Licensed Therapist (LPHA) - New Start bei The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD

Join our team at The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD ("The HARRIS CENTER") as a Licensed Therapist (LPHA) - with our New Start program.  We're seeking a dedicated professional who will revolutionize the way we provide clinical services.

The LPHA performs clinical activities such as independent assessments and service interventions as directed by the plan of care and/or identified consumer need(s). Other clinical interventions may be warranted based on assessed consumer need(s) to ensure continuity of care; connection to resources within the Harris Center system of care; connection to resources outside the Harris Center system of care; and for the purposes of addressing risk of harm and crisis resolution. This position coordinates and makes referrals to applicable services that address both inpatient and outpatient clinical needs and according to the medical necessity of services. This position may provide monitoring, clinical supervision and training of staff at certain clinical sites. As a community-based role, the LPHA must be able to travel to consumer homes or other field locations when providing services (as needed).

Unit specific needs are determined by unit leadership including the portion of each day that may be allotted for clinic-based versus community-based service provision. Specific units may require staff to transport consumers; deliver medications; work evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergency closures; as well as be on-call evenings

and weekends.

What you will do:

1. Monitors consumer progress with treatment goals to determine effectiveness of interventions through appropriate clinical documentation.

2. Perform clinical assessments and biopsychosocial assessments to identify the individual’s diagnosis and treatment needs regarding access to Harris Center services.

3. Provides cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or cognitive processing therapy (CPT) focusing on the reduction or elimination of symptoms of severe and persistent mental illness and increasing the individual’s ability to perform activities of daily living.

4. Provides other clinical interventions as appropriate to consumer needs (i.e., case management, care coordination, skills training, and psychosocial rehab).

5. Documents crisis and risk of harm variables; provides crisis intervention to reduce symptoms and prevent admission to a more restrictive environment (as clinically appropriate); and facilitate admission to higher levels of care (as warranted).

6. Provides training/education on the course, signs and symptoms of mental illness, addressing symptom related problems interfering with the individual’s functioning and importance of medications, and other medication related information using the IMR/Harris Center curriculum as well as other designated trainings.

7. Completes clinical referrals to assist consumers in gaining and coordinating access to necessary care and services based on individual needs.

8. Participates in formulating recovery plans based on individual needs and assures recovery plan is authorized with a LPHA signature for consumers on caseload.

9. Ensures all services provided meet access criteria, medical necessity, and are authorized in accordance with agency and regulatory guidelines.

10. Communicates with consumers/visitors/ staff in a manner that is culturally competent.

11. Travel and transports patients (as required by the unit), including but not limited to medication delivery, medical appointments, meetings to support patient Medicare and Medicaid benefits, and other patient community resources. (0% for CAS).

12. Adapts to changing work requirements and works independently to complete assignments by deadlines.

13. ACT/AOT Specific: complete court update forms; communicate and meet regularly with court personnel to report progress and barriers to treatment; file affidavits with court for AOT commitment extensions.

14. Performs other related duties as assigned.

What qualifications you will need:

Education:

• Master’s degree (M.A.) from four-year accredited college or university with a major in a social, behavior, or human service field, including but not limited to psychology, social work, counseling, sociology, human development, and educational psychology.

Experience:

• Must have 2 years experiencing working in a mental health setting.

Other Key Qualifications

• Clinical license through the State of Texas for one of the following: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT.
• Licenser credentials plus one to two years of clinical experience post Master’s degree preferred.
• Must maintain a valid Texas Driver’s License and be insurable under Agency policy.
• Licenser credentials plus one to two years of clinical experience post Master’s degree preferred

Knowledge/Skills & Ability:

• Knowledge of and ability to apply crisis intervention techniques.
• Strong diagnostic skills, the ability to incorporate patient history, symptoms, environmental and related issues to formulate proper diagnosis and treatment.
• Strong communication skills, listening and interpersonal skills above average, written documentation is clear, concise, and well- constructed.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Must be able to work autonomously in a fast-paced environment.

What we have to offer:

The Harris Center not only offers a competitive salary but also a suite of excellent benefits designed to enrich your life both professionally and personally. Imagine a future with a robust retirement plan complemented by our generous company matching – a testament to our investment in your long-term financial well-being. Experience the unique advantage of our prior service credit, accelerating your journey towards a more substantial Paid Time Off accrual, empowering you to enjoy well-deserved breaks.

Enjoy Cell Phone Discounts, exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work, and a free Headspace subscription for mental wellness. Additionally, our Employee Assistance Program supports your overall well-being.

Take advantage of significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness as a valued member of The Harris Center team. As a qualifying entity, our employees are eligible for various student loan forgiveness programs, designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with higher education.

What else you should know:

This posting is associated with position #8995

This position will be under the general direction of the practice manager or designated supervisor. 

May be necessary to travel to or transport consumers to homes or other field locations when providing services.

May be exposed to unfavorable conditions.

Interacts with individuals who may be emotional or physically hostile, agitated or uncooperative.

About us:

The Harris Center is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas.  As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provides care to over 90,000 people and has an annual budget of over $300 million.

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The Harris Center provides a full continuum of services at 80 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the largest communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.