COMPANY: Mental Health Systems, Inc. (MHS) was founded in 1978 to provide mental health and drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in an innovative and cost-effective manner. We continue to ensure that the delivery of these services conforms with the values highlighted on the cover of this directory. Our goal is to improve lives and instill hope by using new and creative treatment strategies while respecting time-proven methods of intervention. MHS is a Drug-Free workplace therefore all staff must comply with Drug-Free Workplace requirements regarding alcohol and drug use. MHS performs post-offer substance abuse testing on all employees. MHS provides a full range of benefits to regular employees. These benefits include paid vacation, sick time, and holidays, partially paid employee health insurance, flexible spending account, paid employee long-term disability insurance, an MHS funded profit sharing plan, and an individual employee-funded 403(b) plan. Eligibility for benefits is contingent upon employment status; see MHS Employee Handbook for full details. Eligible part-time employees will receive benefits on a prorated basis.

MHS SCHOOL BASED PROGRAM: MHS School Based Program provides mental health services to students at twelve schools in the San Diego Unified School District. The program helps our clients reach their potential and achieve success in school, at home and in the community. We work with them toward specific goals, such as increasing school attendance, improving school performance, and decreasing any further school related problems. Our therapists meet weekly with teachers and/or school counselors to ensure effective communication and make certain that integrated services are provided.

POSITION PURPOSE : The Therapist performs a range of psychotherapeutic and rehabilitative interventions, including psychosocial assessment, individual and family counseling, crisis intervention, and limited case management duties as needed. In addition, the Therapist serves as Care Coordinator for clients, ensuring that they receive the full spectrum of services in a seamless manner. Therapists ensure that clients receive the optimal level of care needed to maximize functioning and minimize need for higher levels of care. They incorporate best practices in psychiatric, substance abuse, psychosocial rehabilitation, and the CCISC model of integrated services for co-occurring disorders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Works closely with Psychiatrist to monitor the psychiatric well-being of clients.
• Serves as Care Coordinator for a caseload of clients as assigned by Program Manager. Provides a variety of services including family and individual counseling, rehabilitation/skills building, relapse prevention, and crisis intervention.
• Performs psychosocial assessments.
• Practices the principles of Systems Based Theories.
• Interacts therapeutically with clients and exhibits professional boundaries consistent with professional standards.
• Works with volunteers, interns, and other staff in an informative and collegial capacity.
• Maintains positive and professional relationships with school sites assigned
• Assists in outreach and education about the program with school sites assigned and assists in identifying and collecting referrals from school sites.
• Completes all charting and documentation as contractually required and in timely manner as dictated by program requirements.
• Demonstrates commitment to professional growth by attending in-service trainings and staff development programs, and seeking out supervision consistently.
• MHS requires all employees to attain a minimum degree of training and knowledge in cultural competency, co-occurring and gender responsiveness and to routinely demonstrate these traits in every day work relationships.
• Participates in regularly scheduled staff meetings.
• Participates in the Injury and Illness Prevention Program and follows guidelines that promote workplace safety.
• Provides input toward policy and procedure design, revision, and deletion.
• Reads memos, directives, meeting minutes, and revised policies and procedures as posted.
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Knowledge of cultural and socio-economic factors that inform service provision to persons with psychiatric or dual diagnosis disorders.
• Skills necessary to provide effective counseling services and the ability to successfully work as a member of a treatment team.
• Knowledge of the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association.
• Knowledge of the symptoms and treatment of people suffering from co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
• Knowledge of behavioral management techniques and crisis intervention skills.
• Knowledge of laws and ethics guiding the profession.
• Proficiency providing individual and group counseling, and knowledge of best practices
• Working knowledge of assessment, diagnosis and treatment techniques.
• Knowledge of Medi-Cal documentation and CERNER preferred .

SKILLS:

• Computer literate in Microsoft Office Professional software.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent client advocacy skills.
• Strong administrative and team building skills.
• Able to build rapport with parents, caregivers, families, significant support persons, children, providers, and community members.
• Strong people and community relationship skills and ability to demonstrate professional demeanor.
• Bilingual preferred
• Demonstrates resourcefulness, initiative, and ability to work with minimal direction and supervision.
• Ability to successfully work as a member of a treatment team.
• Utilizes logical problem-solving techniques both independently and in collaboration with workers in dealing with client needs.
• Skills necessary to provide effective support for parents, caregivers, significant support persons, and families within scope of the profession.

ABILITY TO:

• Positively represent MHS in the community.
• Create written documentation that is legible, clear, and concise.
• Maintain positive morale and unit cohesion as evidenced by maintaining a cooperative and flexible attitudes toward coworkers, showing adaptability to change, exhibiting effective communication and interpersonal skills, and taking initiative to solve problems.
• Maintain a distinction between therapeutic and social relationships.
• Sets priorities and reacts appropriately to emergency situations.
• Ability to respond appropriately to crisis situations and perform sound interventions.
• Ability to perform a psychosocial assessment and create appropriate client plans based on models of care as outlined above.
• Ability to perform accurate diagnostic assessments
• Shows ability to interact positively with persons of diverse socio-economic backgrounds and education

EDUCATION and WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Currently registered with the BBS as an Associate MFT or Associate Social Worker in good standing
• Masters degree in Social Work, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Counseling or related field
• Two years of professional experience working with children and families.

Job Type: Full-time

Required experience:

• working professionally with children and families: 2 years

Required education:

• Master’s