Job purpose

As part of the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Mental Health Professional provides one-on-one and group therapy specifically designed for individuals with an identified mental health diagnosis. The Mental Health Professional will provide skills training through psycho-education and patient education strategies and will develop specific behavioral change plans for clients.

Duties and responsibilities

The following duties are routine for this position across Meridian Behavior Health. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Assist primary health care providers in recognizing and treating mental disorders and psychosocial problems.

• Assess the clinical status of patients referred by primary care providers through brief consultative contacts.

• Work with primary care team to treat and manage patients with chronic emotional and/or health problems efficiently and effectively.

• Assist in the detection of at-risk patients and development of plans to prevent further psychological or physical deterioration.

• Evaluate patient care plans with primary care team.

• Teach patients, families and staff about care, prevention and treatment enhancement techniques.

• Monitor the site’s behavioral health program, identifying problems related to patient services and making recommendations for improvement.

• Attend and participate in meetings and quality improvement activities as required.

• Serve as a member of committees as requested.

• Participate in evaluation of peers and support staff.

Qualifications Required to Perform Essential Job Functions:

• Master’s degree in Behavioral Sciences or related program with at least 4000 hours of post masters supervised experience in the delivery of clinical services in the treatment of mental illness

• Ability to meet the qualification definition as listed in MN Statute245.462, Subd . 18

• Current state licensure as a Psychiatric Nurse, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Licensed Psychologist, License Marriage and Family Therapist.

• Licensed Professional Counselor under supervision

• Licensed Independent Social Worker under supervision

Required Skills, Knowledge and Ability

• Excellent working knowledge of behavioral medicine and evidence-based treatments for medical and mental health conditions.

• Ability to make quick and accurate clinical assessments of mental and behavioral conditions.

• High level of comfort in working with primary care medical providers using a consultative style.

• Ability to work through brief patient contacts, including via telephone and teleconferencing.

• Good knowledge of psychopharmacology.

• Ability to design and implement clinical pathways and protocols for treatment of selected mental and behavioral conditions.

• Ability to design effective psycho-education curricula and lead effective psycho-education classes.

• Ability to train and teach effective behavioral health interventions and the primary behavioral health model to medical practitioners and other behavioral health providers.

• Ability to work effectively as a team, interfacing with patients, primary care providers, consulting psychiatrist and mental health specialists, as well as with administrative and support staff.

• Ability to exercise balanced judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions, and to handle difficult or confrontational situations in a calm, consistent and equitable manner

• Ability to effectively represent company’s interests in the community and maintain effective working relationships among coworkers, public, private and professional groups.

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations.

• Experience working with limited resource population.

• Ability to work in a team and to share responsibilities and duties.

• Ability to resolve interpersonal conflict in a straightforward and timely manner.

• Ability to set priorities, be organized and be a self-starter.

• Ability to be friendly, empathic and an adept communicator.

• Ability to treat both staff and patients with respect.

• Strong computer skills to document into EMR (Electronic Medical Record), draft e-mails, memos, and reporting.

Physical Requirement

• Speaking and hearing ability sufficient to communicate effectively by phone or in person at normal volumes.

• Vision adequate to read correspondence, computer screen, forms, etc.

• Good manual dexterity.#MP

Licenses & Certifications

• Marriage and Family Ther
• Lic Professional Couns
• Lic Indep Clin Social Wkr
• Lic Prof Clinical Couns

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)