Mental Health Clinician bei Volunteers of America Alaska

Position Title: Mental Health Clinician 

Reports To: Clinical Supervisor TAY Outpatient 

Classification: Exempt; Salary; Full-Time 

Overview 

The Mental Health Clinician is responsible for providing therapeutic services in the outpatient clinic, home, and community for transition age youth 18-24 years, as well as for those client’s families who enter our services. This position is a critical component to the Volunteers of America Alaska (VOA) service delivery system and includes involvement with many community stakeholders who serve transition age youth 18-24 years of age and their families. This position requires office and community-based sessions and will include travel to sites outside of the office to provide services. Expectations regarding duties and responsibilities are outlined in the essential functions, duties, and responsibilities.  

VOA Alaska is a young adult-serving organization providing prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery supports to youth and families struggling with mental illness and addiction. We are honored to walk with families during these times and provide support and hope through recovery. Our core values are connection, responsibility, courage, innovation, hope, and joy. We are looking for individuals who espouse these core values and align with this mission of services to the community. 

Essential Functions, Duties & Responsibilities 

• Responsible for providing mental health services to TAY clients (e.g., transition age youth with substance use disorder, mental health disorder, or co-occurring disorders).
• Services to be provided include: mental health and integrated assessments, treatment planning, treatment plan reviews, family, group and individual therapy, skill development and case management.
• Provides mental health and substance use therapeutic services across multiple treatment settings including outpatient, intensive outpatient (IOP), and day treatment as appropriate to client needs and program structure under the TAY Outpatient Program. 
• Manages a caseload of assigned young adults with the ability to provide a minimum of 20 hours of direct clinical contact (billable) per week and adhering to signatures on all documentation within 72 hours..

• Ability to provide in-person and community-based sessions, including telehealth appointments. 
• Functions as a full member of the clinical team and works collaboratively with all treatment team members to ensure young adults are receiving effective services in accordance to their treatment plan.
• Attends weekly case review meetings and supervision sessions.
• Participates in the development of individualized treatment plans and treatment plan reviews using the DSM5-TR and/or other screening data obtained from the clients. 
• Responsible for documentation of services according to agency policy and procedures and Medicaid regulations.
• Ability to provide transportation to clients in company or personal vehicle. 
• Responsible for communicating important clinical data to appropriate team members.
• Maintains client confidentiality and safeguards client information per 42 C.F.R. part 2 and HIPAA privacy and security regulations.  
• Expected to complete all assigned duties in accordance with timelines established by immediate supervisor.  
• Provides staff training as scheduled by the TAY Outpatient Program Director.
• Agency adherence of duties and functions as listed below.
• Expected to complete all assigned duties in accordance with timelines established by immediate supervisor.
• Coordinates treatment services with the clinical supervisor, program director and consulting psychologist/psychiatrist.
• All other duties as assigned.

Milieu 

• Provides a safe and therapeutic environment for clients, staff, and visitors.  Is supportive of and skilled in utilizing the community as method to enact change.  Collaborates closely with other therapeutic staff to ensure coordination of care and assigned interventions are communicated, implemented and monitored throughout the course of a client’s treatment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Master’s Degree in a counseling, psychology, social work or a related field 
• Two years’ experience working with adolescents or adults having co-occurring disorders (substance use disorder and severe emotional disturbances or serious mental illness)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, or similar preferred.
• Chemical Dependency Counselor Certification preferred.
• Proven ability to work with diverse community groups; with a focus on Alaska Native people, Gender, Sexually Extensive populations, knowledge of their values and belief systems and ability to provide culturally friendly services 
• Ability to make sound decisions based on information available.
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Ability to work flexible hours (including days, evenings and some weekend hours).  
• Ability to travel (must have own transportation and proof of liability insurance with 100/300/100 coverage.

• Ability to provide current credentials and if not current, willing to work towards certification requirements and obtain QAP within 2 years of hire.

Working Conditions 

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Works in office areas.  Interacts with staff, consultants, and outside vendors.  May be subjected to interruptions throughout the workday.  
• While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 25 pounds. The vision requirement includes close vision.

Acknowledgement 

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, this job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you may be required to perform. The omission of specific descriptions of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or can be considered essential to this position.