ROLE SUMMARY:

The Clinical Therapist promotes a strengths-based approach to treatment that empowers families, supports a community based philosophy of service, and ensures that all clinical services are aligned with Wellnest’s mission, vision, and core values. Performs a wide variety of professional, doctoral/master level clinical services for children and families in a community based mental health setting. Assists clients and their families in understanding and finding solutions to complex problems that lead to and/or result from mental illness and severe emotional health needs. Within company guidelines and professional standards, individuals in this position function independently. Services are delivered at Wellnest’s existing walk-in clinic that operates every Monday through Friday, but may at times be delivered in client homes, schools, and other community settings. In this position. Therapists are required to be available for at least one evening shift per week. This position requires excellent computer skills and timely completion of clinical documentation in an electronic health record system using collaborative documentation.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Interviews individuals and/or their families to obtain a family, medical, and mental health treatment history.
• Assesses the client's functioning in his/her environmental setting.
• Determines appropriateness of clinical program to meet clients needs and assigns cases to ongoing providers including psychotherapy, medication services, skill-building, and Targeted Case Management.
• Provides crisis intervention and evaluates for a higher level of care such as Intensive Outpatient services or involuntary psychiatric holds.
• Provides psycho-education to clients and families regarding mental health needs and treatment recommendations.
• Completes DMH/Med-Cal required Initial Assessments and associated clinical documentation.
• Completes and submits clinical documentation in a 24-hour time frame utilizing Wellnest’s electronic health record system (EXYM).
• Participates in multidisciplinary treatment review meetings to discuss and evaluate the client's progress.
• Provides consultation services to community agencies (e.g., DCFS) to advise the consultee on the utilization of mental health services pertinent to the recognition of mental health needs dealt with by the community agency.
• Meets Wellnest's productivity standards for client service hours.
• May participate in social work or psychology student affiliate programs for training professional social work and psychology students.
• Works flexible and non-traditional hours on a regular basis.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of a master’s degree or equivalent (MSW, MA, Ph.D., PsyD, or MS) plus clinical experience and/or training directly related to children and child counseling.
• Supervision for clinical hours for master’s level clinicians obtaining hours toward licensure is provided.
• Current registration with licensing board is required, as is a valid, CA driver license and insurable driving record.
• Bilingual Spanish speaking ability is highly desired.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Employee may be asked to participate in cross-training programs or pursue additional education or training when it is determined to be in the best interest of the agency by a member of management.
• Must have knowledge of community resources.
• Employee must have the ability to use a personal vehicle with the required insurance coverage to complete the essential duties of their job and conduct agency business.
• Employee must maintain a valid California driver’s license and clean driving record that meets Wellnest’s insurance carrier’s criteria for liability coverage.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Employee regularly needs to work out in the field, in a variety of environments.
• Employee may be required to work flexible, evening and/or weekend hours for time-sensitive projects.

REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from clients, office personnel, other employees and the general public
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret manual and office documents
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
• Ability to define problems, gather, transcribe and post data, analyze, synthesize and classify information, and draw valid conclusions where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to work independently and with others - including other employees, clients and members of the public - in face-to-face and telephonic contexts.
• Ability to multi-task, establish priorities and manage time, meet deadlines and perform duties under time constraints.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing work demands.
• Maintain high level of concentration and attention to detail for extended periods of time.
• Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints.
• Maintain a high level of ethical and professional standards in accordance with agency and community policy.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to talk or hear in order to give and receive information and instructions
• Ability to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls.
• Ability to reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to use computer keyboard up to 25% of the day.
• Visual acuity, ability to adjust focus and peripheral vision for work on a laptop or other computer equipment.
• Lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Computer literate (basic working knowledge of Microsoft WORD, Excel, and Outlook) and data/electronic records program. currently in use.
• Able to use telephone, office copier, calculator, fax machine, computer printer and scanner, or other equipment as required.

This description is only intended to illustrate the duties, responsibilities and requirements for it. It is not intended, nor should it be interpreted to describe each and every duty the employee may be required to perform.