Clinical Therapist (Crisis Intervention - embedded in Sheriff's Department)

Waukesha County's Department of Health & Human Services is recruiting for a regular full-time Clinical Therapist. This Clinical Therapist will have a primary job assignment as part of the Waukesha County Crisis Intervention Team as an embedded clinician in the Waukesha Sheriff's Department and will provide mobile crisis services. Work schedule is Monday-Friday, 2:30pm - 10:30pm.

Waukesha County Crisis Intervention Services is a State Certified DHS 34 program that supports individuals across the lifespan who may be experiencing a mental health emergency or may be at risk of a mental health emergency. Crisis intervention services seeks to provide person-centered and strength-based interventions that utilize the least restrictive means necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of persons experiencing mental health or behavioral health crisis. Mobile crisis services are provided 24/7 including weekends and holidays. A minimum of three holiday shifts per year are required. This position is embedded into the Waukesha Sheriff's Department. The position deploys in real-time to mental health crisis calls with law enforcement's involvement. There is daily interaction with law enforcement and frequent interaction with people who are incarcerated and jail staff. Prior to hire, the selected candidate will be expected to complete a written application and pass a background interview with a detective to achieve security clearance.

Essential Job Responsibilities of Staff Include:

• In-person/community (mobile) crisis response
• Phone referral and supportive listening
• Suicide risk assessment
• Crisis risk assessment
• Authorization of Chapter 51.15 emergency detentions
• Crisis intervention and de-escalation
• Safety planning/Crisis Planning
• Service linkage and follow-up
• Community education
• Assessment of Adults and/or Elders at risk - Chapter 55 emergency protective placements
• Professional documentation including use of an electronic health record
• Court testimony may be required
  
  

Under supervision, to perform professional clinical work in a variety of settings for clients of all ages; and to perform other duties as required.

1. Receives referrals of voluntary and involuntary clients with difficult mental health and behavioral problems and conducts assessment of treatment needs and intervention needs.
2. Provides psychotherapeutic treatment in a variety of settings to individuals, couples, families, and groups to resolve social, personal, developmental, behavioral, and/or mental disorders.
3. Develops and implement a treatment plan to meet the needs of the client utilizing psychotherapeutic treatment methods.
4. Interprets nature of illness and prescribes course of treatment to clients and families.
5. Participates in client staffings, reviews, and multi-disciplinary team discussions to formulate diagnoses and develop treatment and service plans.
6. Serves as a liaison and consultant to staff and other Human Services agencies.
7. Provides community education and public speaking on various community mental health issues and related topics.
8. Performs clinical crisis intervention and emergency intake evaluations for clients of all age groups.
9. Provides court related clinical and other duties such as assessments, testimony, reports, and recommendations.
10. Completes documentation for billing of services and maintains mandated clinical documentation.
11. Establishes and maintains effective working relations with clients and their families, staff, other agencies, and the general public.
12. Teams with social workers and others in non-licensed department programs to provide in-home and community based assessments, counseling and intervention as referenced in Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 46, 48, 55, 88 and 938.
13. Ensures adherence and compliance to the policies and procedures of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 in regards to protected health information.
14. Performs emergency government duties as assigned in the event of a Waukesha County Emergency Government declaration.
15. Performs other duties as required.
    
    

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential Knowledge and Abilities

1. Considerable knowledge of psychopathology, mental health principles, and techniques of clinical therapy.
2. Working knowledge of the signs and symptoms of reactions to psychotropic drugs used in the treatment of mental disorders.
3. Working knowledge of techniques to identify clients with substance use problems.
4. Working knowledge of computerized department program software, internet access, and database, spreadsheet, and word processing programs.
5. Working knowledge of human service organizations, mental health, and other community resources.
6. Working knowledge of applicable codes, rules, statutes, and regulations.
7. Working knowledge of state and federal confidentiality rules and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 and Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 51.
8. Ability to interpret psychosocial and DSM 5 diagnoses to individuals and families.
9. Ability to utilize electronic health record, word processing, database and spreadsheet, and program specific applications.
10. Ability to participate in multi-disciplinary decision making and treatment planning.
11. Ability to develop treatment plans and to provide psychosocial and psychotherapeutic treatment services to individuals, families, and groups.
12. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and their families, staff, other agencies, and the general public.
13. Ability to effectively interact with sensitivity with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages and lifestyles.
14. Ability to respond appropriately to mental health emergency situations and utilize crisis intervention techniques and procedures.
15. Ability to complete clinical documentation and write reports as needed.
16. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

You must meet these minimum Training and Experience requirements:

1. Graduation from a recognized college or university with a master's degree in psychology (clinical, counseling, educational,) counseling and guidance, social work or closely related area.
2. Candidates must have Advanced Practice Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor in Training, or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Training, status as a minimum.
3. Two (2) years of post bachelor work experience in psychology (clinical, counseling, educational), counseling and guidance, social work or closely related area.

About Us:
Waukesha County prides itself on operating in a business-like manner and is recognized as a leader delivering high quality services with competence and skill. With our vision of "Leading the Way", we value teamwork and collaboration, ethics and diversity, communication, efficiency and cost savings, innovation, and the wellbeing of our staff and the citizens we serve. Employees are provided professional development opportunities and encouragement to learn and practice continuous improvement and LEAN principles as we regularly ask ourselves "Is there a better way?"

Location:
Located in the City of Waukesha, our campus offers an on-site cafe and fitness center, free parking, and easy access to interstate highway systems. Waukesha County offers a perfect blend of urban and rural living where one can enjoy the benefits of quiet rural lake communities or opt for nearby attractions that the greater Milwaukee area offers including vast beach and park systems, public markets, performing arts, music festivals, and sports including the Milwaukee Admirals, Brewers, Bucks, Wave, Marquette University Golden Eagles and the UW-Milwaukee Panthers Basketball programs.

EEO/AA:
Waukesha County is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in employment and adheres to all Federal, State and County Equal Employment Opportunity laws, policies, plans, rules, regulations and ordinances. The County recognizes and accepts its important leadership role in providing for equal employment/service opportunities for minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. It is the express policy of Waukesha County to promote equal employment opportunity among all who are employed by Waukesha County and who seek employment with Waukesha County.

For further information visit: https://www.waukeshacounty.gov

The County does not sponsor applicants for work visas. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.