Job Description

Pay Range:

Pay Range:$36.46 - $51.29
This position provides a variety of treatment services including individual counseling support to any and all patients from birth to elder as part of the social services department. This position provides clinical services such as intake/diagnostic evaluations, case evaluations, and crisis intervention; as well as acts as a liaison with other agencies as required. This position is a member of the hospital interdisciplinary treatment team and provides direct brief inpatient and outpatient counseling, ensures proper maintenance of clinical records in accordance with insurance regulations and established SEARHC policies and procedures.

SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health insurance, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

• Accountabilities

• Provide screening, assessment, diagnoses, treatment planning, brief direct therapy and continuing care to individual clients ranging from birth to elderly and their families including children and significant others. Facilitate or co-facilitate patient care conferences and provide discharge planning. Provide care coordination, client advocacy, and skill development as needed. Overall provide clinically related chemical dependence and mental health support and referrals based on results of individual assessments. Communicate and collaborate with clinical and paraprofessional team to achieve patient treatment goals. Provide crisis support to patients in the emergency room as consulted during work hours. Learn the available community resources to make appropriate patient referrals for continuum of care.

• Clinicians who are not yet licensed will receive clinical supervision that meets the requirements stated under the specific license that one is becoming licensed in with documentation of the supervision kept on each person. Clinicians not licensed will provide structured chemical dependency and mental health services with a focus in supervision on providing the appropriate delivery of twelve core functions: Screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, therapy, case management, crisis intervention, client education, referral, reports and records keeping, and consultation.

• Maintain complete and accurate records (paper and electronic), case notes, statistics, etc., as required by laws, regulations, agency or institution procedures. As licensed individuals it is each person’s responsibly as outlined in each license to know the regulations of the state for which they are working. Complete screening, assessments, treatment plans and all other documentation per social service standards. Provide required reports and documentation to the client chart on a timely basis. Participate and provide assistance in maintaining all state, federal, and industry accreditation laws and standards; as well as SEARHC policies and procedures. Maintain appropriate records in confidential manner according to department policy. Document the provision of services in charting that meets all requirements for the hospital billing requirements.

• Coordinate with other corporate and community social service resources on both programmatic and case work basis to assure appropriate services are utilized for optimum patient care. Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings, assist in developing and monitoring treatment plans, and consult with other professional staff regularly as needed.

• Assists with scheduled staff trainings/meetings and help staff integrate new information/practices into delivery of treatment services.

• Attend SEARHC Quality Management trainings, and incorporates concepts and skills into delivery of client services. Assist and complete all billing duties assigned by lead program clinical personnel. Complete all required provider enrollment documentation as requested timely.

Position Complexities:

This position adheres to the organization mission and provides sound chemical dependency/mental health clinical care and interventions to individuals and families. This requires:

• Ability to provide clinically sound treatment services based on client needs and treatment plans.
• Demonstrated understanding of diagnostic evaluation methods, mental status exams, and use of the DSM-IV.
• Ability to respond to a range of clients’ needs using differential diagnoses and treatment approaches.
• Ability to provide appropriate crisis intervention services.
• Ability to maintain clinical records in timely compliance with State, Federal and agency policies and procedures.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other community agencies on behalf of clients and/or SEARHC.
• Demonstrated understanding of sound ethical practice in conjunction with the established and defined ethics of one’s training, discipline, and education/license level.
• Ability to effectively organize time, responsibilities, and accomplish task by established deadlines and timeframes.

There is no specific responsibility to managing an operating budget. As a clinician the financial responsibilities lie in documenting all services as outlined first and foremost in the code of ethics of the profession. Clinicians maintain records necessary for rendering professional services to their clients and as required by laws, regulations, or agency or institution procedures. Clinicians include sufficient and timely documentation in their client records to facilitate the delivery and continuity of needed services. Clinicians take reasonable steps to ensure that documentation in records accurately reflects client progress and services provided. If errors are made in client records, clinicians take steps to properly note the correction of such errors according to agency or institutional policies, proper documentation is a requirement to ensure that SEARHC is able to bill accurately for services provided to client in accordance with state, federal, and insurance rules, laws and regulations.

Clinician III supervises subordinates. A supervisor has the responsibility and authority to hire, train, evaluate and discipline subordinates. Clinician I-II leads other persons. A lead assigns and checks work, trains and schedules subordinates on a daily basis and performs the same or more difficult duties performed by the subordinates.

This position is a covered position in accordance with the Indian Child Protection Act (ICPA).

Education, License and Experience:

• Masters Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling or related discipline from an accredited educational institution

• Licensed as or in the process of becoming a: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT).

  • Clinician I (grade 16) Is a Clinician who has their master’s degree and is in the process of becoming licensed. If the clinician is a new graduate and just starting their clinical supervision hours they will have 2 years and 6 months from date of hire to become licensed. If at the time of hire the clinician has begun their clinical supervision they must become licensed within 6 months of completing the rest of their clinical supervision hours.

  • Clinician II (grade 17) Is a Clinician who is already licensed with a minimum of 3 years of post-masters clinical experience in multidisciplinary mental health setting prefer someone with at least 4 years of work experience as a clinician.

  • Clinician III (grade 18) Is a Clinician who has at least five years of experience working in the field and who will/ could provide supervision to department, hospital, or organization staff.

• Valid State of Alaska Driver’s License or can be obtained within 6 months of hire.

• Alaska State Chemical Dependency Counselor I or MAC certificate or equivalent preferred.

• Must be 21 years of age.

• Clinical Competency required within 3 months of hire and every three years

Knowledge of:

• Modern methods, techniques and procedures used in individual, marriage, family and child counseling for both mental health and substance using clients.
• Psychological theory.
• Interviewing techniques; crisis intervention techniques.
• Ethical and legal management practices; patients legal rights. Documentation regulations specific to accreditation requirements.

Skill and Ability to:

• Perform case management; use tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Observe and record psychiatric behavior and substance using behavior; conduct screening, assessments, treatment planning and document in progress notes.
• Analyze, evaluate and diagnose situations and adopt effective courses of action.
• Write clear/concise reports and chart notes in accordance with professional standards, state regulations and department protocol.
• Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, or tests.
• Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
• Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems.
• Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
• Modify treatment activities or approaches as needed to comply with changes in clients' status.
• Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes.
• Counsel patients to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
• Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.
• Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports.
• Learn about new developments in counseling by reading professional literature, attending courses and seminars, or establishing and maintaining contact with other social service agencies.
• Evaluate clients' physical or mental condition, based on review of client information.
• Act as client advocates to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
• Collaborate with other staff members to perform clinical assessments or develop treatment plans.
• Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge.
• Meet with families, probation officers, police, or other interested parties to exchange necessary information.

Required Certifications

Clinical Competency Assessment - SEARHC

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