Job Summary

Provide comprehensive clinical assessments and treatment services for patients with behavioral health and substance abuse disorders who are Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian (EBCI) and Indian Health Service (IHS) eligible. This position will primarily serve adults and children on the Emergency Department. Services include crisis assessment of client and family needs, disposition recommendations for appropriate level of care, and utilization of evidenced based crisis intervention for psychiatric and substance use disorders.   Employee is expected to provide emergency, crisis intervention, consultation and education services as needed. Employee will provide referrals for follow up care and collaborate with community partners to ensure safe discharge planning as needed.

Direct Service Duties

• Provides services to EBCI and other eligible persons primarily in the emergency department with some inpatient/ outpatient consultation.
• Responsible for completion of intake forms, identification of community resources, patient assessment, provision and coordination of supportive services, patient advocacy.
• Provides crisis intervention services to patients in exceptionally difficulty cases where such is appropriate as determined by treatment needs, which require incumbents' special skills and/or level of expertise.
• Assess and treat clients in individual, group, and family modalities exercising mature professional judgment and using a wide range of therapeutic skills to include individual and family counseling to assist patients and their families in dealing with chronic and acute MH/SA diagnoses.
• Working in collaboration with the treatment team, will conduct Crisis assessments to determine patients' needs and resources (both family support and community support).
• Cooperates and collaborates with the medical staff and other health professional/agencies in developing a viable therapeutic team network to facilitate and establish patterns of cooperative efforts and to facilitate patient care, discharge and follow-up.
• Provide counseling to patient and family in matters directly related to patients' limitations, finances, adjustments to medical condition and ongoing treatment.
• Develop and implement safety plans, discharge plans, follow-up care, and transfers to other behavioral health facilities as appropriate.
• Implements and follows the provisions contained in all applicable privacy/confidentiality policies, procedures, and practices for maintenance and release of patient records and clinical information, including EBCI, CIH, IHS, DHHS, HIPAA, CHR 42, or other licensing bodies.
• Responsible for attending clinical staffing as an integral component of a treatment team, facilitating the discussion of patient data, and formulating changes to the treatment plan.
• Responsible for the development of individual treatment plans including comprehensive assessment, development of time limited, quantified, measurable, and salient goals, and prescribing procedures and interventions which facilitate goal attainment. Treatment plans must be consistent with the patient diagnosis, agency quality assurance guidelines, and level of care policies.
• Timely record all treatment and clinically significant events for the medical record in the manner prescribed by CIH policies and procedures, quality assurance and quality improvement manuals.
• Provides written, telephone, and face to face consultation services to various persons and organizations which affect the patient These include courts, probation officers, physicians, hospitals, medical care providers, law enforcement officers, social services and community agencies.
• Represents Analenisgi Crisis Response at regular team meetings for progress review and during emergency meetings dealing with high-risk situations
• Expected to obtain continuing education both through in-service training and through access and tuition payment for approved training seminars and workshops.
• Expected to provide unit clinical coverage on weekends and holidays as needed.
• Operate in a support role as assigned in the Beauty for Ashes program and services 
• Other duties as assigned.

   

  Communications & Teamwork

• Shares and receives information, opinions, concerns, and feedback in a supportive manner.
• Works collaboratively by building bridges, and creating rapport with team members within departments and across the organization.
• Communicates effectively.
• Performs job duties as a member of the inpatient treatment team.
• Provides simultaneous focus on health and behavioral health issues.
• Attends Analenisgi staff meetings, training sessions, and planning and problem-solving sessions.
• Participates in regularly scheduled individual and group supervisory sessions.
• Utilize professional communication and conflict resolution skills with both patients and staff. 
• Effectively coordinates with multi-disciplinary team and CIH providers in accomplishing goals/objectives of treatment plan.
• Present clinical presentations at clinical review meetings.  

   

  Improvement & Innovation

• Makes meaningful improvement to services, program, and processes and/or organizational effectiveness that creates new value for patients and employees.

   

  Workforce Development Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to plan, develop and facilitate trainings on specific mental health/treatment approaches for unit staff.
• Demonstrated ability and skills to facilitate Clinical and Treatment Reviews for program.
• Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions/problem solve on issues of intervention strategies and crisis interventions.
• Demonstrated ability and skill to cross train staff on use of therapeutic models, investigates new models and determines applicability for clients/program served.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as part of the Analenisgi Crisis Response Team in managing chronic and behavioral health conditions.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a “readiness to change” model versus a long-term therapeutic model of care.
• Demonstrated ability and skill to treat the often-complex presentations of dual diagnoses and ability to practice from a “Integrated Dual Disorder” treatment modality.
• Other duties as assigned.

   

   Education/Experience/Qualifications

•  Required

• • Master’s Degree in behavioral health field such as Social Work, Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy, or Counseling required. Degree must be obtained from an accredited university that is accepted by appropriate licensing agencies in NC.
  • NC license LCSW, LPP, LCMHC or LMFT. A provisional or associate license may be accepted.
  • Full or Provisional License/ Certification from the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board (LCAS, LCASA, CADC, CADC-I)
  • Must be approved for and maintain medical credentialing, upon hire
  • Must possess valid drivers' license
  • Must have professional experience working with individuals with a severe and persistent mental illness:
  • Must have experience working with individuals with substance use disorders.

   

  Preferred

• Specific experience working in Inpatient Behavioral Health.
• Specific experience working with Americans Indians.
• Specific experience with crisis intervention and response.

   

  Job Knowledge

• Knowledge of individual, group and couples/family modalities with expertise in crises intervention with individual and families experiencing acute episodes of distress.
• Ability to ascertain the potential lethality of a situation and respond and refer accordingly.
• Ability to learn computerized treatment systems such as the Electronic Medical Record, RPMS and ability to maintain records and files manually and on the computer.
• Displays originality and initiative to complete daily performance of tasks. 
• Knowledge of principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, group work, and community problems.
• Knowledge of a wide range of medical, behavioral and psychosocial problems and their treatment.
• Knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community.
• Knowledge of the laws, regulations, and policies, which govern the program.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, disease processes, and their treatment as they relate to decisions regarding clinical interventions and appropriate therapies based on medical or psychological diagnosis. 
• Knowledge of substance abuse to include diagnostic criteria for abuse, dependence, intoxication and withdrawal of all drug classifications, methods of evaluation and assessment, impact of behavioral health issues on patients ability to negotiate treatment recommendations, current treatment approaches, modalities of care, and substance abuse and other programs or services available to patients.
• Skill in establishing rapport with a patient and in applying techniques of assessing psychological, behavioral, and psychosocial aspects of patient’s problems.
• Willingness to learn more about the various culture/spiritual components integrated into the program and have considerations for this when identified.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients and their families, other professional disciplines, and a variety of governmental and private resources and organizations in the community.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively.

   

  Complexity of Duties

  This position is responsible for assisting in maximizing the available resources to meet the behavioral health needs of the community. Must have the ability to interpret policy, laws and regulations in order to make decisions when a precedent is not available. Duties require the application of clinical judgment and problem solving skills in order to be effective. Judgment often involves decisions that may have life or death results. 

   

  Supervision Received

  Works under the direct guidance of assigned supervisor, manager and/or behavioral health clinical director where responsibilities and assignments are often broadly defined. Position must demonstrate considerable initiative and ability to work independently within applicable licensing regulations where latitude for creative thinking, initiative and discretion are given to achieve department goals and objectives. Position must communicate effectively with supervisor to ensure alignment with organizational goals, mission, vision and values. 

   

  Responsibility for Accuracy

  Failure to provide adequate clinical services or to properly manage and direct activities could result in poor client outcomes, delays in patient treatment, and negative patient and community relations. Ineffective health planning could have adverse effects on the health status of the community by limiting access to necessary resources. Accuracy of data and research is critical in the allocation of tribal resources. Employee is responsible for the adherence to policy and procedure. Inappropriate actions or inaccuracies in judgment could result in improper diagnosis and treatment, serious liability for the tribe, or serious health risks to patients.

   

  Contacts with Others

  Interacts frequently with coworkers, hospital staff, patients, stakeholders and other health professionals for the purpose of exchanging information, obtaining, or providing assistance. Serves on various local, community, and health committees, boards and advisory councils, as appropriate. Tact, courtesy, and professional conduct are required to maintain positive working relationships. Utmost sensitivity and confidentiality is required when dealing with patients and families.

   

  Confidential Data

  The provision of medical care requires that the incumbent maintain strict appropriate confidentiality regarding all patient information. The employee will have access to patient records and highly confidential information and must function with utmost integrity to safe guard this information. The employee complies with EBCI policy on confidentiality of patient records, Cherokee Indian Hospital Confidentiality policy, HIPAA, and other federal law requirements. Violations of confidentiality regulations may result inter-disciplinary action and other action as allowed by federal regulations.  

   

  Mental/Visual/Physical

  Job duties can be mentally and emotionally stressful at times given the complexity of the duties, management and supervision of staff and the clinical areas being addressed with the people being served. Close mental concentration and attention to detail are required. Physical activities require the ability to be mobile, sit, reach, bend, and be in front of groups and deliver training for extended periods of time. Some physical exertion and stamina is required such as required to transport training materials or to travel. Must have visual acuity, manual dexterity, and the ability to speak and hear. Must be able to lift 30 lbs.  

  • Position requires: stand (under 1/3 time); walk (under 1/3 time); sit (to 2/3 time); talk or hear (over 2/3 time).
  • Weight lifted or force exerted: none.
  • Special vision requirements: Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less).
  • Master’s Degree in behavioral health field such as Social Work, Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy, or Counseling required. Degree must be obtained from an accredited university that is accepted by appropriate licensing agencies in NC.
  • NC license LCSW, LPP, LCMHC or LMFT. A provisional or associate license may be accepted.
  • Full or Provisional License/ Certification from the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board (LCAS, LCASA, CADC, CADC-I)
  • Must be approved for and maintain medical credentialing, upon hire
  • Must possess valid drivers' license
  • Must have professional experience working with individuals with a severe and persistent mental illness:
  • Must have experience working with individuals with substance use disorders.
  •  

Environment

The employee works primarily in a hospital, inpatient or outpatient clinical environment but may be required to work at other offices and locations. The work environment involves moderate risks of exposure to infectious disease, radiation, electrical hazards, irritant chemical and explosive gases. Employee must strictly adhere to OSHA guidelines and protocol for maintaining sterile conditions.

Some travel is required.  Infrequent overnight travel may be required for meetings or to attend training.  

Emergency Privileges

In the case of an emergency, any member of the Medical Staff, to the degree permitted by his/her license shall be permitted to do everything possible to save a patient’s life or save a patient from serious harm, regardless of the individual’s clinical privileges. This shall be defined as those situations in which a delay could result in serious harm or death and in which a more qualified member is not immediately available.