Mental Health Evaluator - Lead (#5188) FT-40 Hrs 1000-1830 (40)

Work Days: Monday – Friday Work Status: Full-time, 40hrs/week, Benefits Eligible Work Hours: 1000-1830, Occasional eveningsSalem Health is pleased to announce a brand new Emergency Department Mental Health Evaluation program!  The innovative, 24/7 program will integrate mental health care into the Emergency Department team, offering mental health patients psychiatric assessments in a safe and supportive environment.Respected as a community leader, and recognized as a top performer in healthcare with a culture of continuous quality improvement, Salem Health continues to define new standards of excellence in mental healthcare.  Salem Hospital’s Psychiatric Services are recognized by national patient satisfaction surveys as one of the top programs in the country ranking in the top 1% of the nation.  Additionally, our Psychiatric Center is also on the national consortium to set best practices in psychiatry.  Mental Health patients have access to a wide range of services through Salem Hospital.  Join our outstanding team, enrich your career, and help to improve the health and well being of the people and community we serve.  We are currently seeking a mental health professional to assume the role of Mental Health Evaluator – Lead.  The Lead, in addition to providing behavioral and mental health crisis evaluations, crisis counseling, disposition planning, and services as a consultant to the Emergency Department (ED), will coordinate the 24/7 ED Mental Health Evaluation Program, including staff supervision, schedule, program procedures and activity data.  Additionally, the lead will be required to facilitate staff selection, orientation, supervision, as well as help to develop and maintain relationships with community mental health partners. Additional general responsibilities include: Create a high performing team able to support individuals in crisis. Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with external public and private psychiatric hospitals and community mental health providers. Conducts a Comprehensive Mental Health Assessment including: - Mental status exam, precipitating events, history of mental and physical disabilities, alcohol and drug use, past mental health services and criminal justice contact to evaluate patients with potential mental health problems.  - Documents a multiaxial DSM diagnosis when appropriate. - Assesses dangerous behavior, suicidal or homicidal risk.  - The assessment includes review of medical record, patient/family interview, and consultation with physician, health care team, and collateral agency consultation.  Consulting and developing a crisis plan with the ED physician and community mental health agencies (PCC) regarding necessity of involuntary commitment, psychiatric hospitalization or alternative community treatment plan.  Completing involuntary psychiatric hospitalization documentation and coordinating involuntary placement, involving community mental health agency as appropriate. Providing crisis counseling, advocacy, and emotional support/brief therapy to patient/family. Assessment and intervention with victims of violence.  Reporting and coordination of mandated abuse/neglect as required by Oregon law. Providing mental health assessment services to other patient populations and assisting ED Social Workers as caseload demand permits. Interfacing with ED Case Management regarding frequent utilizers of ED resources related to access, psychosocial or behavioral issues as primary ED mental health assessment responsibility permits. Essential Functions: Vocal, visual, auditory and manual ability adequate to perform clinical social work intervention.  Special Skills, Knowledge or Ability: Requires talents of service, focus, problem solving, empathy and interpersonal skills. Strong assessment and mental health interviewing and evaluation skills including mental status exam, alcohol/drug evaluation. Multiaxial DSM diagnoses. Involuntary psychiatric hospitalization procedures. Advanced clinical assessment and therapy skills. Familiarity with public and private community mental health and chemical dependency treatment resources, and financial reimbursement. Ability to multi-task, reprioritize as the situation demands and work in a high pressure, rapid-paced ED environment. Effective interdisciplinary team member. Clinical documentation audit function. Ability to provide program data collection and reports regarding ED Mental Health Evaluation responsibility. Commensurate with area of assignment, knowledge of and ability to apply age specific principles of growth and development, life stages, and culture to meet the specific needs of neonate, pediatric, adolescent and/or geriatric patients. Advanced knowledge/skills of social work and systems theory. Current knowledge base re social, political and economic influences affecting acute and continuity of care systems of health care delivery. Time management skills. Medical terminology. Word processing, information systems, and computer data entry.Minimum Qualifications: Must currently hold, or have the ability to obtain, licensure as a Clinical Social Worker or be a Qualified Mental Health Professional with a graduate degree in psychology, social work, behavioral science or psychiatric nursing and licensed by the State of Oregon.  LCSW and/or CADC preferred. Minimum of five (5) years experience in a mental health setting where at least two (2) years of that time included adult mental health assessments, specific to psychiatric emergencies and evaluation of dangerousness as a routine aspect of job function. Professional supervisory or lead experience including job functions such as candidate selection, employee orientation, and evaluation. Must demonstrate excellence in interpersonal communication skills, and must be able to communicate effectively in verbal and written form in the English language. Must be available on a scheduled basis for on-call work, including weekends and holidays. Preference may be given to applicants that speak and read Spanish and English fluently.Additional Information:This position is designated as Waive Daily Overtime.  Statutory overtime will be paid after 40 hours in one work week. In order to be considered for this position, your resume must reflect all relevant licenses, certifications, education, and experience noted in the requirements and minimum qualification sections of this job posting. Without this information, candidates cannot be considered for positions to which they may be qualified.