Outpatient Therapist

JOB TITLE: Outpatient Therapist - Licensed/Provisionally Licensed (Casper, WY)

POSITION SUMMARY:

WBI Outpatient & Telehealth Clinic provides intensive and targeted clinical therapeutic services to improve the continuum of care to our patients and to provide access to mental/behavioral healthcare services to the underserved. Therapy services are provided in-person and virtual. The Outpatient Therapist is responsible for completing mental health assessments, diagnosis, treatment planning, care coordination, discharge planning, etc. in virtual and in-person individual, family, group, and mental health-intensive outpatient therapies. Treatment is provided for clients of all demographics who have diagnosable mental health conditions and/or clinical addictions. The Outpatient Therapist is responsible for providing accurate and timely communication, clinical consultation, assessment, case management functions, and problem-solving and treatment recommendations to referral sources as well as to the treatment team.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Duties require sitting, standing, walking regularly. Providing in-person and virtual therapeutic services. Requires reaching overhead occasionally and lifting occasionally up to 25 lbs. Position requires that the individual be in good physical and mental health sufficient to support behavioral health patients of all ages. Therapist must be able to maintain the ability to provide clinical services through telehealth including using electronic treatment & telemedicine platforms where hearing, sight and manual dexterity may be necessary. Hours may be irregular-including evenings, duties variable. May be occasional occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens or other potentially infectious materials.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES REQUIRED:

Master's prepared and fully licensed in the State of Wyoming by the Mental Health Professions Licensing Board. Two (2) years of experience in psychiatric acute care, residential care, partial care or equivalent is preferred; demonstrated ability to successfully meet licensing and accreditation standards. Must have knowledge of developmental tasks of children, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients and apply knowledge in assessment and planning of care.

PERSONAL TRAITS, QUALITIES & APPTITUDES:

Demonstrates personal traits/behavior consistent with the values of Wyoming Behavioral Institute. Must be self-directed/self-motivated; must have good communication and interpersonal skills; must be flexible; must have good critical thinking/decision making skills and must have good understanding of systems and change processes. Must be able to: (1) perform a variety of duties often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure; (2) accept responsibility for direction, control and planning of activity; (3) make evaluations and decisions based on measurable or verifiable criteria; (4) work independently; (5) recognize the rights and responsibilities of patient confidentiality; (6) convey empathy and compassion to those experiencing pain, physical or emotional distress, and/or grief; (7) relate to others in a manner which creates a sense of teamwork and cooperation; (8) communicate effectively with people from every socioeconomic, cultural, and educational background; (9) exhibit flexibility and cope effectively in an ever changing, fast-paced health care environment; (10) perform effectively when confronted with emergency, critical, unusual and/or dangerous situations; (11) demonstrate the quality work ethic of doing the right thing the right way; and (12) maintain a customer focus and strive to satisfy the customer's perceived needs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential Functions:

• Complete virtual and in-person intakes including psychosocial/clinical assessment and other intake paperwork with patient, family, and/or designated guardian within 3 business days of a completed consult.
• Utilize treatment information from the referring professional(s) in order to obtain more complete information on treatment and to enhance understanding of what their opinion for treatment needs are.
• Documents assessments on approved WBI forms and in manner consistent with WBI protocols, TJC, Medicare and Medicaid requirements.
• Communicate findings in therapist notes in a clear, complete, and timely manner.
• Assess patient needs for discharge, aftercare planning, and/or referral.
• Ensure patient/family involvement in treatment planning.
• Formulate a plan of care based on the multidisciplinary assessments within 3 sessions.
• Ensure treatment plans include specific measurable goals/objectives/ interventions and defining actions unique to each patient's needs and personal growth.
• Update and revise treatment plans as goals are met or patients' condition changes, at minimum every 90 days.
• Ensure documentation on reviews are based on the treatment plan goals/objectives and reflect progress or failure to progress toward goals.
• Communicate on a regular and timely basis with relevant members of the treatment team and family members as appropriate.

Other Functions:

Interventions

• Facilitate individual, family, and group telehealth and in-person therapy sessions effectively to meet the needs of the population served.
• Fill in for (via telehealth) intensive outpatient treatment weekly and/or as a backup support.
• Evaluate and document effectiveness of interventions and patient responses.
• Relate to patients in an age-appropriate manner.

Chemical Dependency

• Continue professional development in dual diagnosis issues and maintain current professional documentation in personnel file.
• Conduct patient/family education groups, step-study groups, group activities and aftercare groups as scheduled.
• Provide patient/families with referrals to sponsors, 12-step groups and self-help resources for follow-up care, and evaluations where applicable.
• Facilitate the placements of patients in a recovery home or other residential facilities as appropriate.
• Maintain current information on substance abuse community resources and maintain good relationships with referral agencies.

Discharge Planning

• Participate in the development of a preliminary discharge plan at admission consistent with patient's therapeutic goals.
• Proficiently coordinating effective discharge processes. Assessing patient readiness for discharge and related teaching needs and referral.
• Participate in completion of Discharge Instruction Form(s) and documents.

Therapeutic Environment

• Contribute to the effective functioning of the assigned programs, clinical services, and facility-wide activities and services.
• Report unsafe conditions to appropriate personnel.
• Assure patient's rights are upheld.
• Ensures the safe and therapeutic functioning of the telehealth (virtual) interface, including effectively managing connections, minimizing disruption or technical barriers to the extent possible.
• Create telehealth therapy space to meet privacy standards and ensure safety of patients.
• Provide telehealth services that are comparable to in-person services.

Provider and/or Supervision of Care

• Collaborate effectively with physicians and other clinical disciplines in making decisions regarding each patient's need for care.
• Intervene effectively in unusual and complex patient/family situations.
• Provide accurate clinical safety support in crisis situations and participates in debriefing after crisis situations.
• Update and coordinate telemedicine therapy services to meet the needs of patients.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, health care team members, and community providers regarding patient status and progress.
• Interact and communicate with community agencies in assessment of and service to patients in a timely manner.
• Provide liaison and referral services to community agencies and appears in court when requested or subpoenaed.
• Comply with required standards for medical/legal reporting situations (i.e., child abuse, dependent adult abuse, psychiatric commitment).
• Represent the facility at legal hearings as requested.
• Ensures that documentation meets policies, procedures, standards, and laws.