Mental Health Practitioner Intake and Referral
St. Charles Health System
Mental Health Practitioner Intake and Referral
St. Charles Health System
Regional health system operating four hospitals
ST. CHARLES HEALTH SYSTEM
JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Mental Health Practitioner Intake and Referral
REPORTS TO POSITION: Varies
DEPARTMENT: Behavioral Health: Psychiatric Assessment Team
DATE LAST REVIEWED: February 29, 2024
OUR VISION: Creating America’s healthiest community, together
OUR MISSION: In the spirit of love and compassion, better health, better care, better value
OUR VALUES: Accountability, Caring and Teamwork
DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: The Behavioral Health Departments provide services to the community and region including the following: Acute mental health crisis and triage, intake assessment and referral, inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, outpatient behavioral health services and integrated behavioral health services.
POSITION OVERVIEW: The Mental Health Practitioner Intake and Referral assesses patient’s needs for acute crisis treatment albeit determining the appropriate level of care and referring the patient to the appropriate level of care.
This position also provides counseling services including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for patients experiencing social/behavioral/mental health issues. This position does not directly manage any other caregivers.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:
Coordinate screening, admission, assessment, and referral of incoming and outgoing patients for psychiatric inpatient beds requests.
Determine level of care, make treatment recommendations, and conduct thorough crisis assessment and safety planning.
Provide appropriate outpatient referrals for patients not meeting inpatient level of care.
Develop and coordinate referrals to outside agencies and hospitals for youth, and adults when necessary, requiring hospitalization.
Provide initial insurance pre-certification(s) and authorization(s) for treatment.
Communicate with patient collateral informal and formal supports within and outside of St. Charles.
Receive and provide accurate and thorough clinical information to and from patients, families, referral sources, other hospitals/facilities and insurance companies.
Provide technical assistance to the discharge planning process.
Act as the facilitator/convener for multi-disciplinary care plans for patients with complex behavioral health needs.
Participate with team members in facilitating patient’s and family’s learning throughout the continuum of care. Reinforce patient’s continued health care through teaching and/or referral to community agency follow-up.
Perform patient assessment of social, economic, emotional, and family situations.
Provide diagnostic, preventative and therapeutic treatment services of a psychosocial nature pertaining to personality adjustment, behavioral problems, and interpersonal dysfunction.
Respect the privacy and protect the confidentiality of patients and family members while maintaining the boundaries of the professional discipline as outlined in the affiliated licensing board’s and organization’s Code of Ethics.
Function as a member of the Interdisciplinary Care Team to assure care is accomplished effectively and efficiently in a cost-effective manner.
Provide individual, group and family-based therapies using a variety of evidenced-based treatment modalities, interventions, and strategies primarily from a DBT, ACT, CBT, Solution-Focused, Motivational Interviewing, or other approved modality.
Work in a fast-paced environment at times multi-tasking and triaging numerous needs of patients, their families, and community agencies.
Complete psychosocial assessments (including substance use), economic assessments, risk assessments, and treatment plans that are individualized and measurable in compliance with the department and state regulatory standards.
Assess the potential threat of harm to self and/or others and/or inability to care for oneself. Determine, in coordination with the treatment team and County, the legal status of patients in accordance with State Civil Commitment laws.
Provide crisis intervention to patients in immediate crisis on the unit and to recently discharged patients on an as needed basis.
Provide psychoeducation and case management support to patients and their families.
Responsible for maintaining knowledge of all state and federal regulations as they apply to the admission, care, and discharge of patients from an inpatient psychiatric facility including all pertinent civil commitment procedures and protocols.
Coordinate after-care with outpatient providers including therapeutic appointments, warm handoffs, medication management, and follow up medical appointments that are in compliance with regulatory standards and/or other metrics.
Attend unit meetings and trainings as scheduled.
Participates in creating a healing environment that supports all aspects of the care environment and the wholeness of everyone, patient, and caregiver.
Participates in creating intentional relationships and demonstrates focused attitudes and behaviors that enhance the care experience.
Supports the vision, mission and values of the organization in all respects.
Documents all patient care with proficiency in compliance with hospital policies, procedures and regulatory agencies.
Provides a therapeutic presence in service to others by purposefully responding to the needs of patients in a caring way, including introducing oneself and explaining role in patient’s care, asking the patient their preferred name and pronouns, sitting with the patient to determine their care goals, active listening, and communicating effectively and appropriately through touch, eye contact, etc.
Supports the Lean principles of continuous improvement with energy and enthusiasm, functioning as a champion of change.
Provides and maintains a safe environment for caregivers, patients and guests.
Conducts all activities with the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality. Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures, supporting the organization’s corporate integrity efforts by acting in an ethical and appropriate manner, reporting known or suspected violation of applicable rules, and cooperating fully with all organizational investigations and proceedings.
Delivers customer service and/or patient care in a manner that promotes goodwill, is timely, efficient and accurate.
May perform additional duties of similar complexity within the organization, as required or assigned.
Additional Duties Specific to PAT/PES Unit:
Conduct crisis, risk, and psychosocial assessments, treatment planning, and safety planning within the guidelines of OHA and Joint Commission standards.
Daily rounding of PES patients to include therapeutic intervention, case management, and coordination of care.
Daily rounding of patients admitted to medical units of the hospital for purpose of assessment and/or ongoing treatment.
Follow up risk assessment and safety planning for patients scoring as moderate to high risk throughout the hospital system.
Additional Duties Specific to Sage View:
Work in concert with the attending psychiatrist to develop a working diagnosis and treatment goals, through coordinating and leading the morning Multidisciplinary Treatment Team meetings.
EDUCATION:
Required: PhD, PsyD, or Master’s of Clinical Psychology, Social Work or related behavioral health field.
Preferred: N/A
LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION:
Required:Current unrestricted Oregon Licensed Clinical Psychologist, LCSW, LMFT, or LPC licensure OR the ability to obtain state board licensure as a Registered Associate or CSWA within 3 years of hire date.
Ability to travel to business functions/trainings/meetings and all SCHS worksites.
Preferred: Current unrestricted Oregon Licensed Clinical Psychologist, LCSW, LMFT, or LPC licensure.
Member of the National Association of Social Worker’s or another national association membership.
Bilingual in Spanish and English communication.
EXPERIENCE:
Required: One year of experience in behavioral health field.
Internship experience in an inpatient behavioral health setting may be considered.
Preferred: Experience in a behavioral health inpatient or residential setting.
Postgraduate clinical experience providing therapeutic services on an outpatient or inpatient basis.
Experience with payor established level of care criteria.
Registrar and third-party payor experience
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:
Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform the job safely.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Continually (75% or more): Use of clear and audible speaking voice and the ability to hear normal speech level.
Frequently (50%): Sitting, keyboard operation.
Occasionally (25%): Standing, walking, bending, stooping/kneeling/crouching, climbing stairs, reaching overhead, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 1-10 pounds, grasping/squeezing, operation of a motor vehicle, ability to hear whispered speech level.
Never (0%): Climbing ladder/step-stool, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 11-50 pounds.
Exposure to Elemental Factors
Occasionally (25%): Chemical solution for Laboratory Caregivers.
Rarely (10%): Wet/slippery area.
Never (0%): Heat, cold, noise, dust, vibration, chemical solution, uneven surface.
Blood-Borne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Category
Risk for Exposure to BBP
Schedule Weekly Hours:
30Caregiver Type:
RegularShift:
Variable (United States of America)Is Exempt Position?
NoJob Family:
MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERScheduled Days of the Week:
VariableShift Start & End Time:
0700-1730Regional health system operating four hospitals
St. Charles Health System operates four hospitals and employs over 220 medical providers to deliver medical care in Central Oregon. It offers a full range of health services—from routine treatments to specialized care—through its hospitals and clinics. Patients receive care across inpatient stays, outpatient procedures, and community health programs managed by the system. Revenue comes from charging for patient care services, and the organization funds ongoing operations plus capital projects to expand and upgrade facilities. Its edge over competitors comes from being the largest regional health care system in Central Oregon with an integrated network of hospitals and clinicians, enabling coordinated care across multiple sites. The goal is to improve community health and work toward America’s healthiest community by expanding access to care and partnering with local organizations.
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