Qualified Mental Health Professional

PURPOSE:  Utilize your “people skills” and your social science knowledge in combination with extensive on the job training and clinical supervision to provide an array of crisis, care coordination, case management, assessment, recovery planning and skills training services to children, adolescents, adults or families.  May participate in initial and ongoing assessments utilizing a trauma informed care perspective to identify prior experiences, needs, risks, barriers, goals, objectives, abilities, strengths, supports and preferences, and help facilitate the integration of this information into person and family centered, recovery, crisis, safety or referral plans.  Based on these plans, may provide face to face case management and/or care coordination services including making and following up on referrals, identifying and overcoming barriers to accessing needed services and supports, and engaging or coordinating informal and professional supports in the recovery process.  Utilizing approved curriculum, may provide psychosocial skills training for children, adolescents, adults and parents.  Provides intervention services as determined by risk assessment and consumer needs. Uses all information obtained to guide changes to the recovery plan and refers to the most appropriate services as needed. Collaborates with other professionals as needed including mental health deputies, nurses, doctors, counselors and other health/social service/educational and criminal justice organizations.  May conduct community outreach activities.  Completes all documentation necessary to document services performed.

Qualified Mental Health Professionals perform a wide variety of different roles based on program assignment.  For Example:

• Behavioral Health Clinics: QMHPs work with nursing, medical and peer providers to deliver psychiatric services.  Primary roles include updating assessments, identifying progress, needs, barriers, goals and objectives and updating recovery plans accordingly.  Provide case management and care coordination to assist in accessing needed services and supports. Primarily M-F, 8-5, with some extended hours.
• Adult Community Support Services: QMHPs provide case management, care coordination and skills training with seriously and persistently mentally ill adults, many of whom have received inpatient psychiatric care.  Assists individuals identifying their goals and objectives and developing recovery plans.  Provides social and adaptive living skills training.  Services provided in community and patients’ residences.
• Child and Adolescent Community Services:  QMHPs provide case management, care coordination and curriculum based skills training for emotionally or behaviorally disturbed children and their parents or families.  Coordinates services with medical and behavioral, health providers and with educational, social service and juvenile justice agencies.  Services provided in community, schools and homes
• Youth Empowerment Services (YES):  QMHPs serve as intensive case managers for small caseloads of seriously emotionally disturbed youths.  Facilitate the ?wraparound? planning process and the monthly child-family team meetings.  Track progress toward goals and objectives and adjust recovery plans as needed.  Mostly face to face services with 80% of time in the community or the child’s home.
• Mobile Crisis Outreach Team:  QMHPs conduct crisis assessments, de-escalations and crisis interventions with individuals experiencing mental health crises and provide linkage to follow-up services.  Services provided 24/7 (including nights, weekends and holidays) in emergency rooms, schools, jails and other community settings.  May provide educational outreach services.
• Assist, Stabilize and Prevent (ASAP):  QMHPs work in conjunction with law enforcement to provide crisis prevention and intervention services primarily with individuals who have had recent psychiatric hospitalizations or contacts with law enforcement.  Primary role is to provide crisis services, follow-ups or jail assessments with a small, short-term caseload.  Primarily M-F, 8-5.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:  A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social, behavioral or human services.  (Social, behavioral, and human services are:  psychology; social work; medicine; nursing; rehabilitation; counseling; sociology; human development; physician’s assistant; gerontology; education psychology; special education; early childhood intervention; or early childhood education.)

DEGREE AND/OR CERTIFICATION REQUIRED (IF APPLICABLE):   BA/BS

DRIVING REQUIRED:    Yes

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

• Appropriate written and verbal communication, including proper spelling and grammar.
• Ability to learn to write progress notes, assessments, brief mental status exams, memos, letters, various complex reports and other documents according to agency standards.
• Computer – skilled in the use of computer technology, particularly with Microsoft Office applications.  Familiarity with any electronic medical record is a plus.
• Familiarity with community mental health and other resources
• Ability to build rapport with individuals including coworkers.
• Demonstrate skill in utilizing appropriate professional tools and interventions.
• Comfort interacting with individuals of diverse cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds and with social service, healthcare, educational and criminal justice organizations.
• Acquires and uses new skills as the job requires.
• Ability to work with considerable latitude and exercise discretion and independent judgment. This would include personal initiative and problem solving skills.
• Ability to complete all job requirements in a timely manner.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS OR CONDITIONS (specify):

• May be required to interact with other consumers, referral sources, outside agencies, and family members to determine needs and actions to be taken.
• Current State of Texas Driver License or if you live in another state, must be currently licensed in that state.
• Liability insurance required if employee will operate personal vehicle on Center property or for Center business.  Must be insurable by Center’s liability carrier if employee operates a Center vehicle or drives personal car on Center business.
• Must complete all training requirements in month in which they are due.
• May be required to provide on-call duties.
• Availability of a personal vehicle for business use may be required.
• Work may take place within clinic-office or community settings (schools, nursing homes, emergency rooms, clients’ residences, shelters etc.) and may interactions with agitated or disruptive individuals.
• May be responsible for providing group services and/or crisis services as needed.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
• Must successfully pass all background screens as required by the state
• Ability to input data into computer, make calculations, complete paperwork, produce reports.
• Must be physically able to perform all job requirements that may include home visits, walking on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs, and standing or sitting for long periods of time if required.
• Some QMHP positions require flexible hours including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Adhere to professional dress and appearance standards consistent with the position and daily workplace needs.