JOB PURPOSE:  The Qualified Mental Health Professional is a key member of the treatment team who provides direct care skills training, rehabilitative services and coordination of care to individuals assigned to their caseload. Performs assessments and develops recovery plans in a person-centered, trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate manner which supports individuals in meeting their chosen goals. Ability to build rapport and work independently are essential. Proficient use of technology to stay organized and document services timely is required.

Mental Health Professionals in Crisis Programs perform a variety of different roles based on program assignment.  For Example:

?  Mobile Crisis Outreach Team:  Conduct crisis assessments, de-escalations and crisis interventions with individuals experiencing mental health crises. Provide linkage to resources and follow-up services. Mobile Crisis Outreach services are available and provided 24/7 (including nights, weekends and holidays). This role is community-based with most of the time being spent serving individuals in emergency rooms, schools, jails, homes and other community settings. May provide educational outreach services. This position works 4, 12-hour shifts and provides on-call coverage.  

?  Assist, Stabilize and Prevent (ASAP):  Primary function is to provide crisis assessment, de-escalation, crisis intervention, and follow-up services. Provides some skills training or psychosocial rehabilitation services to individuals. Works in conjunction with law enforcement and judicial partners to provide crisis prevention and intervention services primarily with individuals who have had recent psychiatric hospitalizations or contacts with law enforcement. This is a team-based role who is partnered with a mental health peace officer to achieve goals of the program. Work schedule is mostly M-F, 8-5 with some variability. May work overtime.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:  A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social, behavioral or human services or is a registered nurse.  (Social, behavioral, and human services are:  psychology; social work; medicine; nursing; rehabilitation; counseling; sociology; human development; physician's assistant; gerontology; education psychology; special education; early childhood intervention; or early childhood education.)

DEGREE AND/OR CERTIFICATION REQUIRED (IF APPLICABLE):   BA/BS or RN

DRIVING REQUIRED:    Yes

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

?  Appropriate written and verbal communication, including proper spelling and grammar. 

?  Ability to learn to write progress notes, assessments, brief mental status exams, memos, letters, various complex reports and other documents according to agency standards.

?  Computer ? skilled in the use of computer technology, particularly with Microsoft Office applications.  Familiarity with any electronic medical record is a plus.

?  Familiarity with community mental health and other resources

?  Ability to build rapport with individuals including coworkers. 

?  Demonstrate skill in utilizing appropriate professional tools and interventions.

?  Comfort interacting with individuals of diverse cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds and with social service, healthcare, educational and criminal justice organizations.

?  Acquires and uses new skills as the job requires.

?  Ability to work with considerable latitude and exercise discretion and independent judgment. This would include personal initiative and problem solving skills. 

?  Ability to complete all job requirements in a timely manner. 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS OR CONDITIONS (specify):

?  May be required to interact with other consumers, referral sources, outside agencies, and family members to determine needs and actions to be taken. 

?  Current State of Texas Driver License or if you live in another state, must be currently licensed in that state. 

?  Liability insurance required if employee will operate personal vehicle on Center property or for Center business.  Must be insurable by Center's liability carrier if employee operates a Center vehicle or drives personal car on Center business.

?  Must complete all training requirements in month in which they are due.

?  May be required to provide on-call duties. 

?  Availability of a personal vehicle for business use may be required. 

?  Work may take place within clinic-office or community settings (schools, nursing homes, emergency rooms, clients' residences, shelters etc.) and may interactions with agitated or disruptive individuals. 

?  May be responsible for providing group services and/or crisis services as needed.

?  Must pass a pre-employment drug test.

?  Must successfully pass all background screens as required by the state

?  Ability to input data into computer, make calculations, complete paperwork, produce reports.

?  Must be physically able to perform all job requirements that may include home visits, walking on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs, and standing or sitting for long periods of time if required.

?  Some QMHP positions require flexible hours including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays as needed. 

?  Adhere to professional dress and appearance standards consistent with the position and daily workplace needs.

Essential Tasks & Standards

1.  Provides Psychosocial Rehabilitative Case Management to assigned individuals.

2.  Maintains consumer records in accordance with all applicable standards.

3.  Establishes relationships and communicates with clients, caseworkers, probation officers, family members, and other staff

4.  Completes documentation in reference to service delivery within 48 hours and crisis documentation within 24 hours.

5.  Prepares written service plans and treatment update summaries, incorporating input from clients, other service providers, and wraparound team members to identify problem areas and needs, service objectives, and intervention strategies

6.  Attends staff meetings and/or trainings as assigned.

7.  Demonstrate a positive regard for individuals and their families (e.g. from a trauma informed perspective provides treatment collaboratively with consumers respecting them as individuals, allowing risk-taking, avoiding stereotypes, respecting individuals' and families' privacy, advocacy, believing in an individual's recovery and that they are a valuable member of society).

8.  Advocates and helps the client navigate the system to support access to needed resources.

9.  Stays knowledgeable of necessity standards pertaining to services delivered.

10.  Meets productivity standards as outlined in operational guidelines.

Work Behaviors & Standards

1.  Attends work regularly and punctually in order to provide reliable and consistent coverage in area of responsibility.  Arrives at designated time and departs according to schedule.  Maintains a willingness to adjust schedule to meet the needs of the situation.  Makes every attempt to pre-schedule absences and provide dependable coverage and service.  Complies with Center policies regarding leave usage, absenteeism, and tardiness.

2.   Interacts with clients in an emotionally supportive and/or therapeutic manner in order to provide an environment of caring, dignity, and respect.

3.  Works harmoniously with fellow employees, supervisors, family, and friends of persons served, and the public in order to create an environment of caring, dignity and respect, and that allows for the accomplishment of the Center's mission.

4.  Utilizes work time effectively to insure that all assignments are completed in a thorough and timely manner.

5.  Abides by all Center policies and procedures regarding training objectives and requirements including those that relate to safety and infectious disease control. Will keep all Staff Development mandatory trainings current.

6.  Adheres to Center policies and procedures and all applicable requirements and regulations of HHSC, CMS, Texas Administrative Code, CARF, relevant contracts and all other applicable regulatory bodies.

7.  Maintains confidentiality regarding consumers, records, personnel, and other sensitive and confidential information in order to comply with Center, state, and federal policy.

8.  Conducts all aspects of employment in accordance with Center's Compliance Program.