Licensed Therapist VA First Responder Program

Sanford Careers; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanford Behavioral Health seeks a VA First Responder Licensed Therapist to build trust with clients in our First Responder and VA programs at the John St. location. You will conduct assessments, provide one-on-one sessions, run groups, complete documentation, and support alumni as needed.

Role includes coordinating referrals for medical or crisis care, maintaining confidential records, and staying current on licensure and continuing education. Weekend rotations may be required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work or related field is required.
• Licensed in Social Work, Psychology, or Counseling in Michigan is required.
• Experience treating First Responders and/or Veterans is required.
• EMDR certification or willingness to obtain within six months is required.
• Two years of experience with mental health issues and substance use disorders is required.

Responsibilities

• Provides individual and group counseling, supervision, and various therapy sessions for residential clients up to 25 billable hours per week.
• Manages documentation: assessments, treatment plans, progress notes and discharge plans.
• Presents professionally to the public when representing Sanford Behavioral Health.
• Ensures timely client reviews for insurance purposes and advocates for insurance coverage with third-party billing.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Leadership

Decision making

Team-based care

HIPAA compliance

Case management

Behavioral health

Counseling theories

Interpersonal dynamics

Education

Master’s in Social Work

Licensed in MI (SW/Psych/ Counseling)

SPADA/CADC/CAADC certification

EMDR certification

2 years mental health and substance use experience

Job description

Job Summary

The role of the VA First Responder Licensed Therapist is to establish a positive and trusting rapport with clients in our First Responder and VA programming at our John St. location. This includes providing assessments and one-on-one sessions, completing groups and documentation, monitoring the needs of clients, and providing continued support for alumni, as needed. Referrals may be necessary for clients that are experiencing medical issues, a crisis, or other mental or physical concerns.

Role and Responsibilities

• Provides support for carrying out overall program treatment and adherence to unit rules, local, state and accreditation regulations and standards.
• Orients clients to treatment through introductions, tours, etc.
• Provides individual and group counseling, supervision, didactic and process groups, family therapy sessions, and overall case management of residential clients for up to 25 billable hours per week.
• Processes and documents referrals, psychosocial assessments, individualized treatment plans, treatment plan reviews and updates, progress notes, utilization reviews, transition and discharge plans, and continuing care plans.
• Provides education to clients and families about behavioral health treatment and recovery options.
• Maintains all files and records to a level that meets quality assurance standards.
• Monitors the needs of clients, including the need for inter-agency referrals and follow-ups.
• Provides continued support for alumni, as needed.
• Assists in the support, orientation, supervision, and training of interns, contract and newly hired staff.
• Ensures maintenance of client rights, health, welfare, and safety by providing support to all team members and by maintaining continuity of quality care.
• Makes client referrals for ongoing care, including times where this is a need for medical and crisis care.
• Stays up to date on professional licenses and all necessary continuing education and supervision, as required.
• Presents professionally to the public when representing Sanford Behavioral Health.
• Completes timely client reviews for insurance purposes.
• Advocates for insurance coverage through timely and thorough communication with third-party billing companies.
• Participates in staff development and training, including staff meetings, in-service training and annual trainings required by Sanford Behavioral Health on a timely basis.
• Provides therapy, education, and supervision in groups, individual, and family settings for up to 25 billable hours per week.
• Ensures that all documentation of services is completed within 24 hours of services being rendered.
• Maintains strict confidentiality on all client records and business-related records, as required under HIPAA guidelines.
• Adheres to established Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice, Patient Centered Philosophy, and employee handbook.
• Participates in weekend rotations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work or other related degree, required.
• Has limited or full licensure in Social Work, Psychology, or Counseling in the state of Michigan, required.
• Experience treating First Responders and/or Veterans, required.
• SPADA, CADC, or CAADC certification or working toward the development of certification, required.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) certification or willingness to obtain certification within six months, required.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) certification, preferred.
• Two (2) years of experience with extensive knowledge of mental health issues, substance use disorders, and best practices for psychological treatment, required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Skilled in oral and written communication, self-motivation, leadership, and decision-making.
• Working knowledge of case management.
• Ability to work with a team milieu approach to the treatment clients.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality on all client records and business-related records, as required under HIPAA guidelines.
• Must have analytical skills and creative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interact with different levels within the organization as well as a broad population of clients.
• Knowledge in the field of behavioral health.
• Knowledge of counseling theories and interpersonal dynamics.
• Ability to work within a team setting and create an environment where all are valued and work together cohesively.
• Ability to identify own strengths and areas of improvement and communicate needs to supervisor.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Must be able to perform repetitive tasks such as typing for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to adapt to the physical demands of lifting clients, bending, stooping, and stretching with or without assistance.
• Must be able to clearly express and exchange ideas by means of spoken words to impart oral information to employees or others accurately or quickly, engaging in sometimes lengthy conversations or presentations.
• Capable of monitoring the facility and grounds, including the ability to ambulate up and down stairs. and to lift up to ten (10) pounds.
• Must be able to ascend and descend stairs daily.
• Must be able to seize, hold, grasp, turn or otherwise work with your hand or hands.
• Must be able to perceive sound by ear to interpret oral information from employees or others accurately or quickly.
• Work will be performed in an office environment with fluctuating temperatures.

ADA Disclaimer

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position adequately. If requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. All requests must be made to the Human Resource Department in writing.