Behavioral Health Clinician - Substance Use

Pay Range:

Pay Range:$31.83 - $44.56This position provides evidence-based culturally relevant outpatient behavioral health treatment for those experiencing behavioral, emotional, and/or mental disorders. Clinical services include individual, group, family, and marital therapy as well as bio-psychosocial assessments, diagnostic evaluation, care coordination, and crisis intervention. The clinician is an active engaged member of the multidisciplinary treatment team to support individuals and families. The clinician maintains the patient electronic health record with timely documentation of services in accordance with established SEARHC policies and procedures and regulatory bodies. The clinician follows and maintains established clinical productivity standards. This position provides after-hours Crisis Intervention Services on a shared rotating basis in the clinic locations in Haines, Klawock, Petersburg, and Wrangell.

Clinicians who are not yet licensed will receive clinical supervision that meet licensure requirements. Supervision for those not yet licensed will focus on the appropriate delivery of twelve core functions: Screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, therapy, case management, crisis intervention, client education, referral, reports and records keeping, and consultation.

SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health insurance, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

Key Essential Functions and Accountabilities of the Job

• Implement culturally relevant screening, assessment, diagnosing, treatment planning, and evidence-based individual, group, and family therapy to meet the needs of the clients served.

• Utilize Trauma Informed Care in all aspects of patient, employee, and community interactions.

• Integrate mental health and substance use disorder interventions as identified based on the results of individualized assessments and treatment planning.

• Develop individualized treatment plans and treatment reviews based upon the individual’s needs.

• Provide care coordination, advocacy, motivational interviewing, bio-psychosocial education and skill development.

• Maximize access to care and effective utilization of care by focusing on improving coping strategies and skills, promoting self-care, improving self-understanding, and management of symptoms.

• Communicate and collaborate with clinical and paraprofessional team members across the health system to achieve individualized treatment goals.

• Provide crisis intervention services within normal clinic hours.

• In the rural clinics of Haines, Klawock, Petersburg, and Wrangell provide shared rotating after hours crisis and emergency services.

• Maintain complete, timely, and accurate documentation of all services within the electronic health record including but not limited to assessments, progress notes, treatment plans, screening tools, and discharge plans as required by SEARCH policy and procedure.

• Self-monitor and fulfill licensure requirements as required by clinician’s licensing board. 

• Adhere to patient confidentiality, sharing, and release of information per HIPAA and SEARHC policy.

• Coordinate care within the SEARCH health system and local community social agencies to assure appropriate referrals are offered for optimal individualized care.

• Attend, engage, and professionally participate in staff meetings, training, and multidisciplinary team meetings. 

• Consistently meet productivity expectations to support ongoing patient access to timely care.

• Promptly respond to coding and audit requests and corrections in a respectful, professional, and timely fashion.

• Complete all required provider enrollment expectations and documentation.

• Other duties as assigned

Education, Certifications, and Licenses Required

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or related discipline from an accredited educational institution.

• Licensed as Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Professional Counselor (LPC) or Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) preferred.

  • Once licensure is obtained it is a requirement to keep it current for the duration of employment.

  • Clinicians who are not yet licensed will receive clinical supervision to ensure appropriate delivery of behavioral health services focused screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, therapy, case management, crisis intervention, patient education, referral, reports, and records keeping, and consultation.

• Valid State of Alaska Driver’s License or can be obtained within 6 months of hire.

• Alaska State Chemical Dependency Counselor I or MAC certificate or equivalent preferred.

• Raven's Way: Basic Life Support (BLS) within 45 days of hire and maintained thereafter.

• SEARHC Clinical Competency at 3 months and every 3 years thereafter

Experience Required

• Experience and expertise with behavioral health assessment and diagnoses.

• Ability to provide assessment, treatment plans, and referral for patients of all ages.

Knowledge of

• Behavioral health assessment and diagnostic evaluation criteria.

• Treatment plan development and patient/family centered goals and objectives.

• Evidence-based modern methods, techniques and procedures used in individual, group, and family therapy for emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues.

• Federal and state mandatory reporting requirements

• Ethical and legal management practices, patient rights, state mandatory reporting requirements, documentation regulations specific to HIPAA, CARF, The Joint Commission, HRSA, State Medicaid and Federal regulations.

Skill and Ability to

• Assess patients for risk of suicide or self-harm and develop effective safety plans.

• Advocate for patients and coordinate required services or to resolve problems in crisis situations.

• Analyze, evaluate, and diagnose situations and adopt effective courses of action.

• Document clear/concise reports drawing from direct patient observation, screenings, and assessments in accordance with professional standards, state regulations and department protocol.

• Modify treatment activities or approaches as needed to comply with changes in patients' needs. 

• Maintain knowledge of new developments in behavioral health assessment and counseling.

Required Certifications:

Basic Life Support (BLS) - American Heart Association, Clinical Competency Assessment - SEARHC, Driver License - State of Alaska

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!