responsibilities and performing assignments beyond the immediate scope of routine duties.

·         Actively participates in department activities including regular staff meetings, committees and task forces.

·         Meets all applicable department standards for productivity, annual competency validation, safety education, licensure, and departmental performance/process improvement.

·         Provides effective orientation, work direction, functional guidance and case consultation to interns and less experienced clinical therapist. 

Child/Adolescent Unit

·         Demonstrates understanding of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for disorders in children and adolescents.

·         Demonstrates an understanding of human growth and development and identifies age-related developmental tasks.

·         Demonstrates an understanding of the principles of behavior modification, assertiveness training and supportive therapy, and their application.

·         Demonstrates consistency and teamwork in reinforcing concepts utilized in the treatment program of the unit.

·         Demonstrates an understanding of the legal aspects of treatment, protection and maintenance of minors, and uses WIC, penal code and other facility resources as needed.

·         Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of family developmental stages, based on the age of the patient and applies this knowledge in the assessment of family interventions.

·         Utilizes age appropriate therapeutic interventions with children and adolescents.

MINIMUM POSITION REQUIREMENTS 

Education: 

• Master’s degree in social work from an accredited university by the Council on Social Work Education. 
  
• Master’s counseling or psychology  required. 
  
• Must be licensed by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences Examiners (BBSE), as a LCSW and/or MFT.   
  
• LCSW and MFT who provides clinical supervision will have completed 15 contact hours of supervision training according to BBSE guidelines required.
  

 Experience: 

• Prior work experience in an acute psychiatric setting which has included assessment of psychiatric patients, individual and group treatment, family treatment and discharge planning, and utilization review.
  

Knowledge:  

• Strong clinical skills in psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, counseling, interdisciplinary  collaboration and linkage with resources.
  
•  Knowledgeable in child, adolescent, adult and geriatric psychopathology as well as psychiatric interventions.
• Must be knowledgeable with psychiatric, psychosocial and legal issues and substance misuse/abuse and chemical dependency assessment and treatment, understanding of current insurance benefits and restrictions in the area of mental health, knowledgeable of DSM-IV-TR, family systems therapy and crisis intervention models.
• Knowledge of child, elder and dependent adult abuse and domestic violence reporting requirements and other significant regulations affecting clinical social work practice (e.g. Tarasoff, patient-psychotherapist privilege).
• Knowledge of suicidal behavior and homicidal, and the skills necessary to assess lethality, and to develop appropriate treatment plans.
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior and communication, psychotherapy, case management, and the influence of cultural and spiritual values in social work practice.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to provide psychosocial care appropriate to the age-specific needs of children, adolescents, adults and elders. 
• Knowledge of individual and family development over the life spans.
• Knowledge of substance misuse and abuse and co-occurring disorders
• Knowledge of recovery-oriented services, family systems, and evidenced based treatments (e.g., Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interview, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Relapse   Prevention, etc.).   

Special Skills/Equipment:

• Demonstrate ability to plan, organize, set and accomplish objectives. 
• Demonstrate sound clinical judgment, problem solving and decision making skills. 
• Must exhibit excellent communication skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing. 
• Work is performed with many interruptions. 
• Must demonstrate strong interpersonal and organizational skills, to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with rapidly changing priorities and competing demands.  
• Must be able to occasionally flex time to handle emergencies. 
• Must participate in after-hours on-call rotation. 
• Must work weekends, holidays, and other shifts as assigned.