Mental Health Therapist 2 (Underfill) - Assertive Community Treatment

Are you interested in fostering hope, inspiring people to engage in their recovery journey, and supporting people to live their best lives? If so, we have the job for you! Marion County Adult Behavioral Health is looking for mental health therapists for the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team. ACT is a multi-disciplinary treatment team that provides intensive, highly integrated, and community-based treatment services to individuals with serious mental illnesses and co-occurring disorders. Services are designed to be provided in the most integrated setting possible to maximize independence, community integration, and recovery.

The ACT team takes treatment services to individuals wherever they might be, such as their homes, shelters, sidewalks, etc. An ideal candidate would appreciate diversity in their workday, enjoy being out and about in the community, believe that recovery is possible, and love working closely with a team! We offer great benefits, superb training, and provide LPC and LCSW licensure supervision. Apply today to be part of this talented, dedicated, and dynamic team!

We offer the following recruitment bonus, prorated based on FTE:

• $2,000 bonus for employees new to Marion County starting on January 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.  Bonus will be included in employee's first paycheck.

For those relocating from outside of Oregon, we provide the following relocation package:

• Up to $3,000 reimbursement of moving expenses
• Relocation bonus in the amount of $3,000 (prorated based on FTE) as a one-time payment upon proof of Oregon residency.

Wages:

Mental Health Therapist 1:  $28.67 - $38.42 hr

Mental Health Therapist 2: $34.78 - $46.60 hr

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES 

Mental Health Therapist 2:

Provide assessments and treatment of individuals and families, including groups; provides crisis assessment and intervention services and related duties as required. Primary responsibility of this class is to provide assessment and treatment services; crisis intervention, and treatment services, including intensive services, to individuals and their families with complex needs and diagnoses and/or to develop and implement specific services in the community.

Mental Health Therapist 1:

Plans and carries out recreational, social and skills training activities; performs case management and counseling functions with Adults in Custody (AIC); facilitates counseling and/or skills training groups; performs related duties as required.  Primary responsibility of this class is case management and counseling, without responsibility for developing and implementing specific programs in the community.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED 

Mental Health Therapist 2 and 1:

Works under the supervision of a supervisor who assigns work, establishes goals, and reviews the results obtained for overall effectiveness.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Mental Health Therapist 2 and 1:

Supervision of others is not a responsibility of positions in this classification.  Crisis Clinician 2 may act as Clinical Supervisor designee when needed.  May assist in the supervision of practicum students and/or volunteers.

Provide behavioral health services to individuals with serious and persistent mental health conditions and co-occurring substance use disorders who are enrolled in Assertive Community Treatment (ACT). Services are delivered according to ACT's National Program Standards, fidelity standards, and OARs, including using a person-centered and recovery-oriented approach. 

Assessments & Treatment Planning 

• Provide intake and annual comprehensive mental health assessments, including assessing mental health and/or behavioral symptoms using a variety of standard assessment tools, individual functional skills, determining treatment needs, developing individualized treatment plans, developing crisis prevention plans, and directing provision of treatment services.

Therapy 

• Provide individual and group therapy to individuals using a variety of evidence-based practices as clinically indicated, which may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), Collaborative Problem-Solving (CPI), and Motivational Interviewing. 
• Works independently to provide crisis assessment and specific intervention services, including development of safety/crisis plans and suicide and self-harm risk assessments.

Case Management & Consultation 

• Determine individual service needs, eligibility, and appropriateness of services. 
• Provide case management to include making referrals and coordinating with other agencies to obtain services and resources for individuals; and advocacy and brokerage on behalf of client to access community resources, benefits, and entitlements. 
• Provide individual case specific consultation to other providers and community partners, which may include recommendations for risk reduction. 
• Work on development of individuals' natural supports.

Documentation 

• Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with federal, state, county, and treatment program requirements under the direction of the clinical supervisor. 
• Meet performance expectations for time and billing standards.

ACT Fidelity

• Participate fully as a member of the Marion County Assertive Community Treatment team as a supportive, reliable, positive, collaborative, and professional team member during the development of individual treatment planning, daily clinical team meetings, and client crisis intervention. 
• Follow ACT's National Standards, fidelity scale, and OARs. 
• At least 75% of services are provided in the community, including individual's homes, hospitals, jails, licensed care, shelters, etc. 
• Participate in after-hours on-call rotation to provide coverage to support to individuals in crisis and provide consultation and coordination with other agencies and providers. Hours of work may include weekends.

Miscellaneous

• Work with a team of clinicians and supervisor for clinical supervision, treatment planning, staff and departmental meetings, and trainings.
• May provide mental health and/or substance use disorders education and training to other staff. 
• May represent the agency on internal or external committees as requested by the supervisor.
• A Mental Health Specialist 2 may have a higher caseload and/or more complex cases than a Mental Health Specialist 1.
• Perform other job duties as assigned by your supervisor.

Response Level 2:  In the event of an emergency, employee makes a reasonable effort to report to work. Employee may be required to perform duties outside of their regularly assigned duties. Employee may be requested to work an extended or flexible schedule. Staff at this response level must complete Incident Command System 100 and 700 on-line or in-person training.EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

• Possession of a Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Recreational Therapy, Music Therapy, Art Therapy or a behavioral science field, or possession of a bachelor's degree in Nursing and licensed by the State of Oregon, or possession of a bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy and licensed by the State of Oregon; OR second year graduate students waivered as QMHP's by the Oregon Health Authority.
• Crisis Clinician 2 Only:  In addition to the educational requirements above, the Crisis Clinician 2 must have at least one year of full-time, post-Master's degree experience in the behavioral health field.

PREFERENCES

Preference will be awarded to candidates who are LCSW, CSWA or eligible for LCSW.  Qualified candidates will be eligible for licensure supervision if hired.

AUTO-PROMOTE AND SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF CLASSIFICATION

Individuals hired as a Crisis Clinician 1 will auto-promote, as noted in Article 4 in the Marion County personnel rules, to the classification of Crisis Clinician 2 upon satisfactorily completing one-year, post master's degree, of service as a Crisis Clinician 1. (One-year of work experience is equal to 2080 hours)

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be either 1) licensed by the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, 2) licensed by the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers or 3) credentialed or registered through the Mental Health and Addiction Counseling Board of Oregon (MHACBO) as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) within the first 30 days of employment. 
• Salem Hospital Credentialing:  Must possess, or obtain within 6 months of hire, Salem Hospital Privileges.
• The finalist for this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check, including finger printing; however, conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual for this position.
• This position may be subject to the following:  Must not be excluded from participation in the federal health care programs (Medicaid, Medicare and other federally funded programs that provide health benefits); AND must not be excluded from participating in federal procurement (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and non-procurement activities (Executive Order No. 12549).
• Must possess a current driver's license in the applicant's state of residence and an acceptable driving history. Marion County will obtain a copy of the driving record for all qualified applicants from Driver and Motor Vehicle Services and review the driving record according to the Marion County policy and procedure for Driving on County Business. The policy can be found at:  http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/.
• The finalist for this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check, including finger printing; however, conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual for this position. 
• This is a safety sensitive/special needs position. Final candidates selected for this position will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen, including testing for marijuana. The Marion County Drug and Alcohol Use and Testing Policy can be found at: http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/policy.aspx?p=policy&pid=518.
• This assignment is represented by a union.
• This is a full-time position, which is eligible for overtime.
• Typical Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., with flexibility depending upon the needs of the department and program.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Working knowledge of community mental health concepts and/or chemical dependency case management and treatment services; individual assessment, treatment planning and treatment protocols; mental health disorders and diagnostic classifications.

Ability to establish positive working relationships with other employees, individuals and their families, other agencies, and the public; prepare concise and complete clinical documentation related to individual treatment and progress in services in a timely and professional manner; work within a team and collaborate with team members; knowledge of and ability to act professionally with regard to a code of ethics and confidentiality.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Operates a motor vehicle; sees using depth perception; sits; stands; moves about the work area; climbs 1 floor of stairs; operates a keyboard;  lifts, pushes, pulls, and carries up to 15 lbs.; speaks with a clear and audible voice; reads a 12 pt. font; hears a normal speech level; works in areas that may be heat, cold, humidity, dust, smoke (second-hand smoke), noise and chemicals (household cleaners); works in areas that may be wet or uneven.

ACT is a multi-disciplinary treatment team that provides intensive, highly integrated, and community-based treatment services to individuals with serious mental illnesses and co-occurring disorders. Services are designed to be provided in the most integrated setting possible to maximize independence, community integration, and recovery. The ACT team takes treatment services to individuals wherever they might be their homes, shelters, sidewalks, etc. To learn more about ACT, you can visit this website: OCEACT | Oregon Center of Excellence for Assertive Community Treatment

Here's what some the ACT team members had to say: 

"Being on the ACT team is unlike anything else I've ever done. We meet people in some of the lowest points of their lives and empower them to build back a fulfilling existence. The work is rarely easy, but our team is incredible. I love how the ACT model has us all work closely together and focus our various skills for the benefit of an often-ignored population." - Matt

"It is meaningful to me to be a part of the team that creates continuity and to increase positive outcomes with members of the community with more obstacles than resources. They KNOW ACT will be there for them, no matter what, no matter when." - Sarah

"I enjoy working for the Marion County ACT Team because I enjoy supporting people with my lived experience and I enjoy supporting people to discover recovery and to realize their potential." - Jason

"It is never boring, there is plenty of variety and you must be content with small victories. You do develop a close bond with individuals, the caseload is small and practical tasks that set people up for wellness and finding hope." - Marlene

We offer tuition assistance for employees interested in professional development towards a profession in behavioral health.

• Up to $20,000 to reimburse for tuition, licensure and/or other educational expenditures. According to the Marion County Administrative policies regarding tuition payments. The policy can be found at:  Marion County Tuition Payment Policy 303