Counselor - Taylorville

Required Skills

• Direct Clinical Services
• Develop initial comprehensive assessment data including clients presenting problems, mental status, relevant psychiatric, medical and developmental histories to make decisions regarding diagnosis (per DSM-V), treatment objectives and ongoing treatment plans and/or to provide information and make appropriate referrals to other treatment resources in the community.
• Provide 25 hours of billable services per week to clients.
• Implement crisis or pre-crisis intervention procedures with potentially suicidal, homicidal, or severely disabled clients. Where appropriate referrals will be made to consulting psychiatrists or inpatient psychiatric facilities to prevent further destabilization.
• Interview collateral contacts, previous and current treatment professionals, and significant others, to further establish a database for assessment and ongoing treatment plan as needed.
• Clarify priority problems, goals for change, and session limits according to agency policy to assist clients in developing appropriate expectations for treatment in relationship to the agency. Use a variety of psychotherapeutic treatment approaches and interventions to change targeted behaviors and stabilize adaptive behaviors with individuals, couples and families.
• Manage the termination process and discharge planning to enhance clients’ abilities to retain treatment changes and/or use other available support services.
• May organize, plan and participate in therapy groups for clients and/or their families, as assigned.

• Client Information System
• Establish appropriate professional files, including: comprehensive assessments, progress notes, treatment objectives and plans, previous treatment records, clients’ consent to current treatment and for exchange of information.
• Complete required administrative forms. Collect necessary information for billing and fee collection.
• Provide necessary client information to other agencies or health care providers to coordinate services to identified clients.
• May prepare necessary documents/reports for DCFS as needed.

• Training Activities/Professional Growth
• Supervisor and employee mutually identify professional goals that will enhance job related skills.
• Participate in ongoing agency meetings, committees and special projects to enhance professional expertise.
• Complete mandatory education requirements by specified deadlines.
• Participate in required staff meetings and in-services to keep abreast of agency policy and administrative procedures, meet requirements for continuing education, and upgrade professional knowledge.

• Consultation/Networking
• Engage in appropriate team work functions (such as mutual support, clarification of office responsibilities and procedures) according to best professional judgment and agency policy to provide a professional working environment and effective service delivery.
• Develop cooperative relationships outside the agency with family, physicians, public officials or interested agencies to provide for the development of mental health services in the community.

• Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Courtesy, Quality, and Efficiency that support our mission, vision and values:

• SAFETY: Prevent Harm – I put safety first in everything I do.  I take action to ensure the safety of others.
• COURTESY: Serve Others – I treat others with dignity and respect.  I project a professional image and positive attitude.
• QUALITY: Improve Outcomes – I continually advance my knowledge, skills and performance.  I work with others to achieve superior results.
• EFFICIENCY: Reduce Waste – I use time and resources wisely.  I prevent defects and delays.
  • Job Relationships
• Demonstrate through initiative and apparent effort involvement in clinical supervision.
• Communicate directly with supervisor for clarification of administrative policy, program evaluation to promote a professional working environment and effective service delivery system.
• Adhere to MHS/MBH Behavioral Standards

• • Other Job Responsibilities
• Ability to accommodate evening/weekend hours.
• Perform other duties as required by agency needs.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job.  Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.