Mental Health Counselor Associate

Department: Health Department, Behavioral Health Unit Reports To: License Clinical Psychologist/BH Manager Job Status: Exempt Type: Full Time Grade: J JOB SUMMARY: The purpose of this Mental Health Counselor position is to provide quality psychotherapy services for children, adolescents and adults in individual and group settings that include crisis intervention.
Counselor responsibility involves assessment and evaluation, documentation of treatment services, developing and monitoring of treatment plan, suicide evaluation, outreach, referral advocacy, follow-up care , support services, and educational and prevention activities for Nooksack Indian tribal members and extended family.
Our emphasis is on providing culturally sensitive interventions.
MAJOR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Provide individual and group mental health treatment services to children, adolescents and adults.
Provide suicide prevention training to the community members and Tribal staff, when assigned.
Work with mental health providers, and other Tribal departments, for providing collaborative care and wrap-around services.
Stay abreast of current methods, metrics, tools and techniques related to the specialty area or program to implement up-to-date best practices Maintain case records containing pertinent, accurate and current information, in compliance with the HIPAA and WAC policy, procedures and rules.
Work collaboratively with Behavioral Health team in planning, developing, organizing, and facilitating counseling services in various programs operated by the Tribe, in group formats and individual settings.
Coordinate services with Tribal Programs and county, state, private and federal entities that will best serve the individual, client, family and community.
Customize helping approaches to provide culturally sensitive counseling/therapy that is individualized to the client and family uniqueness, utilizing professional expertise.
Requires knowledge of state and federal laws, related to Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associated position.
Willingness to learn on the job and participate in relevant trainings opportunity identified by the clinical supervisor.
Maintain professional relationships with clients, co-workers, and community.
Conduct suicide assessment and prepare safety plans for the assigned clients.
Complete mental health assessments, prepare service plans, and write progress notes in DAP format.
Provide screenings and assessments to the children, adolescents and adults.
Provide timely crisis-response interventions to stabilize the client, and communicate with all stake-holders to keep the client safe.
Provide a range of therapeutic interventions that reflect the treatment plan.
Timely completion of assessment, treatment plan, and regular updating of treatment plan, as per NIT clinical manual.
Completion of Progress Notes concurrently, or no later than twenty-four (24) hours after client contact.
Consult with clinical supervisor, and other mental health providers as needed, to ensure highest quality of care and services.
Attend mandatory individual Clinical Supervision Meetings.
Participate in peer review.
Participate in mandatory, weekly Clinical Meeting/Staff Meeting.
Travel to multiple service locations (Tribal offices, public schools, Timber Ridge, Head Start Group and patient homes).
Attend all scheduled Client Staffing Meetings at public schools etc.
Perform other non-clinical duties as assigned by the supervisor.
OTHER DUTIES: Because of the Tribe's commitment to community service and the well-being of its members, each employee may be expected to perform a wide range of office and field duties from time to time.
Such duties may or may not be related to their regular responsibilities.
PREFERENCE: Indian Preference Policy applies to this and all positions with the Nooksack Indian Tribe.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS The following qualifications are required for the incumbent to have, in order to be considered for the position.
REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING FOR POSITION: Must possess a Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology that is acceptable to become LMHCA in WA state.
Candidate must have passed NCE examination or equivalent accepted By state of WA to become LMHC.
REQUIRED SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES POSITION: All employees working within the Nooksack Behavioral Health Department have the responsibility for developing and safekeeping a workplace that values and supports a culturally diverse working environment.
Employees' treatment of each other, and their willingness to try new techniques and ideas contribute greatly to the organization's success in providing an open, culturally enriched and diverse workplace.
Maintaining strict client confidentiality and compliance of HIPPA regulation Requires knowledge of state and federal laws relative to assigned area.
Requires ability to maintain professional relationships with clients; co-workers and community partners.
REQUIRED CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Must pass alcohol/drug test at time of hire and throughout employment.
Must pass criminal background check at time of hire and periodically thereafter.
Provide proof of negative TB test within past 12 months.
Provide Proof of HIV/AIDS training or obtain within the first month of employment Associate or Mental Health Counselor must be willing to work under direct clinical/administrative supervision of Licensed Clinical Psychologist/ Manager.
REQUIRED LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS: Valid Driver’s License required.
Must maintain a valid Washington State Driver’s License throughout employment, and meet the insurability requirements of the Tribe.
(Must Provide Driving Abstract at time of hire) Candidate, if hired, on the start date, must have, at the very minimum, active Associate Mental Health license from any 50 state in USA.
Candidate must become licensed as a Mental Health Counselor Associate with the State of Washington within six months of hire and LMHC within two years of hire or will be terminated.
Possess First Aid/CPR certification PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS ( The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
): Work is performed indoors, in a climate-controlled office environment.
Travel is required to meet with clients in a variety of facility locations such as, but not limited to the Tribal Behavioral Health Center, medical clinic, Education Department center, regional schools, a variety of government agencies, and patient homes, etc.
DESIRED SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES POSITION Knowledge of Native American Indian cultural and psychosocial problems associated with the population, therapies and treatment curriculum that assist in providing the best outcomes or willingness to learn.
Knowledge of reporting to child and adult protective services.
Knowledge of following the Tribal procedure for Emergency Detention.
Experience or certification in play therapy or art therapy.
Experience in providing therapy to the children in group format.