ACT Clinician

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Major Essential Functions:

  • Assists in the development, implementation, and maintenance of ACT team services.
  • Collaborates with other members of ACT Team to provide comprehensive mental health and supportive services to clients.
  • Participates in daily ACT treatment team meetings to discuss client treatment goal and needs.
  • Provides treatment planning, direct counseling, individual and group therapy, and case management to consumers with mental health and/or substance use disorders, individuals with multiple challenges that interfere with functioning; and their family members or identified supports.
  • Provides goal directed interventions that provide skill development to individuals who have serious and persistent mental illness so that they can reside independently in their communities in the least restrictive environment. Interventions may include: helping consumers acquire basic skills in symptom management and adherence to psychiatric treatment plans; assisting consumers in developing medication adherence skills; helping consumers acquire basic functional skills and appropriate behavior related to the individual’s health and safety; helping consumers with individualized training in development and appropriate use of social skills and personal support system; and assisting consumers with skill development for improved personal hygiene, food preparation, and money management.
  • Performs assessments, determines client service needs, and develops treatment/service in coordination with ACT team.
  • Provides client-centered treatment utilizing various modalities including basic principles of motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and integrated dual-disorder treatment to encourage harm reduction and sustained recovery. Support may include linking clients to appropriate substance use recovery services in the community as appropriate (i.e. AA, NA) and other natural supports.
  • Provides support to clients and families during times of crisis, and links clients to appropriate crisis stabilization services.
  • Coordinates assessment of clients in need of crisis stabilization, inpatient residential/detox treatment in cooperation with ACT team supervisor.
  • Assists in coordination of admission and discharge from inpatient treatment.
  • Collaborates and liaisons with law enforcement officers, local hospitals, medical providers, and others in the planning, provision, and evaluation of these services.
  • Produces client related service records and maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation consistent with agency policies and procedures. Maintains detailed documentation that is commensurate with requirements for Medicaid reimbursement and licensure regulations.
  • Receives regular individual guidance and supervision from ACT Supervisor.
  • Collaborates fully with psychiatric care provider to dispense, administer and monitor client medications. Delivers medications to clients in their natural environment, as appropriate.
  • Makes effective use of available technology, including, but not limited to, voice mail, e-mail, electronic medical record system, and other computer resources.
  • Maintains effective relationships with co-workers and customers based on courtesy, compassion, and respect.
  • Assures compliance with agency policy, client rights, confidentiality, professional ethics, licensure regulations, and Medicaid regulations as applicable.
  • Completes documentation same day as per agency and third payer requirements.
  • Complies with human rights regulations, agency licensure requirements, confidentiality statutes, third party regulations, and professional code of ethics.
  • Participates in workshops and staff development.
  • Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor which are consistent with the position and in compliance with agency policies and procedures.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Thorough knowledge of principles, practices and methods of mental health and substance use interventions; individual and group therapeutic techniques; crisis intervention/emergency techniques.
  • Demonstrates ability to work effectively with clients, co-workers, and service providers in community settings; knowledge of, and adherence to, ethical standards appropriate for therapeutic relationships.
  • Ability to devise and conduct education and training programs for clients and service providers; ability to write concisely and effectively; demonstrates good judgment; good interpersonal skills.
  • Computer literacy and word processing skills required.

Minimum Education and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in human services or related specialty. Must be licensed (LPC or LCSW) or licensed eligible in the State of Virginia (LPC-R or LCSW-Supervisee). Staff member is responsible for submitting documentation of license or status of residency/supervisee at time of hire (if applicable) and annual proof of license renewal to the compliance office. A minimum of two years of experience with SMI/SUD population is preferred.

Additional Requirements:

  • Valid Driver’s license with acceptable driving record.
  • Background check with favorable results.
  • Medication Administration Certification
  • Mandt Training
  • CPR/First Aid

Equipment: Telephone, copy machine, agency and/or personal vehicle, agency laptop, word processing, agency cellular phone, EHR software.

Work Environment: Community settings (homes, workplaces, shelters, streets) with highly variable work environments. General office environment with normal lighting, temperature, air quality, ventilation and noise levels. Vehicle.

Work Location: 1241 North Main Street, Harrisonburg VA 22802; variety of community settings, mostly within Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

 Work Hazards: Hazards associated with working in variety of community situations, the characteristics of which may be difficult to predict. Hazards associated with working alone in community settings.

Work Schedule: ACT is a 24-hour program and flexibility is required in order to meet and respond to coverage needs and individual residents’ needs. Shifts will vary to meet the needs of the program.  Full-time employees are required to work 40 hours each week.  Monday through Friday- day and/or evening shifts. Weekends and Holidays- evening shifts on a rotating basis with ACT team members. Overnight and weekend on-call on a rotating basis with ACT team members. Regular and reliable attendance is required.

HIPAA Access Level 2:  Full read/write access to protected health information (PHI), limited to the minimum necessary, for all clients directly served or assigned, as well as all clients indirectly served through case consultation, clinical supervision, program management, or coverage requirements. Staff at Level 2 are allowed to seek out client PHI as necessary to perform their assigned duties, but are expected to exercise due precautions to limit exposure to any PHI which is outside the scope of their need to know. Utilization of information will be in accordance with HIPAA regulations regarding use limitation, disclosure and requests of PHI.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

HRCSB is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Applicants who require accommodation to participate in the job application process may contact recruitment@hrcsb.org.