Mental Health Therapist III

Sea Mar Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington State. Sea Mar proudly serves all persons without regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, or sexual orientation, and regardless of ability to pay for services. Sea Mar's network of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services. We are recruiting for the following position:

Sea Mar is a mandatory COVID-19 and flu vaccine organization

The Mental Health Therapist provides diagnostic assessments, referrals for psychiatric services, case

management in coordination with other teams or parties involved in treatment. In addition, the Mental

Health Therapist provides individual counseling, crisis stabilization, suicide risk assessment and treatment

plans, and leads groups. Assistance to the Program Manager in program development, policy and

procedure development, compliance with WACs and RCWs, and other administrative tasks performed

are as directed. This job description does not suggest or imply that these are the only duties to be

performed by this employee. The person in this position will be required to follow other instructions

and to perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Duties and Responsibilities

As a mission-driven organization, the core values of, and the services offered at Sea Mar are based on

the belief that everyone deserves to be respectfully treated in a way that preserves dignity and enhances

self-worth. Sea Mar is an advocate for its clients and aims to achieve industry-leading, client-centered,

culturally-aware services.

Sea Mar employees serve as an extension of this mission and demonstrate their commitment to an

excellent client experience by:

Understanding and empathizing with client needs

Surpassing client expectations

Demonstrating a high level of integrity

Exhibiting compassion and commitment

Advocating for social justice

Taking pride in individual work as well as that of the team

Continually learning to stay current with industry standards, best practices and technology

As a Sea Mar employee, the individual in this position commits to adherence to these values to their

utmost ability and endeavors to strengthen and embody this mission daily.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be

assigned.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Assists in insuring agency compliance with WAC's, RCW's, and other pertinent laws,

regulations, and contracts.

Assists in developing and implementing policies and procedures as directed by the Program

Manager.

Educates staff regarding the process for mental health service referrals and regarding "psycho

educational topics (suicide risk assessment, behavior modification, etc.) as directed by the

Program Manager.

Maintains documentation of mental health services, and follow through in patient charts.

CLINICAL DUTIES

Provides diagnostic assessments for each patient during the program. Documents outcomes,

justifies diagnoses, and communicates with the primary Chemical Dependency Counselor

regarding outcomes and recommendations.

Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the

patients served.

Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.

Able to identify and categorize each patient’s age-specific grouping of needs, such as those for

infant, adolescent, or geriatric patients.

Refers patients to psychiatric services as appropriate. Gathers record materials and background

information as needed by the community mental health center (See Policies and Procedures).

Attends session with the psychiatric service provider to insure accuracy of presentation and that

identified needs are addressed. Provides monitoring regarding the effects of medications, and

feedback to the psychiatrist regarding effects/side effects.

Provides consultation to Sea Mar staff regarding mental health and behavioral issues; and

develops treatment plans with staff to address emotional needs and behavioral problems

identified for patients.

Provides individual counseling, in coordination with other system as needed.

Provides suicide risk assessment and develop treatment plans to address suicidal ideation or

gestures. Uses case management as needed to provide follow through and build community

support as follow through. Provides other crisis stabilization as needed.

Gathers information regarding past mental health services to be used in the individual’s

treatment plan development. Provides mental health services referrals to patients prior to or

following admission, and exchanges information with outside service providers.

Supports other staff regarding mental health needs of staff or patients. Maintains confidentiality,

prevent splitting between staff and patients, and offer concrete ideas on handling challenging

situations.

PRODUCTIVITY STANDARD

Performs a minimum of 80 hours of face-to-face contact and 80 encounters each month.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential

functions.

An understanding of the Behavioral Health Organization requirements. The ability to work

effectively with all persons and groups with an open mind towards cultural differences and

knowledge of cultures.

The ability to accurately diagnose mental health issues and develop treatment plans based upon

diagnoses. The ability to NOT diagnose behavioral problems as mental illnesses unless

appropriate.

An understanding of chemical dependency treatment and an ability to coordinate mental health

services with chemical dependency treatment providers.

Must complete an annual clinical competency test as a mental health therapist.

The Mental Health Therapist must sign a permanent oath of confidentiality covering all patient

related information.

This person must pass a Washington State Patrol background check.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance

instructions, and procedure manuals.

Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers,

common fractions, and decimals.

Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations

where only limited standardization exists.

Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Education and Experience, Certificates, Licenses, Registrations, and Medical Screening

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

Must hold a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, counseling,

or social work which includes course-work in psychological diagnostics.

Four or more years’ experience in the field. Must meet criteria of a Mental Health Professional

(MHP). Must hold and maintain an active Washington State Agency Affiliated Counselor License

(may be pending for up to 90 days if applied for within 7 days of being offered employment) or

mental health Associate License (includes Marriage and Family Therapist, Menta