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Northeast Georgia Health System is rooted in a foundation of improving the health of our communities.

About the Role:

Job Summary

The Behavioral Therapist I is responsible for providing group, individual and family therapy services based on patient preferences and goals. The Behavioral Therapist I assesses the psychological, social, cultural, environmental and financial impacts on patient functioning, as well as determines disposition needs for each assigned patient. The Behavioral Therapist I individualizes care planning and collaborates with the clinical treatment team and post-acute partners to develop and implement identified patient goals and discharge planning needs. The Behavioral Therapist I evaluates and modifies patient care goals and initiates changes as needed. The Behavioral Therapist I utilizes crisis intervention, problem-solving and critical thinking in adapting services to the full range of age-specific populations, including adolescent and geriatric patients. The Behavioral Therapist I educates and uses advocacy skills to promote behavioral health awareness in the community and hospital setting. 

Minimum Job Qualifications

• Licensure or other certifications: Licensure at Associate level required within twelve (12) months of hire. Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) II also acceptable.

• Educational Requirements: Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling or other related field that meets the requirements for licensure in the state of Georgia or meets the requirements for Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC II) accepted. 

• Minimum Experience:

• Other:

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Preferred Licensure or other certifications:

• Preferred Educational Requirements:

• Preferred Experience: At least one (1) year interview and assessment experience with patients having psychiatric, emotional, or chemical dependency problems.

• Other:

Job Specific and Unique Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills as evidenced by the ability to work collaboratively with the healthcare team. 

• Knowledge of post-acute community resources and linkage for funding, housing and multi-agency coordination of care.

• Skilled at facilitating counseling sessions for group, individuals, and families. Conversant with best practices of professional conduct.

• Demonstrates psychosocial assessment skills and executes appropriate treatment planning and discharge disposition and referrals.

• Demonstrates ability to work with diverse cultural and age-specific populations.

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

• Develops and updates Plan of Care in coordination with the patient's support persons and the  interdisciplinary team members. Initiates psychosocial assessment and identifies treatment goals with patient on the first treatment day. Plans and updates interventions in response to ongoing clinical assessment. Monitors progress toward goals and informs interdisciplinary team of critical information impacting safety and discharge planning. Monitors crisis risk in areas such as falls, abuse, neglect, exploitation, suicide and relapse. Follows regulatory standards related to mandated reporting. Advocates for and brokers hospital and community resources to assist financial, cultural ,legal, and spiritual needs are met. Follows through with assignments from treatment team, including face to face sessions with identified support persons.

• Provides case management services for patients and their families or support persons to ensure that these identified needs are addressed during treatment. Expedites safe discharge planning using placement resources and family agency contacts. Provides linkages for medication access, housing, social and emotional support, including completion of applications ,pre-authorizations to insurers ,and outreach to national and state indigent programs. Provides representation and advocacy for behavioral health on hospital and community-based committees to provide effective and ethical care in post-acute services and community service projects.

• Serves as primary liaison between community resources and linkage of patients and the Laurelwood program to ensure continuity of care and customer satisfaction. Contacts post-acute partners to coordinate services for patient treatment goals and follow-up service needs. Provides treatment updates throughout patient hospital stay to all parties for seamless communication of post-acute plans. Identifies follow-up services, makes appointments and contacts referral sources at time of discharge to ensure continuity of care. Documents all clinical contact and service coordination in the EHR on the day it occurs.

• Coordinates discharge planning for assigned patients to ensure appropriate continuity of care upon discharge. Assists the patient and support persons in understanding the discharge and safety risks during and after transition to lower level care. Complete a detailed safety plan and emergency contact actions. Works with the inter-disciplinary team to ensure that discharge needs are met and documented in the EHR. Ensures appropriate transportation needs are fulfilled and provides support for difficult discharge needs including assistance to immigrants that require placement outside the USA.

• Demonstrates clinical competency in the provision of  individual, group and family sessions to ensure effective treatment and a safe therapeutic milieu. Begins and ends all psychotherapy and psycho-educational sessions according to unit schedules and adheres to curriculum. Maintains a safe therapeutic  environment, both physically and emotionally. Conducts and documents clinical work according to professional standards of practice. Documents any significant issues addressed in EHR on the day it occurs, and relays this information directly to other staff as appropriate.

• Works as a team player with other staff to ensure the safe, productive, and effective operation of Laurelwood. Demonstrates effective time management by assuring completion of assignments within set time limits. Demonstrates ability to complete those  tasks that are age specific, culturally sensitive, or medically complex by completion of the Behavioral Therapist Cross-Training Orientation Checklist. Performs other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands

• Weight Lifted: Up to 30 lbs, Frequently 31-65% of time

• Weight Carried: Up to 30 lbs, Frequently 31-65% of time

• Vision: Moderate, Constantly 66-100% of time

• Kneeling/Stooping/Bending: Frequently 31-65%

• Standing/Walking: Frequently 31-65%

• Pushing/Pulling: Occasionally 0-30%

• Intensity of Work: Frequently 31-65%

• Job Requires: Reading, Writing, Reasoning, Talking, Keyboarding

Working at NGHS means being part of something special: a team invested in you as a person, an employee, and in helping you reach your goals. 

NGHS: Opportunities start here.

Northeast Georgia Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not tolerate discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected classification or status.