Behavioral Health Clinician

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary :

Conducts clinical and psychosocial evaluations of consumers at the request of the County Office of Mental Health or designee. Functions as leader or co-leader in trauma recovery training and educational groups.

Duties and Responsibilities :

• Schedule appointments with the referring individual to interview consumers. Advise which materials must be included in the referral packet.
• Interview the consumer, including a mini-mental status exam, as appropriate, consult with available members of the treatment team, and assure that all required forms are completed properly and included in the referral packet;
• Initiate all contacts necessary to formulate a clinical opinion of the consumer’s need for extended hospitalization, including family members, case management and / or residential staff, etc.
• Review all related documentation and prepare the assessment.
• In the event the recommendation is for extended care, the Behavioral Health Clinician is required to prepare packets, and distribute same, including copying and delivery to EAC units, when necessary;
• Maintain communication with the referral staff as may be necessary to assure appropriate disposition of the referral.
• Review mental status and response to treatment each week with the referring clinical team members; prepare a written summary in format provided, re-assess as indicated to determine the need for continued inpatient care.
• Participate in staff meetings and case conferences as needed.
• Ability to formulate a short-term transitional treatment plan, including monitoring of the discharge plan for consumers in EAC and documentation of discharge process.
• Conduct case monitoring of all consumers on the EAC waiting list, including clinical oversight of treatment provision, attention to medical and residential needs, and advocacy; prepare written reports as requested.
• Understanding of diagnostic criteria and appropriate treatment approaches, clinical guidelines or best practices.
• Perform as leader or co-leader in trauma recovery focused training and educational groups.
• Knowledge of community-based resources in Philadelphia.

Skills Required :

Excellent clinical, interviewing, assessment / evaluation skills; thorough knowledge of the DSM-IV, initial status exam and multi-axial diagnostic system, knowledge of medical necessity criteria and the Pennsylvania Client Placement Criteria, knowledge / capability to learn and execute trauma focused training, thorough knowledge of MS Word and Excel; excellent writing ability

Education and Experience :

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, clinical social work or human service discipline with a minimum of 7 years clinical experience or Master’s degree with a minimum 5 years clinical experience, Master’s degree preferred, knowledge / capability of learning word processing, excel and common office equipment.

Physical Demands :

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of the position; driver license and use of personal car;

Equal Opportunity Employment :

PMHCC, Inc. is committed to equal opportunity. It is our policy to support equal employment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual preferences, age, national origin, disability, behavioral health status, military status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Americans with Disabilities Act :

Employees as well as applicants who are currently, or become disabled, must be able to perform the functions of the job with either reasonable accommodation or unaided. PMHCC, Inc. will examine reasonable accommodations on a case by case basis in accordance with the law.