Therapist Acute

Overview

The Children's Residential Services Program serves children and adolescents ages 5 to 18 years of age who are experiencing severe emotional or behavioral disturbance. These children have failed to respond successfully to multiple less restrictive treatment interventions. BayPointe offers a caring, structured environment and developmentally appropriate therapeutic services for each child 24 hours a day.The program provides support to families or caregivers that helps maintain, enhance, or develop attachment with their child/adolescent during treatment and throughout the discharge process. Children and adolescents diagnosed with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders receive care in a special mental illness-substance abuse service track. The consumers, families, caregivers, school system personnel, DHR workers, and others as appropriate, are directly involved in the consumer’s treatment and discharge planning.The goal is to improve each child’s or adolescent’s level of functioning and to discharge to a less restrictive treatment setting. The program primarily serves residents of south Alabama; however, the program considers referrals from across the state.

Responsibilities

Therapist in a hospital acute setting provides individual, group and family therapy. They formulate treatment plans, behavioral management plans and provides clinical assessments of the consumers. They respond to crisis situations to help deescalate and resolve the situation, as well as assisting with seclusion and restraining as required.

Essential Functions

• Utilizes assessment data to support a DSM V, DSM IV- TR or DSM IV diagnosis
• Provides effective clinical assessment of the consumer
• Provides individual, group, family and play therapy mode, utilizing basic therapeutic models and theories according to consumer needs as stated in the treatment plan
• Formulates appropriate treatment plan along with consumer and family/guardian, as appropriate
• Acts as a team leader providing clinical direction and training to the behavioral staff
• Assists with seclusion and restraint as required, per AltaPointe policy and procedure
• Formulates and oversees implementation of appropriate behavior management plans
• Evaluates the consumer for discharge planning or movement to a less restrictive environment and arranges such services, as needed
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize the elements of a crisis state and knows how to deescalate or resolve the situation
• Effectively collaborates with the treatment team members and outside sources in the delivery of clinical services
• Assists in approving movies, television programs, etc. as appropriate to program guidelines
• Assures that certification/program standards and objectives are met
• Participates in late night, weekend, and holiday therapist rotation providing group and family counseling, crisis intervention and overseeing on site consumer visitation facility wide (if applicable)
• Adheres to professional code of ethics
• Documents in a timely fashion per AltaPointe policy
• Documents appropriate, complete, and clinically comprehensive mental health assessments
• Documents in a clear and concise manner, types of consumer problems, treatment goals addressed, services, and techniques used
• Effectively manages caseload based on consumer needs
• Maintains current license and requirements for renewals (i.e. CEU’s), if applicable, and attends regular workshops and in-services
• Seeks clinical supervision and consultation as needed
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
• Actively works to enhance clinical skills
• Documents measurable and specific goals in the treatment plan
• Documents case disposition, case closings, follow-up and referrals
• Documents legibly
• Meets AltaPointe productivity standards
• Treats consumers with care, dignity and compassion
• Respects consumer’s privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Assists consumers and visitors as needed
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the consumer’s needs, expectations and individual differences
• Is gentle and calm with consumers and families
• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Accesses appropriate community resources according to consumer needs
• Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures

Physical Requirements

• There is frequent standing, sitting, and walking which are in bursts of 5 to 10 minutes.  However, there are times when this can be extended to pacing with the consumer (time could be undetermined), and at times sitting and standing can be extended with the employee having the ability to change positions as permitted by the observance and behavior of the consumer at that time.
• There is occasional forward bending from the hips while kneeling to reach to the side.
• There is an occasional need to be able to assume a full squat/lunge from a standing position.
•  There is an occasional need to maintain back extension while being on stomach with one’s own body weight on hips and legs.  This position is maintained for several minutes.
• Occasionally, be able to put one’s own body weight on one knee and one elbow on the same side of one’s body.
• Occasionally, be able to kneel and reach to same side toward the floor.
• Lift up to 15 pounds from the floor to various levels, including from floor to overhead occasionally during shift.
• Have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds to assist in activities of daily living, as required.  Be able to lift up to 50 pounds from floor to waist.
• Strong grasp is needed to use keys to open doors throughout the facility, and to maintain constant contact with a consumer during a restraint procedure or with other hold techniques.
• Pushing/pulling force up to 25 pounds occasionally during shift.
• At times, be able to ambulate in a quick manner (jog/run) for distances up to 50 feet.
• Carrying up to 15 pounds various distances throughout the facility.
• Occasional step ladder climbing to retrieve medical records that are on higher shelves.
• Fine manipulation/dexterity to handle medical records and complete documentation.
• At times therapy may be inside or outside the facility; therefore, some activities will dictate physical requirements for playing or games.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in a mental health discipline.