Assessments Mental Health Clinician

Incumbent works under the direction of the Director of Outpatient Services for the Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) or designee performing substance use disorder evaluations for individuals at the Douglas County Corrections Department (DCDC) and CMHC.

 Essential Functions:

• Complete Substance Use Disorder Evaluations and recommendations utilizing the American Society Addiction Medicine (ASAM) model and the Nebraska Standardized model.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe and respectful and quality work environment.
• Interview clients determining initial eligibility for treatment and recovery programs and establishing continued eligibility.
• Formulate diagnostic impressions using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM).
• Facilitate groups at DCDC, individual and group therapy; plan and implement counseling group (e.g. group, family, individuals) sessions within all CMHC programs.
• Complete mental health assessments and recommendations for CMHC patients.
• Facilitate evidence-based cognitive curriculum groups at DCDC including the Reentry Assistance Program.
• Establish therapy, communication and special needs groups for assigned components of CMHC utilizing the appropriate treatment modalities.
• Function as therapist for assigned cases.
• Maintain caseload schedule ensuring CMHC criteria are met.
• Ensure work is properly documented.
• Maintain all records in accordance with CMHC standards, and local, state, and federal laws and accreditation guidelines.
• Participate actively with other health professionals in the development of policies and procedures, CMHC committee’s and groups.
• Perform assigned quality assurance activities.
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business. Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

 Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements:

• Master’s degree from an accredited university or college in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or Human Services required.
• Three (3) years of community behavioral health care or counseling required.
• Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) / Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) designation required.
• Licensed Alcohol Drug Counselor (LADC) or Provisional LADC required.
• Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) preferred.
• Experience and/or training in the application of American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria preferred.
• Completion of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training within 6 months of hire required.
• Valid driver’s license at the time of hire and throughout employment required.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal background check and post-offer drug screen required.

 Physical Requirements & Working Conditions:

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Work is performed in a psychiatric care facility and in a correctional facility. Noise level is usually moderate. Work hours are standard day-shift hours; however, schedule may vary (e.g. weekends, overtime, emergency call-in). Work may be stressful when dealing with multiple/changing priorities, time constraints, limited resources and uncooperative/irate individuals/inmates.
• Work requires physical activity, including extended periods of walking, standing and occasional climbing, reaching, carrying, balancing, kneeling, crouching and bending. Work also requires the ability to frequently lift/carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds.  Incumbent must have the physical ability to protect oneself and control combative or disruptive individuals following the CMHC psychiatric/behavioral emergency policy.
• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance and color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbents must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.