OUTPATIENT CLINICIAN

The Outpatient Clinician will provide comprehensive behavioral health services to individuals and families at Riverside Healthcares outpatient facility. The clinician is a skilled professional practitioner with competence in psychiatric case management for behavioral health outpatient clients. This role involves conducting assessments, developing treatment plans, and providing individual, group, and family therapy. The clinician will work with a multidisciplinary team to address the emotional and psychological needs of clients, using evidence-based approaches to establish goals and priorities in accordance with client and staff needs and objectives. This position is critical in supporting the behavioral health needs of the community by delivering quality, client-centered care in an outpatient setting.

Essential Duties:

• Conduct comprehensive assessments to evaluate clients behavioral health needs and formulate treatment plans.
• Provide individual, group, and family therapy using evidence-based interventions.
• Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical assessments and client goals.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to ensure continuity of care.
• Monitor client progress and adjust treatment plans as needed to meet therapeutic goals.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR) in compliance with organizational policies and regulatory standards.
• Educate clients and families on behavioral health conditions, coping strategies, and available resources.
• Participate in case conferences and treatment team meetings to discuss client progress and coordinate care.
• Refer clients to appropriate community resources or higher levels of care as necessary.
• Stay current with best practices, continuing education, and licensure requirements in behavioral health treatment.
• Demonstrates understanding of the action and side effects of psychotropic medications.
• If qualified, utilize Pet Therapy as a treatment modality.
• Demonstrates flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure. 
• Adhere to AIDET format and standards. Acknowledge and greet all customers timely with a professional and friendly demeanor.

Non-essential Duties:

• Assist in developing and delivering community outreach and education programs related to behavioral health.
• Provide clinical supervision to interns or newly licensed therapists, as required.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives within the Behavioral Health department.

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years clinical experience working with the behavioral health population preferred. 
• Demonstrates familiarity with short-term crisis intervention, understanding of individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, and family intervention.
• Possess broad understanding of various theoretical perspectives in assessing client treatment needs and responses.

Required Licensure/Education:

• Masters degree Psych Certified RN, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Licensed Social Worker, or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Illinois.

Employee Health Requirements:

Exposure/Sensory Requirements: 

Exposure to: 

• Chemicals: Refer to MSDS Sheets
• Video Display Terminals: Average
• Blood and Body Fluids: Obtaining and transporting patients' body fluids. Cleaning patients who are incontinent of urine and/or stool. Controlling the agitated student such as scratches, bites, etc. This potential exposure reduced through non-violent crisis intervention education and the use of universal precautions.
• TB or Airborne Pathogens: Minimal - Exposure potential reduced through the use of universal precautions.

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):

• Speech: Needed for communication with patients and other staff.
• Vision: Needed to read materials such as medical records.
• Smell: Needed to detect the odor of ETHO on patients, smoke in patients' rooms or electrical hazards.
• Hearing: Required for patient safety, telephone use, intercom announcements (i.e., Code 99) and taking vital signs.
• Touch: Required to perform percussive assessments and to comfort patients. Also needed to manipulate tools and equipment.

Activity/Lifting Requirements:

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 20%
• Twist: 5%
• Stand: 20%
• Crawl: 3%
• Walk: 25%
• Kneel: 3%
• Lift: 5%
• Drive: 0%
• Squat: 5%
• Climb: 5%
• Bend: 5%
• Reach above shoulders: 5%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below: 

• Up to 10 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 20 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 35 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 75 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 100 lbs: Not Required
• Over 100 lbs: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements. (Example: the distance material is carried; how high material is lifted, etc.): MHU staff is required to assist with the control and transport of patients. Patients may weigh as much as 300# and be carried waist high up to 100'. Assists with lifting patients from wheelchairs to beds. Carries linens for bed making and supplies weighing up to 10# up to 100'.

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:

• Sit: 60
• Twist: 3
• Stand:15
• Crawl: 1
• Walk: 60
• Kneel: 3
• Lift: 3
• Drive:0
• Squat: 3
• Climb: 2
• Bend: 3
• Reach above shoulders: 1

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated):

• Simple grasp Normal weight: Frequently
• Pushing & pulling Normal weight: Occasionally
• Fine Manipulation: Writing, taking vital signs.

Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control:

Environmental Factors & Special Hazards:

• Environmental Factors (Time Spent):
• Inside hours: 7
• Outside hours : 1
• Temperature: Normal Range
• Lighting: Average
• Noise levels: Average
• Humidity: Dry
• Atmosphere:

Special Hazards: Other - potentially aggressive/violent patients.

Protective Clothing Required: Gloves to maintain MHU universal precautions.