Where compassion meets innovation and technology and our employees are family.

General Purpose of Job:

Provided by staff licensed by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners or Texas State Board of Professional Counselors. Mental Health Specialists provide a wide variety of services to include individual, family, collateral and group counseling, diagnostic evaluation, health and behavioral assessments, safety planning, crisis intervention, case management support, and referral to community resources as they address the impact of illness through mental health support and treatment. The Mental Health Specialist will provide compassionate care and mental health services (teletherapy and/or face to face) to the families of patients as well as to patients. The Mental Health Specialist will also offer mental health care and support to mothers in the hospital by providing mental health evaluating, referrals, resources, and individual/family counseling. Clinical areas of focus include depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, anxiety and psychosomatic disorders, child abuse and neglect, exposure to violence and trauma, family issues and conflicts, school and work failure, drug abuse and other co-occurring disorders, gender-identify issues, bereavement and more. They provide education to patients, families and hospital staff regarding health, safety, and psychosocial issues. They work in collaboration with physicians and other patient care staff and sensitize the team on the social and emotional aspects of a patient’s illness and the impact of the illness on the family. Additionally, the Mental Health Specialist will develop and implement informational, educational, and emotionally supportive programs for families and hospital staff. This position will require some evening and/or weekend work.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:          

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Hospital Specific

• Maintains utmost level of confidentiality at all times.
• Adheres to hospital policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates business practices and personal actions that are ethical and adhere to corporate compliance and integrity guidelines. 
• Follows The Driscoll Way customer service standards set forth by the Hospital. 
• Maintains annual education requirements (Cornerstone).

Department Specific

• Maintains and follows Code of Conduct and Standards of practice set forth by Texas Licensure Boards. 
• Responsible for professional supervision and continuing education to maintain state licensure.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings.
• Participates in the training (precepting) of new employees, supervision of social work students, and cross training of co-workers.
• Provides mentorship and peer support.

• Participate in the monthly and holiday call schedule.
• Travels to ambulatory clinics for education, patient assessment, and meetings as requested.
• Participates in annual performance improvement activities and the periodic review and revision of policy and procedures.
• Conducts process and debriefing support opportunities for staff concerning such issues as grief, conflict, and interaction with families.

      Behavioral Health Services / Patient Care

• Provides screening, assessment, evaluation, therapeutic intervention, treatment planning, education, safety planning, and coordination of behavioral health services in the acute care, emergency room, and ambulatory settings.  

• Administration of mental health screening tools; i.e.; Edinburgh, PHQ-9, GAD, Columbia- Suicide Severity Scale (C- SSRS), CRAFFT, SBIRT, etc.
• Collaborate with the Maternal Fetal Medicine and NICU High Risk clinic.

• Provides mediation and crisis intervention services for patients and families
• Provides assessment, therapeutic support, and therapeutic treatment recommendations for long-term chronically ill patients and their families.
• Provides therapeutic end of life care that may include assessment, advocacy, grief and crisis counseling, and treatment recommendations.
• Provides professional consultation to physicians and hospital staff in regards to behavioral health concerns.
• Provides programming for the provision of individual, group, and family support / therapy with the goal of reducing maladaptive behavior and fostering effective psychological functioning.  

• Provision of therapeutic interventions and treatment strategies to include but not limited to; motivational interviewing, treatment engagement, crisis intervention and intensive crisis stabilization, brief and solution focused therapy, and safety planning.

• Plans and facilitates support groups for patients, parents, and families
• Engages in shared decision making and treatment planning;
• Participates in care team conferences, family conferences, and patient care conferences as appropriate;
• Maintains compliance with:

• Coordinate PHQ-9 screening assistance
• Track completed screenings

• Upon suspicion/confirmation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child, elderly, or disabled person…

• Notifies appropriate agency (Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services and/or Law Enforcement agency).

• Participates in research studies as directed

Community

• Plans and conducts support groups for patients, parents, and families.
• Serves as a liaison and advocates with community programs and agencies related to health, mental health, and community support.  
• Provides presentations and in-services to school personnel, students, and the community as requested.
• Works with staff from outside agencies to ensure quality care along the continuum.
• Testifies in court regarding child abuse and/or neglect

Education / Experience:

Master’s degree in behavioral health, Psychology, Social Work, or Counseling

AND

Two years’ experience in working in health care and or mental health / behavioral health field preferred. 

AND

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in diagnosing mental health and substance use disorders according to DSM V Diagnostic Criteria

Experience providing individual, group, and family counseling

Experience in the health care field.

AND

Bilingual in Spanish or experience in working with a language interpreter- a plus.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Licensure by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners

LCSW, LCSW-S, or LMSW under supervision

OR

Licensure by the Texas State Board of Professional Counselors

                LPC or LPC-Associate