ACT Team Therapist – Klamath Basin Behavioral Health

Oct 17, 2022

Job Title: ACT Team Therapist

Department: Enhanced Adult Services

Supervisor: Enhanced Adult Services Manager
Category & Service Array: 000 Clinical / 220 ACT

FLSA Status: Exempt (salaried)

Pay Grade: 7 & 8

Revision Date:  04/16/2019

What is ACT? 

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is an Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) designed to provide comprehensive treatment and support services to individuals who are diagnosed with serious mental illness. ACT services are provided by a multidisciplinary team and are designed to be provided in the most integrated setting possible to maximize independence and community integration.

Key Components of ACT

All ACT team members can work with all individuals served by the team.  Team members do not carry individual caseloads, rather the entire team is responsible for the entire caseload.  Team members meet daily to coordinate services for ACT participants. ACT teams are typically staffed at a ratio of 1:10 (meaning 1 full time team member for every 10 individuals served by the team).

Summary
The Act Therapist provides direct, supportive, and ongoing coordination of therapeutic services to assist clients with behavioral health disorders achieve the highest level of independence and stability possible in their community. Services delivered are recovery-focused and include but are not limited to case management, treatment planning, resource identification and assistance, identification and development of natural supports, advocacy, service monitoring and follow-up, collaboration with natural supports and other providers, and individual and group services. The ACT Therapist is responsible for assessing client functioning and needs and partnering with the client to develop an individually tailored care plan designed to promote recovery. The ACT Therapist also serves as a treatment team member and provides back up to other team members as needed.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of

the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

  1. Collect information regarding clients’ history through a combination of interviewing, records review, and consultation, after obtaining written consent.
  2. Provides brief, solution-focused individual, group and family therapy to a diverse caseload of adult members, as evidenced by direct observation, treatment team meetings, and clinical record review.
  3. Conduct and document Behavioral Health Assessments, including mental status exam, DSM diagnosis, and clinical formulation and develop treatment plan with client.
  4. Provide medically appropriate treatment services to program participants which may include but are not limited to Psychiatric rehabilitation, skills training, case management, psychotherapy, housing support, cognitive behavioral therapy, illness management and recovery, and other trauma specific services.
  5. Participate in outreach activities necessary to offer services and engage participation in a non-coercive manner. Escort clients to meetings and appointments as necessary.
  6. Participate in evaluating clients for risk of harm & initiate higher-level crisis services when necessary.
  7. Administers medications and performs basic nursing duties as prescribed by the physician and assigned by the Registered Nurse according to OAR 851-047-000.
  8. Participate in clinical staff meetings and case conferences with team members in order to utilize interdisciplinary expertise and facilitate individual treatment plans for clients.
  9. Participate in admission and discharge planning for any client needing hospitalization or subacute level of care.
  10. Monitor and assure that the health and safety needs of clients are met.
  11. Maintain client records using an electronic medical record. Completing documentation as outlined below in “Documentation Requirements.”
  12. Participate in providing after hours coverage for ACT participants.
  13. Participate in regular supervision from the Clinical Supervisor, seeking additional supervision whenever necessary.
  14. Attend required meetings and trainings.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully and to meet the standards of professionalism, this individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

  1. Continuous Learning – Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; seeks feedback to improve performance; pursues training and development opportunities; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; shares expertise with others.
  2. Job Knowledge – Competent in required job skills and knowledge; exhibits ability to learn and apply new skills; keeps abreast of current developments; requires minimal supervision; displays understanding of how job relates to others; uses resources effectively.
  3. Use of Technology – Demonstrates required skills; adapts to new technologies; uses technology to increase productivity; keeps technical skills up to date. To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Credible Database software; ADP Workforce Now Internet software and Word Processing software.
  4. Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
  5. Reasoning – Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
  6. Customer Service – Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback to improve service; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.
  7. Communications – Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally; expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; exhibits good listening and comprehension; keeps others adequately informed; selects and uses appropriate communication methods.
  8. Language Skills– Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.   Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
  9. Cooperation – Establishes and maintains effective relations; exhibits tact and consideration; offers assistance and support to co-workers; works cooperatively in group situations; works actively to resolve conflicts.
  10. Managing Customer Focus – Promotes customer focus; monitors customer satisfaction; develops new approaches to meeting customer needs.
  11. Oral Communication – Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; demonstrates group presentation skills; participates in meetings.
  12. Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.
  13. Written Communication – Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; able to read and interpret written information.
  14. Change Management – Develops workable implementation plans; communicates changes effectively; prepares and supports those affected by change; monitors transition and evaluates results.
  15. Business Acumen -Understands business implications of decisions; displays orientation to profitability; demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; aligns work with strategic goals .
  16. Conflict Resolution – Encourages open communications; confronts difficult situations; maintains objectivity; keeps emotions under control; uses negotiation skills to resolve conflicts.
  17. Cost Consciousness – Contributes to profits and revenue; conserves organizational resources.
  18. Diversity – Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; promotes a harassment-free environment.
  19. Ethics – Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and principles; upholds organizational values.
  20. Organizational Support – Follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization’s goals and values.
  21. Adaptability – Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
  22. Achievement Focus – Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; measures self against standard of excellence; recognizes and acts on opportunities.
  23. Personal Appearance – Dresses appropriately for position; keeps self well groomed.
  24. Attendance/Punctuality – Is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
  25. Dependability – Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; keeps commitments; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals.; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
  26. Initiative – Volunteers readily; undertakes self-development activities; seeks increased responsibilities; takes independent actions and calculated risks; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; asks for and offers help when needed.
  27. Innovation – Displays original thinking and creativity; meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas; presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others’ attention.
  28. Judgement – Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.
  29. Planning/Organizing – Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; develops realistic action plans.
  30. Quality – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality.
  31. Quantity – Meets productivity standards; completes work in timely manner; strives to increase productivity; works quickly.
  32. Safety and Security – Observes safety and security procedures; reports potentially unsafe conditions; uses equipment and materials properly.

Education and/or Experience:  Must meet requirements to qualify as a QMHP. QMHPs shall meet the following minimum qualifications and shall hold one of the following educational degrees:

(A) Graduate degree in Psychology;

(B) Bachelor’s degree in nursing and licensed by the state of Oregon;

(C) Graduate degree in social work;

(D) Graduate degree in a behavioral science field;

(E)  Graduate degree in recreational, music or art therapy;

(F) Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy and licensed by the State of Oregon;

and

(b)  Whose educational and experience demonstrates the competencies to identify precipitating events; gather histories of mental and physical disabilities, alcohol and drug use, past mental service and criminal justice contracts; assess family, social and work relationships; conduct a mental health examination; document a multiaxial DSM diagnosis; write and supervise a treatment plan; conduct a comprehensive Mental Health Assessment and provide individual, family and/or group therapy within the scope of their training.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Valid driver’s license, insurable driving record. Personal automobile insurance is required if clients are transported or any agency business is conducted by the employee using his/her personal vehicle. If the employee is an unlicensed therapist or is not actively in the licensing process, employee must meet the requirements to become MHACBO QMHP Certified.  Certification or licensure must be maintained for the length of employment.

Documentation Requirements: All clinical documentation of services provided to clients or on behalf of the client must be completed within 48 hours of the service completion.  For services provided at the end of a month, all services must be documented by the second (2nd) business day of the following month.  This is to ensure that all month end reporting is completed within a timely manner.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee is frequently required to stand and walk.  The employee is occasionally required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Driving is a requirement for this position. Proof of insurance must be provided to the HR department. Coverage must remain current.

Work Environment: The majority of job duties are performed indoors at the facility or in a community setting, however, the employee is also exposed to outside weather conditions; extreme cold and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  Employees may be exposed to second hand smoke, dirty working environment, agitated clients, and possibly aggressive pets when working with clients in their home.

Go HERE to apply.