Behavioral Health Counselor-High Point

Job Summary:

Provides assessments for patients suffering from chemical dependency and/or psychiatric illness. Document patients, clinical needs and interventions. Participates in the Interdisciplinary Team. Provides individual/family or group counseling, assessment, intervention, and documentation of the clinical needs of Behavioral Health patients. Coordinates hospital discharges and patient aftercare plans.

Age of Patient Population Served:

Neonate (birth - 28 days) Infant (29 days - less than 1 year) Pediatric (1 - 12 yrs) Adolescent (13 - 17 yrs) Adult (18 - 64 yrs) Geriatric (65 yrs & older)

Education Degree/Diploma:

Obtained Program of Study Required/Preferred Masters Masters Social Work, Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy Required* * Degree must be from an accredited college or university.

Certifications, Licensures and Registrations:

Credential Primary Source Verification Required/Preferred Licensed in Social Work or Counseling in the State of North Carolina Required CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) certification Required CPR certification Required

Years Experience Required:

Preferred 2 Psychiatry/Chemical Dependency and Assessments/Referrals Preferred

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent decision making skills, good judgement, excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to quickly assess patients needs and verbally confirm these, capable of communicating clearly the benefits of appropriate treatment programs required.

- Knowledge of developmental stages of people from age six years to greater than 65 years preferred. - Broad knowledge base of DSM V diagnoses and treatment modalities required.

• Computer skills preferred.

Job Specific Duties:

Patient Assessment Completes and documents an accurate clinical assessment which concludes with the identification of key findings that support the need for treatment and the level of care placement. Quickly assesses patients needs, verbally confirms these, and clearly communicates benefits of appropriate treatment program. Determines the severity of the patients psychosocial stressors and level of functioning by utilizing GAF Scales. Responds quickly and with empathy to all assessments or requests for program/treatment information. Determines when to consult with a physician/ psychiatrist re: the assessment findings and disposition. Patient Family Focus Involves family members by providing education regarding treatment and aftercare support including intervention assistance through appropriate referrals. Works with family members in ways that help them recognize their own dynamics of co-dependency and denial which contribute to enabling/exacerbating the patients drinking/using behaviors/ psychiatric symptoms. Obtains a family history from a family member which corroborates the patients substance abuse history/psychiatric symptoms and identifies the family members own recovery needs. Reduction of Patient Denial Utilizes counseling skills to reduce the patients denial there-by allowing greater acceptance of the need for treatment for addiction and/or psychiatric illnesses. Patient Admissions Facilitates each admission by obtaining the physicians authorization according to the physician assignment procedure. Completes all pre-admission financial/insurance verifications in accordance with Hospital Admitting Department policies and procedures. Determines financial viability for treatment with the assistance of the admissions personnel. Maintains knowledge of hospital payment policies and practice to include third party payor reimbursement practices, Medicaid, and Medicare reimbursement requirements. Communication Consistently provides direction and information to patients, physicians, families, visitors and staff in a concise, informative, positive and courteous manner. Customer Focus Ensures excellent customer service to patients including excellent communication, treating them in a caring manner, being timely regarding treatment and being professional in their care. Consistently demonstrates behaviors that meet or exceed hospitals standards when interacting with customers. Establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with patients/family members. Teamwork Promotes a positive work environment with co-workers and other customers. Attends and participates in required department and hospital meetings and in-services. Referrals Makes efficacious referrals to community resources for on-going treatment of patients and family members. Professionalism Upholds a professional working relationship at all times and adheres to department rules. Practices teamwork and adheres to Standards of Behavior. Other Duties Performs other duties as assigned by management. UNC Health Care Employee Standards Communication: Uses appropriate methods to clearly convey information to others in an engaging way, which helps others understand and retain the message. Collaboration: Works with others respectfully and openly; provides help to achieve shared goals. Service: Anticipates and meets or exceeds all patient/customer needs and pro-actively takes responsibility for ensuring their quality care experiences. Safety: Meets or exceeds patient and employee safety requirements while promoting and achieving quality outcomes. Accountability: Takes ownership for goals and outcomes; effectively and efficiently uses available resources to successfully complete tasks. Improvement: Identifies opportunities and takes action to continuously improve processes. Maintains effectiveness and flexibility during change. Workplace Requirements Employee Health: Complies with all required employee health programs including annual tuberculin testing and other applicable screening, testing and vaccinations. Credentials: Maintains current licensures, certifications and/or registrations (if applicable for the position). Job Competency: Complies with requirements for job specific competency testing and demonstrates and communicates proficiency in skills required (if applicable to position). Corporate Compliance: Adheres to and understands the Health System's Corporate Compliance Plan as evidenced by timely participation in required training (including annual testing) and 100% compliance with the Corporate Compliance Code of Conduct. Safety: Adheres to and understands the Health System's Environment of Care Plan as evidenced by timely participation in required training (including annual safety testing). HIPAA: Adheres to and understands the Health System's HIPAA Compliance Plan as evidenced by timely participation in required training (including annual HIPAA testing). Education: Attends all required educational programs (including General Orientation, and departmental or job specific required programs). Physical and Behavioral Requirements - Occasional reaching. - Frequent standing and walking. - Constant sitting. - Sedentary physical force is required (exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects). - Visual acuity required for accurate patient assessments by viewing non-verbal cues. - Ability to speak and hear is required to effectively communicate with patients, visitors, physicians, and staff. - Sense of smell required for accurate assessment of patients. - Sense of touch required to assist in codes for Behavioral Health. - Manual finger dexterity required for documentation, equipment and computer operation, and assisting with codes. - Ability to effectively manage a high stress environment resulting from functioning in acute care behavioral health setting (ED, inpatient and outpatient). Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Yes or No: Yes National Patient Safety Goals Improve the accuracy of patient identification Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers Improve the safety of using medications Reduce the risk of health care-associated infections Consistently demonstrate appropriate hand hygiene techniques Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care Reduce the risk of patient harm resulting from falls Encourage patients? active involvement in their own care as a patient safety strategy Identify safety risks inherent in its patient population Improve recognition and response to changes in a patient?s condition Practice `Universal Protocol? when appropriate (conduct pre-procedure verification process, mark procedure site, perform a time-out) Core Values Teamwork - Is an effective team player who adds complementary skills and contributes valuable ideas, opinions and feedback. Communicates in an open and candid manner and can be counted upon to fulfill any commitments made to others on the team. Compassion - Is sensitive to the feelings of others and is consistently kind and considerate. Genuinely cares about people and is available and ready to help. Shows sincere concern, empathy, sees the best in people, accepts differences and appreciates virtues. Integrity - Views himself or herself as a reflection of the organization by following through on commitments and accepting ownership of any mistakes he or she might make. Acts in ways that demonstrate personal honesty and serves as a positive example of why others should trust the motives of the organization. Standards of Behavior Respect: Maintain Patients' Privacy Professionalism: Take Ownership Safe and Healing Environment: Keep Noise Levels Down Customer Focus: Use the 10/5 Rule; Escort to Destination; Use Elevator Etiquette Communication: Use AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explain, Thank) Employee Statement of Understanding I have read and understand the job description for my position. I also understand that I am responsible for meeting the standards of performance outlined in this job description as well as conducting myself in a manner supportive of the mission, vision, core values and Standards of Behavior of High Point Regional Health. I certify that I possess the physical and mental abilities to regularly attend work and fulfill the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. If I require accommodation in order to fulfill any or all of these essential functions, I will notify my manager immediately (or in the case of new employees, prior to employment). I understand that receipt of this job description does not imply nor create a promise of employment, nor does it create an employment contract of any kind. I furthermore understand that if hired, my employment relationship with High Point Regional Health is at will and may be terminated by myself or employer at any time with or without cause. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, education, certifications, licensure, experience, and/or ability required to perform the job. While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job, work schedule, and/or require that different tasks be performed when circumstances change in order to best suit the needs of the department and/or organization.