Group Therapy Coordinator

GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

The incumbent provides a leadership role on the specified inpatient unit, residential and/or partial hospital program for the Group Therapy Program, participating in both direct clinical/group therapy services and administrative duties. They are responsible for creating/maintaining the unit's group schedule(s), monitoring documentation of clients' attendance and participation, and overseeing/supervising other group therapists/leaders facilitating groups on the unit. Additionally, they will provide group therapy training (or recommend staff to appropriate training opportunities when available) for unit staff in need of additional group leadership training.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

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  Provides group and/or individual therapy to clients as needed. Interventions should be structured appropriately to the specific clientele being served. Coordinator will be responsible for both set-up before and clean up after the group occurs.

  
  

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  Works with unit leadership to create a group program that integrates 1) psychoeducation, 2) social interaction, 3) activities, 4) community-making groups, and includes leadership roles for all clinical disciplines (i.e., psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing, expressive therapy, peer-support specialists, and mental health specialists). This includes developing and updating the unit's group therapy program schedule that utilizes the skills of all the disciplines to contribute to the clinical care of the clients.

  
  

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  Innovates and develops/introduces group programs that are evidence-based and reflective of patients' needs and treatment goals on an inpatient unit.

  
  

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  Supervises and trains, as needed, clinical staff in effective group practice and facilitation. This includes supervision/oversight of student visitors, volunteers, practicum students, and clinical interns from Master's-level graduate clinical training programs (i.e., expressive therapy, counseling psychology, social work, etc.) in group therapy and related methods.

  
  

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  Attends Clinical Team Meetings on a regular basis to inform team members about patients' group participation and, when appropriate, provides consultation to clinical teams and other units based on specific areas of expertise/training.

  
  

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  Alerts appropriate staff (e.g., Nurse Director, Medical and/or Clinical Director, Treatment Teams) of emergent clinical issues that occur during group sessions.

  
  

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  Monitors group attendance and group leadership assignments for all groups. This includes reviewing staff documentation to ensure inpatient hospital group forms are completed within established time parameters and in accordance with hospital procedures.

  
  

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  Follows all established group therapy protocols.

  
  

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  Develops and maintains the unit's Group Resources Manual, which details group descriptions, goals, methods, and resources.

  
  

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  Maintains contact with other clinical staff and unit leadership through participation in rounds, staff meetings, multi-disciplinary meetings, treatment planning meetings, and other meetings as necessary.

  
  

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  Oversees research/program development initiatives that utilize patient satisfaction scores (Perception of Care and Family Survey), outcomes (BASIS-24 and CMI) to evaluate group efficacy and group clinical leadership. Additionally, conducts semi-annual "focus groups and feedback sessions" with patients to determine what goes well and what can be improved in terms of patient satisfaction and care.

  
  

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  Reports to identified program lead as appropriate for supervision and performance review.

  
  

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  Attends monthly Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy Clinical Service Steering Committee meetings and/or inpatient Group Coordinators meetings, and consults with Director of Inpatient Group Therapy as necessary for consultation/supervision.

  
  

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  Recommends, in collaboration with the Nurse Director and Clinical Leadership on the unit, clinical staff to participate in the Group Leadership Training Program conducted at the hospital.

  
  

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  Manages a budget that provides materials to assist in group program needs.

  
  

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  Participates in hospital-wide initiatives/committees (e.g., Interdisciplinary Recovery Oriented Practice Committee, Restraint and Seclusion Committee, Diversity Committee) and assists in evolving unit practices to align with identified initiatives.

  
  

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  Oversees integration of Peer Support Specialists (PSS) into the unit programing. This includes providing supervision to PSS as necessary and assisting with co-leading recovery story groups.

  
  

QUALIFICATIONS:

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  Master's degree (MA) or higher from a recognized clinical/counseling training program required, including: Expressive Therapy, Counseling Psychology, Social Work, Nursing, Educational Psychology, Psychology, Psychiatry.

  
  

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  Licensure in area of study/training is required.

  
  

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  Previous group and individual therapy experience preferred (3-4 years).

  
  

SKILLS/ ABILITIES/ COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

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  Successful candidate must possess basic computer skills to use a variety of electronic systems (including Microsoft Office) to access/maintain personal employment-related data, satisfy required annual trainings, use job-specific applications, and complete documentation using the electronic medical record (experience with the Epic platform preferred).

  
  

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  Candidates should be organized, timely, and possess good interpersonal skills to communicate effectively within a multi-disciplined team.

  
  

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  Ability to set and maintain appropriate boundaries.

  
  

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  Experience with empirically supported/validated group therapy skills (i.e., CBT, ACT, MI, DBT) is preferred.

  
  

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  Familiarity with hospital/partial-hospital or community-based treatment programs.

  
  

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  Active interest in clinical care issues related to inpatient psychiatric treatment.

  
  

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  See departmental competency list if applicable.

  
  

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

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  Employment at McLean Hospital is contingent upon a successful CORI (and/or other required criminal background check) and clearance from the Occupational Health Department.