Mental Health Clinician - Rapid Response chez Volunteers of America Alaska

Position Title: Mental Health Clinician 

Reports to: Clinical Supervisor - Rapid Response 

Classification: Exempt; Salary: Full-Time

Overview 

The Rapid Response Mental Health Clinician is responsible for providing clinical services and engagement avenues to care by promoting developmentally appropriate and interactive activities that promote wellness.  The Mental Health Clinician plans, promotes and facilitates experiential therapy activities that are accessible to eligible youth before and during the onset of clinical treatment services, in alignment with the Alternative Peer Group Model. 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 youth and young adults from 13-24 years of age and their families. 

VOA is a youth-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, youth and young adults 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 

• Conduct crisis interventions, assessments, treatment plans, case management, individual therapy, group therapy and safety planning activities for youth and young adults.
• Provide ongoing clinical support services for individuals with serious mental illness, substance misuse, and/or co-occurring disorders. 
• Provide therapeutic services in the outpatient clinic, home-based, school settings and other community settings.
• Ensure experiential activities are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and engaging in a way that meaningfully reduces barriers to accessing care.  
• Responsible for maintaining no less than 20 hours per week of direct client services (10 billable and 10 non-billable activities).  
• Effectively work as a part of an interdisciplinary team to coordinate critical services for youth/young adults and their families. 
• Daily Schedule to be aligned with hours of Rapid Response Phone  
• Work closely with the Clinical Supervisor to develop service activities and initiatives that are aligned with the Alternate Peer Model and same day services.
• Complete service documentation in accordance to Medicaid, CARF, Division of Public Health, and Division of Behavioral Health regulations and standards and agency policy and procedures. 
• Prioritize client safety and program integrity.
• Maintains client confidentiality and safeguards client information per 42 C.F.R. part 2 and HIPAA privacy and security regulations.
• Complete all assigned duties in accordance with timelines established by immediate supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Required: Master’s Degree in a counseling, psychology, social work or a related field 

• Preferred: Licensed professionals (LCSW, LPC, PhD, PsyD)

• Three years of experience preferred working with youth/young adults experiencing behavioral health and/or substance misuse complications and conditions that have impacted the quality of their life. 
• Proven ability to work with diverse community groups; with a focus on providing culturally competent services, knowledge of diverse values and belief systems, ability to provide culturally appropriate and individualized treatment services. 
• Strong computer literacy skills
• Ability to make sound decisions based on information available.
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Ability to work independently.  
• Therapy and Counseling: Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of substance use and mental health disorders. 
• Critical Thinking: Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. 
• Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Demonstrates a solution focused attitude and is a good team player.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including days, evenings, and some weekend hours.  
• Ability to travel if required (must have own transportation).Ability to provide current credentials and if not current, willing to work towards certification requirements and obtain QAP within 3 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. 

Work from home/In office combination: Includes structured workdays with consistent days and times. Must be available/reachable and hooked in to the VOAAK phone/ IT system and must be reachable via telephone and email during available work hours. Must have a private work area for conducting telehealth services at home. 

Remote work: This position will include various off-site locations, work in the community. Ability to work independently is vital to the success of this position while managing workflow and own client contact/scheduling. 

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 to 25 pounds.  

Acknowledgement