Mental Health Professional Therapist - ACT - Assertive Community Treatment - Pottstown

St. Luke's University Health Network; Pottstown (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Luke’s University Health Network is seeking a Mental Health Professional to join the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team in Pottstown, PA.

This full-time role includes providing in vivo services, medication observation, and supportive counseling to participants with severe mental illness in home and community settings. The ideal candidate holds a Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or counseling and has at least two years of direct-service experience; a valid driver’s license is

Qualifications

• Direct-service experience with individuals with mental health diagnoses.
• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or related field.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Meet ACT participants in homes and community venues for in vivo services to improve quality of life and community tenure.
• Provide medication service including delivery and observation as directed by psychiatrist, nurses, and Team Leader.
• Coordinate services for an assigned group of clients, develop and revise treatment goals, and provide individual and supportive counseling.

Skills

Direct-service experience

Education

Master’s degree in social work/psychology/counseling

Tools

Driver’s license

Job description

St. Luke’s is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees. The employees of St. Luke’s are our most valuable asset! Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay for health care.

Full-Time, work location is 500 Creekside Drive, Pottstown, PA

The ACT/FACT Mental Health Professional is a member of a multidisciplinary Assertive Community Treatment Team. The Mental Health Professional provides supportive services—including outreach, monitoring, assessment and service planning, support network building, consultation to families, side-by-side skills training and instruction in the use of community resources, including referrals to community assistance, as needed. The Mental Health Professional provides additional specialized services to provide psychotherapy to individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Meet with ACT participants—in their homes and other community venues—to provide in vivo services which improve the participants’ quality of life and maintain community tenure. Services include, but are not limited to: (a) Assisting with activities of daily living, (b) Budget planning and money management, (c) Maintenance of stable housing, (d) Accessing benefits and entitlements to increase financial independence, (e) Meal planning and grocery shopping, (f) Access to reliable transportation services, (g) Side-by-side coaching and training, (h) Transport and accompany clients to scheduled community activities or appointments.
• Provide medication service—including delivery of medications and observation of ingestion—as directed by the team psychiatrist, nursing staff, and Team Leader.
• In collaboration with other members of the ACT staff, provide service coordination for an assigned group of clients. (a) Assume responsibility for developing, writing, implementing, evaluating, and revising treatment goals, (b) Provide individual and supportive counseling to assist with symptom management.
• Provide on-call crisis services on a rotating schedule (including both primary on-call responsibilities and back-up on-call responsibilities)—as directed by the Team Leader—to cover program needs.
• Complete documentation of all services in a timely manner, using the electronic health record, in accordance with program and Network standards.
• Work weekend, evening, and holidays on a rotating schedule—as directed by the Team Leader—to cover program needs.
• Cross-train with other ACT Specialties to provide other services (e.g., housing support, vocational support, etc.) to the ACT participants.
• The Mental Health Professional assesses each participant’s history of mental health symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment. The Mental Health Professional assists the participant with developing a plan to maintain mental health wellness—to decrease hospitalization and maintain community tenure.
• The Mental Health Professional provides one-on-one psychotherapy, in the field, to individuals diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness. They will use evidenced-based therapy strategies (such as Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, etc.) to assist clients with decreasing or eliminating symptoms of their mental health diagnoses. The Mental Health Professional will use Harm Reduction techniques and other strategies that align with the participant’s current Stage of Change for recovery.
• The Mental Health Professional provides group psychotherapy to participants of the ACT Team—to address symptoms and to build skills for management of symptoms.
• The Mental Health Professional provides primary support to ACT participants and provides cross-training to the other members of the ACT team—to assist with symptom management and crisis management—with the goal of promoting stability and increasing community tenure.
• Other duties may be assigned.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

Physical Demands: Heavy work exertional activity. Occasionally lift and/or carry up to 50 lbs., and sit, stand, and/or walk at least 6 hours in an 8-hour workday.

Non-exertional activity: Stooping (bending at the waist) and crouching (stooping and bending at the knees)- required frequently; handling (grasping)- required frequently; fine manipulation- required occasionally.

Important: The functional capacity to perform heavy work includes the functional capacity to perform medium, light, and sedentary work.

Good physical and mental health. Visual and auditory acuity required to provide comprehensive care.

EDUCATION:

Master’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or other recognized clinical graduate degree required.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of two years of direct-service experience with individuals with mental health diagnoses. Experience working with individuals with forensic involvement and/or co-occurring substance disorders is preferred. Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license along with a driving record in compliance with St. Luke’s University Health Network policy.

St. Luke’s University Health Network is anEqual Opportunity Employer.