Therapist, Crisis Line, Scheduled Call

Job Summary

Provide high quality health care to Kaiser Permanente members in a cost-effective manner and in accordance with accepted professional practice standards.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide high quality health care through direct screening, diagnosis and formulation/implementation of treatment plan for mental health patients (may include suicidal and homicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, relational conflicts and violence, etc., in individuals, couples and families) primarily in crisis.

• In this position clinicians must be able to make quick and clinically appropriate decisions regarding patient safety, safety of the community, and identify next step immediate interventions for members calling in Mental Health crises.

• Safety Net is a fast-paced working environment that requires a high level of organization and multi-tasking skill as well as comfort with ambiguity. The team is a dynamic group of clinicians who must rely on each other for support in high-risk situations.

• Clinicians must document in writing all care in patients permanent medical record in accordance with accepted medical/legal standards. Provide all care in accordance with accepted practice standards and hospital/clinic protocols (including supervision by a physician).

• At times clinicians may work alone for several hours without the support of colleagues from the team, clinicians must be comfortable managing high risk situations via the live phone queue as well as following up with members who have accessed our external backup crisis line.

• Provide case management through appropriate triaging and referrals, reporting to other providers, telephone contact with patients and their families, and contact with outside agencies.

• Consult with other department providers regarding treatment plans.

• Perform other duties as requested.

Basic Qualifications

Experience

• Two (2) years of clinical experience.

Education

• Masters level degree or higher required (M.S.W., M.S., M.A., ~~~.)

License, Certification, Registration

• This job requires credentials from multiple states. Credentials from the primary work state are required before hire. Additional Credentials from the secondary work state(s) are required post hire.

• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (Washington) within 6 months of hire AND Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Oregon) within 6 months of hire

  OR

• Professional Counselor License (Oregon) within 6 months of hire AND Mental Health Counselor License (Washington) within 6 months of hire

  OR

• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Washington) within 6 months of hire AND Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Oregon) within 6 months of hire

  OR

• Psychologist License (Oregon) within 6 months of hire AND Psychologist License (Washington) within 6 months of hire

• National Provider Identifier required at hire

Additional Requirements

• Maintains high level of clinical competence. Is knowledgeable of current clinical conditions, methods, medications, theoretical frameworks and interventions. Utilizes best practices in delivery of behavioral health services in accordance with professional, clinical and KP guidelines. Utilizes evidence-based interventions and modalities with sound theoretical base.

• Practices within scope of practice parameters as inferred by licensure, knowledge, skill level, sound clinical judgment, and KP guidelines.

• Accurately documents patient data, actions or interventions, responses, and plans for care/follow-up according to KP guidelines and standards for practice. Utilize concurrent documentation skills to wrap up calls to be available for subsequent callers in the queue as quickly as possible.

• Thorough knowledge of psychosocial diagnostic categories and treatment approaches including evidence-based treatment modalities, suicide assessment, and therapeutic crisis intervention.

• Working knowledge of legal requirements for reporting abuse, suicidal and homicidal threats and limits of confidentiality.

• Ability to quickly and accurately assess, diagnose and provide crisis interventions to adult and child mental health patients, including determining the appropriate level of care and when needed, coordinating referrals to higher levels of care.

• Ability to intervene and effectively treat emergent problems involving mental health functioning and safety.

• Ability to multitask while managing patient crises on the phone: concurrently documenting member encounters, consulting with colleagues and/or outside agencies such as law enforcement and mobile crisis teams and navigating multiple computer applications in order to find information needed to perform job functions and crisis services to callers. Maintain flexibility and awareness of changes in policies, regulations, and procedures which can impact members and/or team workflows.

• Ability to use electronic medical record and meet standard workflows and documentation requirements.

• Must feel comfortable with completing thorough risk assessments and counseling members on access to lethal means. This could include immediate intervention when unsecured weapons are present.

• Follow up on member encounters with external crisis services, deciding appropriate next steps which could include documentation in members health record, outreach to member and coordinating follow up care.

• Access to reliable, high-speed wired internet, a private and secure workspace where all PHI can remain protected, and ability to commute to a KPNW office to work in case technical issues arise which prevent the ability to perform job functions and cannot be resolved at home within a reasonable amount of time (typically 1 hour).

• Demonstrated customer service skills and the ability to understand Kaiser Permanente customer needs.

• Demonstrated ability to function independently without direct clinical supervision.

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written skills.

• Must be able to work in a Labor/Management Partnership environment. Ability to minimize excess time spent documenting in order to maintain maximum availability on live phone queue to answer crisis calls

• Strong interpersonal communication, documentation and problem-solving skills.

• Rapidly establish rapport with a diverse population of patients presenting with a wide range of psychiatric, social and emotional difficulties.

• Process and communicate in a manner that is sensitive and appropriate to the cultural, linguistic and psychological needs of patients, families and other healthcare team members.

• Function effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary team and to collaborate well with other disciplines despite potential disagreements or conflict.

• Remain calm and use appropriate skills to defuse potentially violent or aggressive situations, and ability to use appropriate service recovery techniques when dealing with dissatisfied members.

• In the event of patient suicide, the resilience to manage emotional impact, ability to evaluate clinical assessment and treatment plan decisions, and integrate new learning.

Preferred Qualifications

• One (1) year of mental health crisis intervention experience.

• Previous call center/phone queue work experience

• Thorough and working knowledge of psychological diagnostic categories and evidenced based treatment approaches.

• Working knowledge of relevant outcome measures.

• Familiarity with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.

• Proficient use of electronic medical record.

• Proficient electronic mail communication skills.

• Proficient computer skills in windows applications.

• Knowledge of Co-occurring mental health and chemical dependency disorders.

Notes

• Coverage needed for additional FTE and extended hours

COMPANY: KAISER

TITLE: Therapist, Crisis Line, Scheduled Call

LOCATION: Hillsboro, Oregon

REQNUMBER: 1309211

External hires must pass a background check/drug screen. Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with Federal, state and local laws, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran, or disability status.