Major responsibilities:

• Provides culturally-competent, excellent quality care to all patients.
• Provides counseling, therapy, and/or psychotherapy to clients and families as appropriate to the position; prepares treatment plans, discharge plans, and follow-up care programs; provides therapeutic crisis intervention and urgent services as required.
• Collects data about patients through interview, case history, psychological tests, and/or observational techniques; evaluates data to identify causes of problems and to determine proper therapeutic approach or referral to other specialists.
• Consults with mental health and medical staffs, as appropriate, in the performance of therapeutic and/or casework; refers clients to appropriate service agencies as required.
• Provides and/or arranges for therapeutic interventions as appropriate for patients or clients in a crisis condition and for those with serious Mental Health/Substance Abuse problems.
• Refers clients to appropriate social service agencies for financial assistance and other required services; may visit patients and families in their homes to provide counseling and outreach services.
• Follows up to determine reliability of treatment used; changes method and degree of therapy when indicated.
• Establishes and maintains case files, referrals, and other related documents for the treatment of clients; prepares related documentation for civil commitment hearings or other legal proceedings; keeps abreast of patient data to ensure appropriate treatment and care are delivered.
• Consults with other legal and treatment agencies and individuals in relation to patient/client records, rights, and responsibilities.
• Participates in the CHC quality assurance program.
• Demonstrates understanding and commitment to the health center mission, including service and teaching.
• Demonstrates understanding and commitment to the established CHC Values and Standards.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters degree, or equivalent, in mental health counseling, or clinical/counseling psychology.
• Graduate from an accredited mental health related program.
• Ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and judgments.

• Proficiency with use of computer (Microsoft Office) as communication and data management tool.
• Ability to observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress.
• Knowledge and understanding of mental health counseling principles, methods, procedures, and standards.
• Familiarity with psychological testing.
• Interviewing and psychological/developmental evaluation skills.
• Skill in preparing and maintaining patient records.
• Knowledge of clinical operations and procedures.
• Knowledge of community mental health resources and willingness to reach out to existing resources.
• Ability to maintain emotional stability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.
• Ability to evaluate the progress of therapeutic programs and to make individual modifications.
• Ability to create, compose, and edit written materials.
• Knowledge of the principles and methods of social and vocational rehabilitation as they relate to mental health clinical practices.
• Knowledge of legal and ethical issues related to patients' rights.
• Spanish language skills is a plus