Mental Health Counselor- Lea County - Lovington, NM

Essential duties and responsibilities of this position are described below and

are subject to change by management, as may be necessitated by changes in

business needs, contract requirements, accommodation requests or other

reasons.

Job Summary

Provide comprehensive mental health assessment and treatment in collaboration with

multidisciplinary team

Duties/Responsibilities

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team members in the development/review of

individualized behavioral/mental health treatment plans and in the monitoring and

treatment of patients as indicated on the treatment plans

• Complete behavioral/mental health assessments for patients referred based on

admission process, staff referral or patient self-referral. Ensure that assessment is

completed within time period required by the type and urgency of referral

• Provide regular follow-up to assigned patients to monitor current mental status and

functioning

• Inform supervisor and psychiatric staff of significant change in a patient's functioning
• Provide crisis interventions as required to include precautionary measures, daily follow

up and emergency procedures as needed

• Conduct individual and group counseling and psychoeducational groups for patients
• Assist patients in defining goals to achieve personal, social, educational and/or

vocational development

• Observe patients to detect psychiatric symptoms, mental deficiency, abnormal behavior,

or maladjustment

• Update and maintain accurate and legible patient information and records in accordance

with policy

• Inform, coordinate and advise all applicable parties regarding patient discharge or

transfer. May act as a liaison with community agencies and contacts providing services

to patients

• Administer, interpret and report on psychological test data as testing standards permit

and/or under supervision if required

• Provide clinical supervisory oversight for non-psychiatric behavioral/mental health staff

as requested

• Provide on-call mental health services if assigned

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) occupying this position.

Employee(s) may be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties as requested, subject to all

applicable state and federal laws.

• Conduct in-service training on behavioral/mental health related topics for company and

community agencies

• Identify and maintain professional boundaries to preserve the integrity of the therapeutic

process and relationship

• Proactive in performance improvement activities as demonstrated by participating in the

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) program (peer review: record reviews;

membership on the CQI committee as requested) and modifying clinical practices based

on CQI recommendations

• Acquire and maintain current clinical knowledge and skills and professional standards
• Ensures compliance with all agency and company policies, federal and state laws,

regulations and guidelines including HIPAA

• Maintain an ethical commitment to ensure confidentiality of the clinical setting
• Deliver care in a nonjudgemental/nondiscriminatory manner to protect the autonomy,

dignity and rights of the patient

• This position is classified as "essential." Essential employees are expected to report to

work when other state agencies are closed for emergencies

• Other duties assigned

Position Core Competencies

• Problem Solving: Acts collaboratively in resolving problems. Ability to present solutions

rather than just identifying problems. Can acknowledge when one does not know

something and is willing to take personal responsibility for finding a solution.

• Team Building: Works well with others and helps build a cohesive working environment.

Helps others learn and shares knowledge. Respects diversity of the workplace and

individuals' unique characteristics.

• Communication: Able to appropriately express opinions in written and verbal form. Clear

and articulate when speaking with an individual or group and using audience-appropriate

language. Listens to others.

• Documentation: Ensures that medical records entries and other documentation are

accurate, thorough and timely. Written documentation is completed on required forms or

using required formats without omissions

• Effective Time Management: Organizes and prioritizes work by devoting adequate time

and attention to individual tasks. Effectively plans meetings/keep appointments and

multitask effectively.

• Attentive to Detail: Able to provide accurate and consistent work on a timely basis.

Documents important to detail to ensure miscommunications are minimized.

• Accountability: Follows through on commitments and agreements. Demonstrated

dependability. Taked responsibility for mistakes and missed deadlines. Communicated

about progress on commitments.

• Stress Tolerance: Must be able to effectively handle stressful or adverse situations and

work effectively under difficult conditions. Ability to remain calm while handling volatile,

threatening, or emergency situations. Remains focused in spite of distractions and

interruptions.

• Safety Consciousness: Maintains awareness of and acts to minimize the safety risk in

one's environment.

Education, Credentials, and Experience

• Degree in psychology, social work, counselling, or related field from an accredited

educational instition required

• Active professional license to practice in applicable state required
• Must show current tuberculosis documentation and active CPR certifcation
• Must be able to pass background investigation and obtain agency security clearance

where applicable

• Minimum of two years experience with direct care for individuals with mental illness

preferred

Physical Requirements

• Must possess general good health and retain sufficient stamina, agility and visual and

auditory necessary to perform all duties required. Physical activitu includes walking,

climbing, standing, sitting, bending, stooping, and carrying; repetitive activity: repetitive

mental activity such as checking entries in a report, etc.

• Must be able to respond quickly to emergency situations within his/her scope of practice
• May be required to work throughout a large facility, grouping of facilities, or travel between

multiple facilites

• Potention exposure to internal and external hazardous materials, including but not limited

to: blood and blood borne pathogens, infectious/communicable diseases and physical

injury from patients

• Must be able to identify and minimize safety risks within enviroment whenever possible

Must be able to pass background investigation and obtain agency security clearance where applicable