Typical pay range: $39.36 - $59.05

ST. CHARLES HEALTH SYSTEM

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE:                                      Mental Health Practitioner/Social Services Specialist      

REPORTS TO POSITION:        Manager Acute Social Services

DEPARTMENT:                         Social Services

DATE LAST REVIEWED:          October 20, 2023

OUR VISION:                            Creating America’s healthiest community, together

OUR MISSION:                         In the spirit of love and compassion, better health, better care, better value

OUR VALUES:                          Accountability, Caring and Teamwork

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: St. Charles Health Systems Acute Social Services and Psychiatric Assessment Team (PAT) positions may support anyone, or a combination of the following departments: Social Services, Home Health, Behavioral Health, or Hospice. Services provided to the community and region include the following: Acute mental health crisis and triage, inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, treatment for SPMI population, substance use triage, local, regional and state resources for long term care access needs, and collaboration with the outpatient community at discharge. These departments provide system-wide support including, but not limited to working with multi-disciplinary team to assess needs of patients and families, provide appropriate resource referrals, provide supportive counseling as needed, coordinate discharge planning and provide other identified services as needed to support those affected by chronic or acute illness.

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Mental Health Practitioner/Social Services Specialist provides counseling services including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for patients experiencing medical/social/behavioral/mental health concerns.  Discharge planning; supportive counseling and brief interventions. Assist in meeting the psychosocial needs of patients and their families to help patients utilize services to achieve optimum level of function and to coordinate care throughout the continuum of care.
 

This position does not directly manage any other caregivers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:

Participates with team members in facilitating patient’s and family’s learning through the continuum of care. Reinforce patient’s continued health care through teaching and/or referral to community agencies for follow-up needs.
 

Provides diagnostic, preventative and treatment services of a psychosocial nature pertaining to personality adjustment, behavior problems and interpersonal dysfunction.
 

Respects privacy and protect the confidentiality of patients and family members while maintaining boundaries of the professional discipline as outlined in the affiliated licensing board’s Code of Ethics.
 

Functions as a member of the Interdisciplinary Care Team to assure care is accomplished effectively and efficiently in a cost-effective manner.
 

Provides individualized and family-based therapies using a variety of evidenced-based treatment modalities, interventions, and strategies primarily from a DBT, ACT, CBT, Solution-Focused, Motivational Interviewing, or another approved modality.
 

Works in a fast-paced environment at times multi-tasking and triaging numerous needs of patients, their families and community agencies.
 

Completes psychosocial assessments (including substance use), economic assessments, risk assessments, and treatment plans that are individualized and measurable in compliance with the department and state regulatory standards.

Assesses the potential threat of harm to self-and/or others and/or inability to care for oneself. Determine in coordination with the treatment team and county, the legal status of patients in accordance with the treatment team and County, the legal status of patients in accordance with State or Tribal Civil Commitment laws.
 

Provides crisis intervention to a patient in immediate crisis in the emergency department or hospital inpatient unit(s) and to recently discharged patients on an as-needed basis.
 

Provides psychoeducation and case management support to patients and their families. Including psychosocial counseling, support, information and referral to patients and families regarding illness and related issues.
 

Responsible for maintaining knowledge of all state and federal regulations as they apply to the admission, care, and discharge of patients including all pertinent civil commitment procedures and protocols.
 

Coordinates after-care with outpatient providers including therapeutic appointments, warm handoffs, medication management, and follow up medical appointments that are in compliance with regulatory standards and/or other metrics.

Attend unit meetings and trainings as scheduled.
 

Identifies victims of abuse (child, domestic and elder). Make appropriate referrals and notification to appropriate services, including the Department of Human Services and/or law enforcement when applicable.
 

Works in concert with the psychiatrist to admit patients to acute psychiatric inpatient treatment by developing a working diagnosis and treatment goals.
 

Additional Duties Specific to PAT role:

Conducts crisis, risk, and psychosocial assessments, treatment planning, and safety planning within the guidelines of OHA and Joint Commission standards.
 

Performs daily rounding of patients in the emergency room or admitted to medical units of the hospital for purpose of assessment and/or ongoing treatment.
 

Follows up risk assessment and safety planning for patients scoring a moderate to high-risk through the hospital system.

Review referrals for psychiatric inpatient beds requests and provide coordination of admission for patients accepted for admission.
 

Attends bi-weekly meetings with both PAT and Acute Social Services Manager.
 

Supports the vision, mission and values of the organization in all respects.

Supports the Lean principles of continuous improvement with energy and enthusiasm, functioning as a champion of change.

Provides and maintains a safe environment for caregivers, patients and guests.

Conducts all activities with the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality.  Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures, supporting the organization’s corporate integrity efforts by acting in an ethical and appropriate manner, reporting known or suspected violation of applicable rules, and cooperating fully with all organizational investigations and proceedings.

Delivers customer service and/or patient care in a manner that promotes goodwill, is timely, efficient and accurate. 

Participates in creating a healing environment that supports all aspects of the care environment and the wholeness of each individual, patient and caregiver.

Participates in creating intentional relationships and demonstrates focus attitudes and behaviors that enhance the care experience.

Provides a therapeutic presence in service to others by purposefully responding to the needs of patients in a caring way, including introducing oneself and explaining role in patient’s care, asking the patient his or her preferred name, sitting with the patient to determine his or her care goals, active listening, and communicating effectively and appropriately through touch, eye contact, etc.

Provides and maintains a safe environment for caregivers, patients and guests.

Documents all patient care with proficiency in compliance with hospital policies, procedures and regulatory agencies. 

May perform additional duties of similar complexity within the organization, as required or assigned.

EDUCATION:               

Required:  Master’s degree in the field of Mental Health: Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field       

Preferred:  N/A

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION:

Required:    Code Grey Training is required with 3 months of hire. Ability to travel to business functions/training/meetings and all SCHS worksites.

Preferred: Current unrestricted Oregon LCSW, LMFT, or LPC licensure. Member of the National Association of Social Worker’s or another national association membership.

Bilingual in Spanish and English communication.

EXPERIENCE:

Required:  One year experience in a healthcare/hospital or behavioral health inpatient/residential setting. Knowledge of community resources. Internship experience in an emergency department/inpatient behavioral health setting may be considered.      

Preferred: Two years of experience in a hospital or behavioral health inpatient/residential setting. Postgraduate, clinical experience in inpatient/outpatient settings, crisis assessment and/or community organizations that work to support planning and administering of community issues and needs. Advocacy to promote social justice and change.                   

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform the job safely.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Continually (75% or more): Use of clear and audible speaking voice and the ability to hear normal speech level.

Frequently (50%): Sitting, keyboard operation.

Occasionally (25%): Standing, walking, bending, stooping/kneeling/crouching, climbing stairs, reaching overhead, lifting/carrying/pushing, or pulling 1-10 pounds, grasping/squeezing, operation of a motor vehicle, ability to hear whispered speech level.

Never (0%): Climbing ladder/stepstool, lifting/carrying/pushing, or pulling 11-50 pounds.

Exposure to Elemental Factors

Occasionally (25%): Chemical solution for Laboratory Caregivers

Rarely (10%): Wet/slippery area.

Never (0%): Heat, cold, noise, dust, vibration, chemical solution, uneven surface.

Blood-Borne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Category

Risk for Exposure to BBP

Schedule Weekly Hours:

40

Caregiver Type:

Regular

Shift:

First Shift (United States of America)

Is Exempt Position?

No

Job Family:

MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER

Scheduled Days of the Week:

As Scheduled (may include weekends and holidays)

Shift Start & End Time:

8-1630