Mental Health Counselor (LPCC or LCSW)
Job Description
Position Summary: The purpose of this position is to promote a high level of customer service and a caring environment for patients; always acting in the best interest of the patient. Responsible to assist patients in scheduling and registering for appointments, to receive and document accurate information from patients, answer incoming phone calls, record concise phone messages, direct calls to appropriate personnel, request medical records, and to conduct NHC business with the highest degree of ethics.
Position Responsibilities:
1. Receives referrals from NHC’s physicians and mid-levels.
2. Assess the mental and behavioral health status of referred patients.
3. Provide counseling/talk therapy to scheduled patients utilizing professional counseling standards.
4. Formulates differential diagnosis of mild to moderate mental health conditions.
5. Formulates short-term and long-term counseling plans for patients under care.
6. Consults with Behavioral Health Director and other clinical providers regarding complex patients.
7. Identify patients with urgent mental health conditions (e.g. suicidal, homicidal, psychotic, etc.) and make appropriate referrals to available emergency or psychiatric treatment facilities.
8. Provide written document of counseling sessions, assessments, interventions, and recommendations for NHC’s providers and to meet requirements for medical records documentation.
9. Provide non-scheduled urgent assessment of patients with medical clinic appointments.
10. Provides group and family therapy session as indicated.
11. Assist Behavioral Health Director in developing protocols for NHC’s counseling services and criteria for outside referrals for advanced/emergency psychiatric care.
12. Provides in-service training on relevant topics for co-workers as requested.
13. Participate in a team management approach to patient care/treatment.
14. Maintain an understanding of how behavioral health priorities are administered under State of North Dakota DHSS guidelines, consult with specialists and colleagues to review and participate in the care of patients receiving indirect/contract medical services.
15. Maintain quality care through participation in peer review, policy development and quality improvement programs.
16. Maintain appropriate documentation of clinical and counseling services, including all necessary billing information. Ensure accurate and consistent use of encounter forms for all client contracts with behavioral health providers to ensure accurate billing of third party resources
17. Maintain and update professional knowledge and proficiency through continuing education, staff meetings, workshops and serving on special committees.
18. May be asked to perform other duties that align with NHC’s mission.
May be asked to perform other duties that align with NHC’s mission.
The LPCC/LCSW works under the direct supervision of the Behavioral Health Director/Executive Director or Designee, who provides general instructions. Work is assigned in terms of functional/organizational objectives. The Behavioral Health Director/Executive Director or Designee will provide guidance in unusual situations which do not have clear precedents and on an as-needed basis. The employee works independently, resolves problems on the basis of past precedent; exercises judgment in interpreting guidelines and applicability; and ensures deadlines are met. The employee plans and carries out various stages of a project by selecting and pursuing approved methods and techniques as appropriate. Assignments are reviewed for quality and compliance with established policies and procedures.
LEGAL CONCEPTS
• Maintain confidentiality
• Follow federal, state and local legal guidelines
• Follow license criteria when licensure applies
• Maintain HIPAA compliance
Position Requirements:
1. Skill in providing professional counseling/talk therapy according to established standards of care; excellent customer service and support skills.
2. Organizing and prioritizing workload and meeting deadlines; and excellent written and verbal communication.
3. Ability to successfully counsel patients for improved mental and behavioral health.
4. Work with physicians, mid-levels and other members of medical care teams to evaluate patient conditions and develop comprehensive care plans.
5. Successfully refer patients to mental health specialists and other community resources as appropriate.
6. Interact effectively and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, education, racial, ethnic and professional backgrounds.
7. Work effectively with managers, co-workers, members of the public and professional groups; to manage and coordinate activities and projects.
8. Communicate effectively, clearly, concisely with others (internal and external customers, both verbally and in writing); to consistently demonstrate positive/proactive customer service attitude; to consistently maintain ethical behaviors exemplary of quality public service or fair standards, inclusively, among all employees and members of the public.
9. Work as an effective team member; function independently, exercise sound judgment and initiative.
10. Be flexible to shift priorities and to maintain confidentiality.
11. Establish and maintain effective interpersonal work relationships, to effectively assist medical providers; to work toward goals and objectives of the established NHC Strategic Health Plan.
12. Follow NHC’s Clinical practice guidelines and all applicable policies, including adhering to the mission, vision, and Guiding Principles; to receive constructive feedback including evaluation of one’s productivity and practice attributes.
13. Be available to accept new assignments as needed.
Minimum Requirements:
1. Ability to perform each position responsibility satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
duties of the position.
1. Ability to understand that safety is a condition of employment. Unsafe acts or conditions will be reported to the supervisor or a member of the management team.
2. Must be computer literate with ability to enter information in the NHC EHS system and compile reports or data as requested.
3. Must be able to read, write and speak English.
Education and/or Experience:
Completion of an accredited program with certification and licensure as a LPCC/LCSW in the state of North Dakota.
License and / or Certification:
• A LPCC/LCSW – At least two years of full-time experience in outpatient mental health counseling preferred.
• Current CPR
• Valid North Dakota Driver’s License
• Must possess current North Dakota licensure as a LPCC/LCSW
• Must be able to meet and maintain current NHC credentialing and privileging requirements.
Special Requirements:
• Must be willing to travel between NHC health centers.
• Must be willing to work evening hours and weekends if necessary.
Appearance Standards: This position shall follow the appearance standards as outlined in the NHC Personnel Appearance Policy.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The employee may experience exposure to dust, pollens, pollutants, fumes, and communicable diseases as related to the health care environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.