Behavioral Health Provider

Provides, oversees, and/or administers a wide range of psychosocial evaluation/assessment, diagnostic, counseling therapy, crisis intervention, and/or case management services in a clinical environment which requires a high degree of independent decision-making and program administration. Leads and trains lower level counselors/social workers, and/or interns engaged in related therapeutic/patient care activities, as appropriate to the individual position.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Included but not limited to the following);

• Provision of intensive, integrated professional mental health services and treatment planning in a clinical and/or outpatient environment.
• Provision of professional leadership in the determination of appropriate therapeutic approaches and methods.
• Planning and implementing outreach/education programs, workshops, and activities.
• Supervising clinical activities of therapists, students, and/or interns within area of specialty.
• Establishment and maintenance of case files and related documents for clinical and legal purposes.
• Provides counseling, therapy, and/or psychotherapy to clients and families as appropriate to the position; prepares treatment plans, discharge plans, and follow-up care programs; provides therapeutic crisis intervention and emergency services as required.
• Collects data about patients through interview, case history, psychological tests, and/or observational techniques; evaluates data to identify causes of problems and to determine proper therapeutic approach or referral to other specialists.
• Consults with other therapists and related professional and paraprofessional staff, as appropriate, in the performance of therapeutic and/or casework; refers clients to appropriate service agencies as required.
• Provides and/or arranges for therapeutic interventions as appropriate for patients or clients in a crisis condition and for those with serious disturbance problems.
• Refers clients to appropriate social service agencies for financial assistance and other required services.
• Follows up to determine reliability of treatment used; changes method and degree of therapy when indicated.
• Establishes and maintains case files, referrals, and other related documents for the treatment of clients; prepares related documentation for civil commitment hearings or other legal proceedings; keeps abreast of patient data to ensure appropriate treatment and care are delivered.
• Consults with other legal and treatment agencies and individuals in relation to patient/client records, rights, and responsibilities.
• Plans and facilitates community outreach and education activities, as appropriate to the position; may serve as a liaison and representative to community organizations and schools.
• As appropriate to the position, performs various administrative functions such as monitoring budgets and preparing reports and correspondence; may participate in a variety of research projects to develop service plans, and may propose changes to program policies and procedures.
• May provide formal teaching, consultation, and in-service training to relevant professionals in immediate an proper handling of and/or referral of a variety of matters.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES :

• Knowledge and understanding of clinical social work and mental health counseling principles, methods, procedures, and standards.
• Knowledge of psychological testing interpretation.
• Interviewing and psychological/developmental evaluation skills.
• Skill in preparing and maintaining patient records.
• Knowledge of community mental health resources.
• Knowledge of clinical operations and procedures.
• Ability to create, compose, and edit written materials.
• Ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments.
• Ability to maintain emotional stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to evaluate the progress of therapeutic programs and to make individual modifications.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.
• Knowledge of the principles and methods of social and vocational rehabilitation as they relate to mental health clinical practices.
• Ability to observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress.
• Knowledge of legal and ethical issues related to patients' rights.
• Knowledge of community support services and funding agencies.
• Knowledge of community health care and vocational services.

One of the following:

• Master’s degree in social work, or related field, with a minimum of one year of experience as a therapist and current license to practice in South Carolina.
• Doctoral degree in psychology, with a minimum of two years of continuous experience as a therapist and a current license to practice in South Carolina as a Psychologist (or working toward licensure).
• Competency in providing cognitive and behavioral interventions to individuals, children, adolescents, families, couples, and groups with behavioral health/ substance abuse problems in a primary care setting.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with primary care staff, patients, and other behavioral health clinicians.