Mental Health Clinician, Family Services

Position Title: Mental Health Clinician – Family Services      

Reports To:     Director of Family Services

Classification: Exempt; Salary; Full-Time

Overview

The Mental Health Clinician, Family Services is responsible for providing clinical services to the clients enrolled VOA Alaska’s Family Services Program.  The Mental Health Clinician will provide therapeutic services in the outpatient clinic, home, various school settings and community for school aged youth, kinship families, therapeutic foster families, and parents of youth and children 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 youth under 18 years of age and their families. This position is community based and may 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 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 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 managing a caseload of up to 25 youth and families, to include school aged youth, Kinship Families,  and Therapeutic Foster Families (depending on severity, frequency of services/contact). 
• Responsible for providing mental health services to include assessments, family case plans, treatment plans, case management, crisis intervention, individual, group, and family therapy sessions. 
• Coordination of services with Family Services staff including Client Care Specialist, Family Services Case Manager, Mental Health Clinicians,  Director of Family Services, Associate VP of School & Family Services, and Consulting Psychiatrist (if applicable). 
• Provides input into development of mental health services to include group curriculum development (if and when applicable).
• Completes documentation and services in accordance to Medicaid, CARF, Division of Public Health, and Division of Behavioral Health regulations and standards and agency policy and procedures. 
• Functions as a full member of the family services program and works collaboratively with all team members to ensure families are receiving effective services in accordance with their case plan.
• Maintains program integrity and client safety.
• 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.

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’ experience preferred working with school aged youth and families experiencing behavioral health 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 
• Ability to make sound decisions based on information available.
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Ability to work independently  
• Excellent writing and communication skills. 
• 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).

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 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.