If you or someone you know is a licensed psychological examiner, professional counselor, master social worker, clinical social work or associate counselor, you are needed at the therapeutic day treatment program at Fusion Academy in Benton.
The day treatment program is administered by Methodist Family Health, a statewide continuum of care that provides services and resources to Arkansas children and families struggling with psychiatric, behavioral, emotional and spiritual issues. Founded in 1899 as the Arkansas Methodist Orphanage, Methodist Family Health expanded its services to include therapeutic foster care, group homes, an acute care behavioral hospital, psychiatric residential treatment services and outpatient counseling including community- and school-based locations.
The day treatment program in Benton is for children in Kindergarten through 12th grade. It assists students who are unable to perform in a regular academic setting, and it provides students additional education, behavioral and emotional support to be successful. It brings together at one site and in a coordinated manner a broad range of services designed to strengthen child and family functioning. It also prevents students from requiring more restrictive services.
According to the Arkansas Department of Education, school-based day treatment is the most intensive, nonresidential program that can be provided over an extended period. It permits students and families access to community-based mental health services in conjunction with and integrated into a student’s educational program.
Methodist Family Health has immediate openings at Fusion Academy for two therapists and a behavioral instructor. The job descriptions for each are below, and you can apply online at https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/MET1015MFHE/JobBoard/0e63f212-c96d-4306-8d29-0230529a9841/?q=&o=postedDateDesc&w=&wc=&we=&wpst=.
Day Treatment Therapist
Responsibilities:
- Work as a team member in multi-disciplinary team, coordinating services.
- Serve as third staff member in classroom when needed. The mental health professional is considered a staff member of the Day Treatment Program. This shall include assisting other staff as needed, whether in the classroom, during tantrums of youth, crisis intervention, recreational times, etc.
- Upon admission of youth to program must meet with family and youth in referral/intake conference, complete biopsychosocial assessment on youth within one week, develop treatment plan, stating goals for youth, based on presenting problems and within the concept of the Day Treatment program within one week, treatment plan goals will be shared with other team members in order to better coordinate services for the youth in the program, have treatment plan reviewed and initialed by the staff Psychiatrist within 45 days of youth’s admission, turn in initial Medicaid billing form stating youth’s, diagnosis to Director within one week of admission, complete and submit Prior Authorization Form for RSPMI Billing within one week of youth’s admission.
- Conduct individual therapy session with youth at least one time weekly for one hour (or as determined by youth’s ability/tolerance level/age level – may be split into two or three different sessions) in an effort to help youth in addressing his or her behavioral problems that lead to referral in the program.
- Conduct group sessions with youth in the program daily. Group therapy should address social skills (per the Teaching Family Model), anger management techniques, peer pressure and interacting with peers appropriately, life skills, and additional skills that the team may feel are warranted. Group sessions will be conducted with a behavioral instructor present, conducted in an orderly manner with set guidelines and rules for appropriate group behavior.
- Meet with youth and family at least two times a month for family sessions.
- Participate in weekly staffing meetings with all team members – educational therapist and behavioral instructors to evaluate the youth’s progress and needs. (These meetings may count as periodic chart reviews.) During these meetings, the therapist will collaborate and share information regarding the youth’s therapy sessions and progress therein.
- Meet with youth and psychiatrist monthly for drug management as needed.
- Turn in billing forms (both insurance and Medicaid) to Director of Day Treatment Program on each Monday.
- Keep charting up to date for each therapy session, whether individual or group. Chart progress on treatment goals and maintain accurate records.
- Participate in quarterly chart audits.
- Assist team members in case management as needed.
- Provide reports and documentation as needed/requested to other facilities, court system, Medicaid, etc.
- Assist in the team in the successful transition of the youth back into the public-school setting when the youth has reached the point that they can integrate back into this setting.
- Mental Health Professionals, as part of the staff of the Day Treatment Program, will be under the administration and supervision of the Director of the Day Treatment Program.
- They will be expected to adhere to all requirements of the staff of the Day Treatment Program.
- A Licensed Clinical Social Worker will also supervise their work in charting, and treatment plans. The LCSW will be available for consultation and supervision regarding therapeutic issues as needed.
- Evaluations will be held quarterly during the first year of employment and annually thereafter. Evaluations will be based on job performance, as outlined in the job description. Evaluations will be conducted by the Director of the Day Treatment Program Director and supervising Licensed Clinical Social Worker (if one is indicated).
- Mental Health Professionals will be expected to obtain and have documentation of their required continuing education hours as mandated by the licensing board for their field.
- They will also be required to go through the full training in the Teaching Family Model, and additional yearly in-services required of this model of behavioral healthcare.
- The individual employed in this position may accept other reasonable assignments which may be necessary for efficient operation of assigned programs as there is time and opportunity.
Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in applicable field
- Must hold valid License as a LMSW, LCSW, LAC, LPC, or LPE
- Prefer experience working with youth in either a school setting, or clinical setting
- Ability to document accurately and professionally
- Must be physically capable to receive verbal and written directions
- Remains current in Crisis Prevention Intervention Training, CPR & First Aid
- Must be willing and able to work with all patients of Methodist Family Health, regardless of gender
- Must have good auditory, visual and olfactory ability
- Use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools or controls
- Must be able to maintain effective audio, visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading and writing, and operating office equipment and other treatment equipment.
- Must be able to use a telephone to communicate verbally and a computer to communicate through written means, to review information and enter/retrieve data, to see and read characters on a computer screen, chart or other treatment items
- Requires the ability to sit for long periods of time and intermittently walk, stand, stoop, kneel, crouch and reach with hands and arms.
- Flu shot is mandatory and required for all positions (subject only to qualified exemptions).
Required
- Masters or better
- Licenses & Certifications
Preferred
- Lic. Pysch. Examiner
- Lic. Prof. Counselor
- Lic. Master Soc. Worker
- Lic. Clinical Soc. Worker
- Lic. Associate Counselor
Behavioral Instructor
Responsibilities:
- Teaches youth a curriculum of skills in social, self-help independent living, maintenance, and academic areas and provides training and guidance to the youth.
- Behavior Instructors will use and follow the Teaching Family Model utilizing all aspects of the Teaching Family Model.
- Provides or coordinates academic assistance to youth and works closely with the Education Instructor(s)/Teacher(s).
- May assist with youth intake which includes assessment of youth and the completion of intake documentation.
- May assist with case management of clients in regard to advocacy and assisting parents/guardians with concerns and needs, as designated (areas will be discussed on a case-by-case basis).
- Provides crisis intervention as needed.
- Disseminates agency and program information to social service agencies, churches, childcare institutions, etc., as needed.
- Assists staff in with the implementation of an individualized plan of care, for each youth as designated in his/her treatment plan.
- Assists in developing and implementing a structured recreational activity schedule for day-to-day recreational/physical education activities.
- Upon completion of mental health paraprofessional training, will implement collateral on and off-site intervention techniques and therapeutic interventions with the youth and their family in coordination with the director and program therapists. Will maintain all required documentation therein.
- Remains informed about local, state, and federal standards and regulations pertaining to the provision of services to youth and their families.
- Assists staff and/or clients with appropriate discharge criteria/plans.
- Maintains all required documentation concerning youth and program areas.
- Follows all policy and procedure guidelines specifically and remains informed about any additions or changes.
- Works closely with the youth’s parents, teachers, social workers and significant others to ensure the definition and implementation of a proper and effective program, and to assist each youth in achieving his/her maximum potential.
- Assists in preparation and helps maintain compliance with Licensing, Medicaid and JCAHO standards.
- Takes advantage of professional growth opportunities and in-service training. Attendance at scheduled in-services is mandatory. Must attend a minimum of 20 hours of in-service yearly.
- Attends regular staff meetings, as required.
- Provides and maintains requested information and program records.
- Physically capable of restraining youth if necessary (must be trained in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention and follow policy guidelines concerning seclusion/restraint).
- Cooperates with scheduling criteria, is punctual and dependable, and provides phone numbers which allow him/her to be contacted for work when emergency situations and/or vacations, etc. require regular staff to be off duty.
- Seeks out, responds positively to, and implements suggestions and feedback from Supervisors.
- Physically capable and willing to teach and assist youth in Independent Living activities as designated, which may include but are not limited to: yard work, interior cleaning, vehicle cleaning and maintenance, laundry, cooking, menu-planning, shopping, etc.
- Possess or able to obtain a valid Arkansas Driver’s License.
- Will assist other program and agency employees & youth in ensuring that the Facility is kept clean and orderly and in compliance with licensing and health standards.
- Performs related duties as requested by the Director of Day Treatment or other applicable personnel.
Qualifications:
- At least twenty-one (21) years of age and College degree preferred. A minimum of 60 college hours required.
- Possesses computer skills, preferably in Microsoft Word and Quicken applications and able to document accurately and professionally.
- Possesses the ability to understand and implement extensive training and to apply that training to the implementation of a comprehensive program of care for youth.
- Ability to perform physical demands required by Crisis Prevention Intervention.
- Remains current in Crisis Prevention Intervention Training, CPR & First Aid.
- Must be certified in the Teaching Family Model.
- Experience working with “at-risk” youth or other populations with special needs preferred.
- Ability as a self-motivator and the aptitude to work in a high stress fast paced position with a minimal amount of supervision.
- Must be willing and able to work with all patients of Methodist Family Health, regardless of gender.
- Possess or able to obtain a valid Arkansas Driver’s License within 30 days from date of hire.
- Must be eligible to be insured to drive MFH vehicles.
- Must meet billing productivity requirements.
- Must remain current in Crisis Prevention Intervention Training, CPR & First Aid
- Requires the strength and stamina to perform clinical duties
- Must be physically able to lift 50 pounds and hold for one minute.
- Must be physically capable to receive verbal and written directions. Must be physically capable of sitting and standing for several hours at a time.
- Must have good auditory, visual and olfactory ability. Ability to use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools or controls.
- Must be able to maintain effective audio, visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading and writing, and operating office equipment and other treatment equipment.
- Must be able to use a telephone to communicate verbally and a computer to communicate through written means, to review information and enter/retrieve data, to see and read characters on a computer screen, chart or other treatment items.
- Flu shot is mandatory and required for all positions (subject only to qualified exemptions).