Inpatient Behavioral Health Clinician

POSITION SUMMARY

The Inpatient Behavioral Health Clinician is a vital member of the interdisciplinary treatment team in the Adult Inpatient Psychiatric Unit. Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment, the Clinician provides clinically appropriate behavioral health services and therapeutic interventions tailored to the individualized needs of patients during acute psychiatric hospitalization.

This role is responsible for conducting comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments, participating in ongoing reassessment of patient needs, developing individualized treatment plans, facilitating therapeutic groups, providing crisis intervention and supportive therapeutic interventions, and collaborating on discharge and continuity-of-care planning. The Clinician works closely with patients, families/support systems, internal treatment team members, and external providers to support stabilization, recovery, and safe transitions of care following discharge.

The Clinician ensures all services, documentation, and interventions are provided in accordance with hospital policy, scope of practice, regulatory requirements, trauma-informed principles, and behavioral health standards of care.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments to identify patient strengths, behavioral health needs, risk factors, functional impairments, and discharge barriers within regulatory and organizational requirements.

• Participate in ongoing reassessment of patient needs, treatment progress, risk factors, and discharge readiness throughout hospitalization.

• Develop, coordinate, implement, and update individualized, measurable, and recovery-oriented treatment plans in collaboration with the patient, family/support systems, and interdisciplinary treatment team.

• Collaborate closely with the Discharge Coordinator and multidisciplinary treatment team regarding discharge recommendations, aftercare needs, continuity of care, and barriers impacting safe discharge planning.

• Provide crisis intervention, psychoeducation, supportive counseling, and brief therapeutic interventions consistent with scope of practice and patient needs.

• Facilitate psychoeducational, therapeutic, and recovery-oriented group interventions consistent with program expectations and patient treatment goals.

• Educate patients and families/support systems regarding mental illness, treatment options, medication adherence, relapse prevention, coping strategies, recovery principles, and available community resources.

• Lead or participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, daily rounds, case consultations, and care coordination activities.

• Monitor and document patient progress, treatment interventions, discharge barriers, care coordination activities, and clinical recommendations within the electronic health record (EHR) in accordance with regulatory, payer, and organizational standards.

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, accreditation, payer, and hospital requirements related to patient rights, confidentiality, safety, documentation, and clinical practice standards.

• Maintain professional, ethical, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented interactions with patients, families, staff, and community partners.

QUALIFICATIONS

·         21 years of age or older; or minimum 18 years old and licensed or certified under A.R.S. Title 32 and providing services within the personnel member’s scope of practice; or minimum 18 years old for select administrative positions

·         Must be able to provide or obtain an AZDPS Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card

·         Must possess and maintain a valid Driver License, current automobile insurance, and a driving record that meets the guidelines and requirements of the organization

• CPI and CPR/First Aid certification required (training provided by Polara Health)

·         Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, or related behavioral health field required

·         Licensed at the associate or independent level preferred (LMSW, LCSW, LAC, LPC, etc)

·         Minimum of 1–2 years of experience in psychiatric or behavioral health settings, preferably inpatient

·         Knowledge of adult psychiatric disorders, behavioral health systems, and evidence-based practices.

·         Strong assessment, communication, and problem-solving skills

·         Familiarity with local and state mental health resources, including housing, outpatient treatment, and social services.

·         Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary team environment

·         Culturally competent and trauma-informed approach to care

CORE COMPETENCIES 

·         People​ – Passionately believes in people and embraces diversity

·         Integrity ​–​ ​Does the right thing even when no one is looking

·         Learning ​–​ ​Challenges old paradigms with critical thinking, curiosity, and creativity

·         Accountability​ – Sets an intentional culture of personal responsibility; believes everyone carries the load

·         Relationships ​– Serves colleagues and consumers with love, empathy and compassion

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORKING CONDITIONS

The nature of work may generate considerable physical (transporting, moving, assisting clients, etc.), mental and visual demands. The physical and working demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work performed in an inpatient psychiatric hospital setting.

·         May involve exposure to emotionally distressed or aggressive patients

·         Heavy exposure/use of computers, cell phones, office phones, etc.

·         May be required to wear protective clothing (PPE)

·         Annual TB screening per program policy and procedure

·         Ability to be physically mobile (stand, walk, reach, climb, bend) and the ability to sit for prolonged periods throughout work hours

·         Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move 50 or more pounds

·         Must be able to respond appropriately and effectively in crisis situations by using good judgment and following Polara Health protocols

·         Must be able to successfully complete all physical skills components of CPI, including floor-based interventions

This position is considered Safety-Sensitive by Polara Health.

Polara Health subscribes to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity. Polara Health’s policy is to provide employment, compensation, and other benefits related to employment based on qualifications, without regard to ancestry, age, color, disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Polara Health intends to comply fully with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, and the information requested on this application will be used only for purposes consistent with those laws.

In accordance with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Polara Health’s policy is to provide reasonable accommodation for applicants requesting accommodation(s) during the application process, so the applicant may be given a full and fair opportunity to be considered for employment. If any candidate needs a reasonable accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify Polara Health in any of the following ways: by calling 928-445-5211, ext. 4047, U.S. Mail, or hand deliver to Polara Health 3343 N. Windsong Drive, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 Attention: Human Resources Job Applicant Request.

Employment is contingent on background checks as required by Polara Health’s policies, which may include Fingerprint Clearance, Drug Test, Criminal History, Driving History Record, Sex Offender Registry Search, Department of Child Services, State Central Registry Check, Employment Verification, Education Verification, and Professional References.

We Offer the Following Benefits to Full Time Employees:

  Medical * Dental * Vision * Short and Long Term Disability * Life Insurance * Health Savings Account * Flexible Spending Account * Employee Assistance Program * 401(k) * Up to 3 Weeks of Paid Time Off * 10 Paid Holidays per Year * Shift Pay (for select inpatient and residential positions) * Educational Reimbursement *