Mental Health Therapist - Subacute Program

Benefits

• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage. Health savings account. 403b retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees.
• 33 paid days off: 11 observed paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 10 vacation days to start. Vacation increases to 12 days after 1 year, 15 days after 2 years, and more at 5 and 9 years of service.
  • Sick and vacation time accrue hourly per pay period.
• $50,000 in employer-paid life insurance; additional coverage available.
• Employer contribution to your Health Savings Account (paid quarterly).
• Employee Referral Program including cash bonuses and paid time off.

About

Volunteers of America, Utah is an affiliate of a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization that has served communities across the United States for more than 125 years. Volunteers of America, Utah’s mission is to provide community-supported paths for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. Our programs serve people experiencing challenges related to mental health, substance use, and homelessness. We encourage all who are passionate about making a difference, including individuals with lived experience, to apply.

Position Summary: 

Under the direct supervision of the Program Director, the therapist functions as a clinical member of a multidisciplinary team, providing mental health and substance use services including individual and group therapy, to severely and persistently mentally ill clients in an inpatient subacute mental health program.  

Essential Duties: 

• Conduct ongoing clinical assessment of clients’ mental health symptoms, functional status, and response to treatment, adjusting interventions as clinically indicated. 
• Provide direct clinical services, including individual therapy, group therapy, and psychoeducation, utilizing evidence-based and trauma-informed practices within a residential/subacute setting. 
• Incorporating individualized case management services into each client’s care from the point of admission.  
• Responsible for overseeing discharge planning; initiating referrals for outpatient or aftercare services following client’s stay in the Subacute facility.  
• Provide practical help and support, advocacy, coordination, side-by-side individualized support, problem solving, direct assistance training, and supervision to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living.  
• Assess and provide treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, coordinating care with medical providers and other team members to support integrated dual-diagnosis treatment. 
• Provide crisis assessment and intervention, and respond appropriately to psychiatric and behavioral emergencies. 
• Develop, implement, and regularly update individualized treatment plans in collaboration with clients and the interdisciplinary team, incorporating measurable goals, interventions, and progress toward outcomes. 
• Complete required documentation, including treatment notes, treatment plans, and insurance authorizations based on the LOCUS assessment and review, within required timeframes. 
• Participate in ongoing outcome management and quality improvement activities through use of quality assurance tools, chart reviews, observations, and client feedback.  
• Collaborate with the Program Director and Data Manager to review program outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and support adjustments to clinical practices and service delivery based on data trends and results. 
• Maintain knowledge of and adhere to all applicable policies, procedures, and accreditation standards (e.g., CARF), and participate in quality improvement activities as required. 
• Participate in Management On-Call Schedule 
• Attends work on a regular and predictable basis.  

Non-Essential Duties: 

• Maintain good professional relationships with appropriate community figures, referral sources, and other professionals. 
• Maintain and enhance professional skills and knowledge through attending conferences/ workshops/courses and reading professional materials that are relevant to job requirements and approved by the Program Director.  
• Demonstrate familiarity with and adherence to Utah laws regarding confidentiality and mandatory reporting requirements.  
• Conduct professional life in accordance with the standards of his/her discipline and the clinical policies and procedures of the agency. 
• Maintain familiarity with issues and trends in the behavioral health field including comorbid mental health issues, theory, and evidence-based practices. 
• Performs other functions as necessary or assigned. 

Qualifications 

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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

• Clinical master’s degree and active licensure in the state of Utah as a mental health clinician (CMHC, ACMHC, LCSW, CSW). 
• Experience working with individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder (preferred). 
• Experience writing treatment plans, goals, and objectives, documenting individual sessions, and insurance authorizations.  
• Demonstrates an ability to use sound judgment within the scope of the position’s responsibilities.   
• Organized, detail-oriented, self-starter. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; attention to detail. 
• Demonstrated skills in crisis intervention. 
• Computer literate with familiarity of Microsoft Office 
• Ability to uphold professional boundaries, confidentiality regulations, agency policies and procedures, and interact in a professional manner with a diverse workforce, clients, and the public. 
• Willingness to accept supervision and direction. 
• Become CPR and First Aid Certified. 
• Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a current driver’s license, have a good driving record, and be insurable on the agency liability policy.  
• Must be able to pass Utah-DHHS – Office of Licensing background screening and maintain eligibility through continuous background monitoring, and pass pre-employment drug screen.  

Physical Demands 

• Ability to move around the facility, interacting with clients for extended periods. 
• Work is generally performed in an office environment.  May entail using a computer for extended periods of time.