Clinician I - MA/MSW (Part-Time)
Employment Type : Full-Time
Overview: The Behavioral Health (BH) Clinician–I will be responsible for providing direct clinical care to children, adolescents and their families, as appropriate to the program in which the clinician works. The clinician will ensure that the highest-quality services are provided in compliance with performance specifications, agency policies and procedures, and regulating entities. Clinicians should provide services in keeping with best practices, evidence-based knowledge, and the ethics of their educational discipline. The clinician should attend to risk issues, documentation of care, timeliness of documentation, professionalism, productivity, and administrative issues related to providing clinical care.Responsibilities:- Provide services that are time-effective, defined episodes of care that focus on the restoration, enhancement, and/or maintenance of a client’s optimal level of functioning, and the alleviation or amelioration of significant and debilitating symptoms impacting at least one area of the client’s life domains (e.g., family, social, occupational, educational). In the provision of these services, a clear treatment focus, measurable outcomes, and a discharge plan including the identification of realistic discharge criteria are developed as part of the initial assessment and treatment planning process and are evaluated and revised as needed.
- The services provided should be the highest-quality clinical care to clients in keeping with best-practice, agency standards, and the directives of the clinical position. Practice within the ethical guidelines of discipline; maintain privacy and HIPAA standards. Participate in the provision of 24-hour emergency service coverage for client caseload as required by the particular program in which the clinician works.
- Compose oneself with professionalism, ethical practice, and compassionate regard for consumers/clients. To this end, the Clinician-I should demonstrate competency, reliability, honesty, integrity, respectfulness, continued learning, positivity, mutual support, effective collaboration, active listening, and attention to the responsibilities of the job. The clinician should dress neatly, professionally, and appropriately to the situation. The clinician should communicate orally with etiquette, honesty, respectfulness and composure; written communication should demonstrate excellence and be in keeping with the policies and procedures of the agency.
- Behavioral health clinical care may be provided through outpatient services, CBHI services, DCF Support & Stabilization Services, and/or residential setting. The services may include but are limited to: individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, open access & assessment, clinical consultation, and/or clinical case management.
- Maintain or exceed productivity on a weekly and monthly basis in order to realize an annual expectation. A specific productivity expectation will be established for each clinician. In most positions, achieving this productivity number will likely involve working afternoon and evening hours.
- Document all clinical care in agency Electronic Health Record and in any other required data entry system, in keeping with established timeframes, best practices, and through established clinical forms/documents associated with clinical position. Maintain other documentation particular to specific positions as needed (e.g. data associated with grants). Respond to Quality Management and Utilization Review protocols and clinical alerts, and participate in regular review of clinical charts.
- Ensure that any issues or concerns related to risk (client risk, staff risk, facility risk, and/or programmatic risk) or ethical misconduct are immediately brought to a supervisor, assistant director, director or other licensed senior staff member.
- Provide clinical care such that the following values are embedded in practice:
o Promote client-centered care that adheres to best practice standards and recognizes “client voice and client choice,”
o Recognize the multiple perspectives of clients and their caregiving system
o Be cognizant of and actively developing clinical skills that support of inclusion, equity and diversity of people that might otherwise be marginalized or oppressed.
o Utilize active and reflective listening as well as the exchange of feedback,
o Orient oneself in a strengths-based approach,
o Develop an understanding of the impact of trauma and substance abuse
o Provide positive regard, empathy, curiosity, respect, and professionalism,
o Establish and maintain clear expectations and boundaries,
o Attune to the client and his/her family and natural support system,
o Ensure that clinical care meets medical necessity, and
o Remain cognizant of and proactive about any issues of safety / risk.
- Attend and participate in a variety of meetings and trainings including but not limited to: supervision, clinic team, program team meetings, clinical reviews, utilization review, trainings, and other staff meetings as determined.
- Engage in ongoing learning and development of clinical skills and professional growth through trainings, supervision, and ongoing clinical practice. The practice of professional development as a clinician should also include self-reflection, self-awareness, and self-care.
- Utilize and respond accordingly to the administrative and financial systems related to clinical care including referral, office administrative, billing, and your supervisor.
- May be responsible for developing specialty service area competency and/or for coordinating the daily operations of a specialty program, including clinical services and program operations. Specialty programs and clinical services may include Home-based treatment, community outreach, family therapy, group therapy, JSI, Substance Use Services, Psychological Assessment, PUNCH, BRACE, Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, Adolescence, Transitional Age Youth, and Adult clinical services. May also provide and/or coordinate services for programs with multiple funding sources and/or multiple program sites.
Qualifications:- Developing proficiency in individual/youth and family clinical care, as well as mental health, educational, developmental care, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems.
- Proof of a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and reliable personal transportation to fulfill essential job functions is required. Privately owned vehicle has current and valid state registration and safety inspection sticker, is safe, and is insured according to the minimum state requirements (pertaining to bodily injury and liability). As per Massachusetts state law, driving under the influence of any substance is against the law, prohibited, and may be grounds for immediate termination.
- Demonstrated and/or developing competency with establishing a therapeutic rapport with clients.
- Developing proficiency in providing direct psychotherapeutic clinical care, including risk assessment, safety planning, general comprehensive assessment, treatment planning, service delivery, case management, and discharge/after-care planning. In the CSA, developing proficiency in the principles of wrap-around care and service delivery.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion, confidentiality, collaboration, ethics, appropriate boundaries and good judgment. Demonstrated ability to seek out supervision and consultation as needed.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, organization skills, timeliness, and ability to work effectively with others.
- Active CANS certification, required.