Job Summary

The School-Based Psychotherapist will provide behavioral health services to Health West patients attending grades K-12 throughout School District 25. The School-Based Psychotherapist provides screening, assessment, treatment, group treatment, consultative services, education and engagement, linkages, outreach and advocacy to students.  The School-Based Psychotherapist will provide psychotherapy, psycho-education, and patient education strategies and will consult with school personnel as well as primary care providers to develop specific behavioral change plans for patients and behavioral health protocols for target populations. Working from an interdisciplinary approach and in collaboration with the school personnel and medical providers, the School-Based Psychotherapist also provides orientation, consultation, and ongoing training to pertinent primary care and school staff as needed in order to strengthen the relationship between primary care, the school, and behavioral health services at Health West.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Establishes a compassionate setting by providing emotional and psychological  support to patients and their families.
• Maintain a team-based approach with school personnel.
• Attend school events as applicable, which may on occasion be outside of typical working hours (school rallies, presentations, etc.).
• Work with primary care providers to recognize, treat and manage mental disorders, psychosocial problems, and chronic emotional and/or health problems efficiently and effectively.
• Work with school to encourage behavior change and improve student mental health.
• Comply with established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety, and customer service standards.
• Participate in ongoing training in behavioral health issues and provide training to school personnel and primary care clinic staff in mental health topics including counseling skills and confidentiality, medication use and misuse, substance abuse, wellness, rehabilitation, recovery and self-sufficiency.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences with Medical and other behavioral health Providers as needed.
• Provide clinical assessments of behavioral health conditions.
• Assist in the detection of at-risk patients and development of plans to prevent further psychological or physical deterioration.
• Assist in preventing relapse or morbidity in conditions that tend to recur over time.
• Maintain timely, accurate and appropriate records.
• Teach care, prevention, and treatment enhancement technique to patients, families, school, and staff.
• Design and implement clinical pathways through developing procedures and protocols for treatment of selected mental and behavioral conditions.
• Remain current with standards of mental and behavioral health care practice.
• Attend and participate in meetings and Quality Improvement activities as required.
• Represent Health West, Inc. in the community and maintain effective working relationships among co-workers, public, private, and professional groups.
• Serve as a member of site committees as requested.
• Participate in evaluation of colleagues and support staff.
• Some travel may be required.