LMSW - Mental Health Clinician

The Access Clinician is a professional, Master’s level position. Access Clinician provides the first contact for all individuals requesting or inquiring about mental health/substance abuse services, and annual contacts to determine the eligibility and need for ongoing care. The Access Clinician completes screenings and assessments to determine eligibility and level of care/need for individuals requesting initial, as well as ongoing services at WMCMH.  The Access Clinician provides triage, level of care authorization/reauthorization, coordination with other providers, disease specific education, follow-up/outreach services to reduce the utilization of higher levels of care, facilitates treatment, enhances compliance with the established provider network, encourages and empowers each person regarding their care, facilitates individual/family early detection and intervention, and enhances accuracy and consistency of diagnostics. 

In addition, the Access Clinicians are responsible for Utilization Management (UM) functions in order to actively manage the use of behavioral healthcare resources and to promote efficiency in the delivery of high-quality care.  Other duties may include responding to crisis requests at the local jails, completing retro-reviews on past psychiatric hospitalizations, conducting OBRA reviews, managing COFR (Count Of Financial Responsibility) arrangements with other CMHs, completing Continued Stay Reviews and Discharge Planning for high acuity psychiatric and SUD placements, managing Alternative Treatment Orders (ATOs/AOTs), and other duties as assigned. Access Clinicians may be required to serve on the crisis stabilization team, and provide crisis stabilization service as scheduled, which could include evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Requirements

1. State of Michigan licensure, certification, or registration as required by one of the following professions: Psychologist (LP, LLP, and TLLP), Physician (MD or DO), Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW or LLMSW), and Registered Nurse (RN) with a Bachelor’s degree, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC or LLPC), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). If not currently licensed, certified, or registered in one of these professions, the individual must be eligible and willing to apply for and obtain such licensure, certification, or registration immediately per the guidelines for the profession.

In addition, the individual must have or be eligible to obtain certification for one of the following: Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, or a Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional – Diplomate through the Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals (MCBAP) or enter into a developmental plan to obtain certification following the requirements of MCBAP.

1. Must be a Mental Health Professional (MHP), Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), Children’s Mental Health Professional (CMHP) and a Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional (QIDP) or must be eligible to obtain the designations.
2. Enrolled in/or have completed formal study, course credits and practicum experience at the graduate level in theory and application of one or more current individual and group psychotherapies at an accredited college or university. These may include but are not limited to Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational-Emotive Therapy, Behavior Therapy, Reality Therapy, and Solution-Focused Psychotherapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy preferred.
3. A minimum of 3 years conducting clinical assessments is preferred. Position incumbent must be competent to provide assessments for all population groups (severely mentally ill adults, adults with acute behavioral health care problems, severely emotionally impaired children and families, persons who are developmentally disabled and persons with a substance abuse/ chemically dependent disorder) as well as older adults with complicated medical/psychiatric problems.
4. Position incumbents must have documented, demonstrated skills and understanding in clinical diagnostic work using the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), American Society of Addiction Medicine Patient Placement Criteria (ASAM PPC), Addiction Severity Index – Multimedia Version (ASI –MV), the Comprehensive Health Assessment for Teens (CHAT), or any newer version or printing of these or alternative tools as approved by CoC. In addition, the position incumbent must show evidence of clinical judgement in their ability to accurately interpret psychological testing data and/or psychiatric evaluation information for the purpose of differential diagnosis and treatment decisions. They can show evidence of good clinical judgment.
5. Previous work experience within a Behavioral Health setting such as a Community Mental Health is highly desirable. Emergency services and/or crisis management experience is highly desirable.
6. Must be credentialed and privileged to practice at WMCMH by the Executive Committee of the Clinical Oversight Committee of WMCMH.
7. Must possess a valid driver’s license and provide own transportation to and from meetings and activities at varying work locations including all agency locations in Lake, Mason, and Oceana Counties.
8. Lived experiences with mental illness/developmental disabilities/substance use disorders are valued.