Job Description

Department Overview

About The Department of PsychiatryLink https://www.ohsu.edu/school-of-medicine/psychiatry

The fundamental purpose of OHSU and The Department of Psychiatry is to improve well-being. The OHSU Department of Psychiatry is part of the OHSU Brain Institute, and focuses on providing excellent clinical treatment to our patients, leading innovative research, and offering hands-on training for the next generation of psychiatrists. Our specialists care for people of every culture and background and it is our mission to value and show appreciation for diversity, showing respect for all people who we treat, teach, and serve.

The Intercultural Psychiatric Program (IPP) provides outpatient mental health to culturally specific community members, including case management, individual and group therapy, and medication management support for individuals in Oregon whose primary language is not English. IPP employs a multidisciplinary team that includes psychiatrists and/or psychiatric residents, QMHA- and QMHP-level clinicians, and administrative staff, collectively serving a large and diverse patient population.

Function/Duties of Position

This position collaborates closely with IPP psychiatrists and clinical staff within an integrated team-based model to deliver coordinated, comprehensive, and culturally responsive care. Services are provided in a manner that prioritizes whole-person wellness and supports access to mental health treatment in a linguistically and culturally appropriate environment. All services delivered under this role align with applicable Oregon Health Authority Administrative Rules (OAR 309) governing Outpatient Mental Health Services and adhere to established standards for quality, compliance, and culturally responsive practice.

Duties and responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to:

The clinician will demonstrate cultural responsiveness and humility in working with Spanish-speaking communities, particularly individuals and families who are refugees, asylees, or immigrants from Latin American and Caribbean regions, including but not limited to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua, and other areas affected by displacement or forced migration. Practice will reflect an understanding that cultural experiences, values, and traditions vary across communities and individuals.

The clinician will utilize evidence-based interventions; provide individual, family, and group counseling; conduct intake and assessment activities; perform case management; engage in outreach; provide skills training; and facilitate connections to community resources. This role also includes offering culturally and linguistically responsive interpretation or communication support to staff psychiatrists and other mental health professionals to enhance access to psychiatric services for culturally specific populations.

The position involves delivering clinical case management and related support services to culturally specific patients, and when assigned, to other patients served by IPP, in alignment with direction from program leadership. All services will be delivered using a trauma-informed framework.

This role includes participation in an outreach-based pre-treatment program serving community members. The clinician provides support, guidance, and advocacy through short-term case management and stabilization services, with referral or transition to ongoing clinical care when indicated or requested. Responsibilities include coordinating holistic services to support health outcomes; connecting individuals and families to community resources; supporting navigation of healthcare systems; assisting with access to basic needs such as housing, food, clothing, employment, and education; and skills-based interventions. The clinician will engage in ongoing community outreach by building collaborative relationships with referral partners, participating in community events and resource fairs (including occasional evening or weekend participation), and conducting culturally responsive engagement in community and health-focused settings.

This position performs duties as assigned by the supervisor and contributes to organizational priorities related to clinical care, outreach, education, and community service.

Required Qualifications

• Native or native-like fluency in Spanish both written and spoken.
• Graduate degree in psychology; OR Graduate degree in social work; OR
• Graduate degree in recreational, art, or music therapy; or OR
• Graduate degree in a behavioral science field.
• QMHP must demonstrate the ability to conduct an assessment, including identifying precipitating events, gathering histories of mental and physical health, alcohol and other drug use, past mental health services and criminal justice contacts, assessing family, cultural social and work relationships, and conducting a mental status examination, complete a five-axis DSM diagnosis, write and supervise the implementation of a Service Plan and provide individual, family or group therapy within the scope of their training.
• Must be registered as a QMHP with the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) or hold QMHP-C Certification. Registered candidates must meet [OAR 309-019-0125(010)] standards for initial qualification for employment in State Approved Mental Health Agencies. QMHP-R (registered) candidates must register prior to employment and become fully certified within 2 years.
• Cultural awareness of refugee and immigrant experiences, including respect for the diverse historical and cultural contexts across Latin American regions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and fluency in written and spoken English and fluency in written and spoken Spanish.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and comfort with culture of people from other cultures as well as be able to function cooperatively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Good command of Windows-based applications, including basic MS Word skills, and typing 40 wpm.
• A strong customer-service orientation, the interpersonal skills necessary to work effectively in a diverse psychiatric outpatient program, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, team environment. Exceptional cross-cultural skills.
• OAR 309-019-0125 - Specific Staff Qualifications and Competencies
  • QMHPs must demonstrate the ability to conduct an assessment, including identifying precipitating events, gathering histories of mental and physical health,
  • substance use, past mental health services and criminal justice contacts, assessing family, cultural, social and work relationships, and conducting a mental status examination, complete a DSM diagnosis, write and supervise the implementation of a Service Plan and provide individual, family or group therapy within the scope of their training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous employment experience in social services and/or mental health field as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP)
• Two-year employment experience in social services and/or mental health field as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP)
• Doctoral degree may be substituted for employment experience.
• Coursework in graduate-level clinical supervision.
• Experience working with immigrants and refugees in a clinical setting.
• Coursework and/or experience delivering evidence-based interventions (IFS, CBT, DBT).
• Knowledge of trauma-informed treatments.
• The candidate must hold an active Oregon clinical license (LCSW, LPC, or LMFT) and maintain licensure throughout employment, or obtain licensure within six (6) months of hire.

Additional Details

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Why apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.edu