The Residential Therapist is responsible for providing clinical care to residents and upholding best practices through direct clinical services, treatment planning, team collaboration, staff consultation, and documentation. Works collaboratively with persons receiving services, their families and natural supports as appropriate, and the interdisciplinary team to support each person’s person-centered plan and achieve quality clinical outcomes. Maintains an active clinical presence within the residential program and supports the implementation of evidence-based treatment approaches. Reports directly to the Director of Clinical Services.

Essential Duties

This position includes, but is not limited to, the following essential functions:

• Develop, coordinate, monitor, and revise individualized recovery and treatment plans in collaboration with residents, families/natural supports as appropriate, and members of the interdisciplinary treatment team within a person-centered treatment model. 
• Review plans regularly and modify clinical recommendations and interventions based on resident progress, clinical presentation, behavioral and clinical data, medication-related information as appropriate to the clinician's role, and treatment response.
• Develop, implement, monitor, and revise individualized Behavioral Support Plans and Safety Plans when clinically indicated, clearly identifying target behaviors or safety concerns, prevention and intervention strategies, staff response expectations, and plans for monitoring and follow-up; provide staff education and consultation necessary to support consistent implementation.
• Collaborate with nursing, medical, residential, and other interdisciplinary team members in the development, implementation, monitoring, and review of individualized Care Plans for residents, ensuring plans comprehensively address identified psychiatric, behavioral, medical, functional, and other applicable care needs within each discipline’s scope of responsibility.
• Conduct clinical assessments and provide direct clinical services, including individual, group, and family counseling/psychotherapy as appropriate to resident needs and within the clinician’s scope of practice. Develop and maintain a therapeutic alliance with residents, assess clinical needs and progress, and formulate clinical recommendations and diagnoses when permitted by licensure, scope of practice, and applicable requirements.
• Identify, develop, facilitate, and/or coordinate appropriate therapeutic programming and clinical group interventions based on resident and program needs, utilizing evidence-based practices such as CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR, etc.
• Develop and maintain relationships with residents’ families and natural support systems, as appropriate, providing education and support and participating in discharge and transition planning, follow-up services, referrals, and continuity of care.
• Maintain a consistent and active clinical presence within assigned residential programs, engaging directly with residents and staff and supporting the implementation of clinically recommended interventions and treatment approaches.
• Provide clinical education, consultation, coaching, and support to direct care staff regarding resident needs, behavioral patterns, treatment approaches, therapeutic engagement, de-escalation, and implementation of treatment plans and clinically recommended interventions.
• Model effective therapeutic engagement, communication, de-escalation, behavioral interventions, and other clinically appropriate approaches for direct care staff.
• Participate in clinical crisis response and intervention, including safety planning and development of individualized crisis response strategies, consistent with organizational policies, clinical best practices, applicable regulations, and the clinician’s scope of practice.
• Participate in a rotating on-call schedule to provide clinical consultation and support outside of regular program hours and respond appropriately to urgent clinical situations in collaboration with program leadership and other professionals as needed.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and clinically appropriate documentation in the electronic health record, including assessments, treatment/recovery plans, Behavioral Support Plans, Safety Plans, Care Plans, progress notes, reports, discharge documentation, and other required clinical records in accordance with organizational policies, applicable laws and regulations, licensing requirements, and professional standards.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary treatment team, program leadership, direct care staff, and other organizational personnel to address clinical and program concerns and support coordinated, consistent care.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with external treatment providers, healthcare professionals, referral sources, and community partners to coordinate referrals, promote continuity of care, and support resident treatment needs.
• Collaborate with appropriate community organizations, healthcare providers, schools, and other external resources to develop programming, coordinate services, and address resident needs outside of the organization.
• Participate in treatment team meetings, case consultations, clinical supervision as applicable, organizational meetings, special projects, and quality improvement activities.
• Collaborate on program and system development, quality improvement, and clinical practice initiatives to promote effective, efficient, and evidence-informed services for staff and the people we serve.
• Follow and support established organizational policies and procedures and applicable clinical, safety, emergency, mandated reporting, risk-management, and regulatory requirements in the day-to-day performance of the position.
• Apply organizational policies and procedures and applicable federal and state laws, Vermont regulations, licensing requirements, professional standards, and ethical requirements in a consistent and systematic manner.
• Abide by all Corporate Compliance policies and Code of Ethics. 
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with all levels of staff within the organization.
• Establish and maintain effective professional working relationships.
• Work positively with staff in a way that promotes development and strong staff morale.
• Support the mission of the organization with positive presentation.
• Duties are performed under the direction of the Director of Clinical Services, with additional guidance from other organizational leaders as appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor/leadership team. 

To perform the Residential Therapist job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and experience in behavioral health, including clinical interventions and treatment approaches appropriate to the population served.
• Ability to gather, evaluate, and integrate relevant clinical and behavioral information to exercise sound judgment and make appropriate decisions within the scope of the position.
• Ability to remain clear-headed and exercise sound judgment in routine, complex, and urgent situations within the scope of the position.
• Ability to coordinate care, delegate tasks as appropriate, provide referrals, and problem-solve as needed.
• Ability to provide effective clinical consultation, education, coaching, and support to direct care staff.
• Builds and develops internal and external relationships, creates partnerships, builds trust, shares ideas, and collaborates to accomplish work.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to uphold applicable professional codes of ethics and maintain appropriate professional boundaries when working with residents, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
• Communicates clearly and shares relevant information regularly and concisely.
• Effective organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrates strong attention to detail.
• Ability to appropriately receive and incorporate feedback through the supervision process and demonstrate a willingness to learn, grow, and improve.
• Holds themselves accountable for their performance.
• Ability to support the agency's culture, growth, and success through communication, accountability, and positivity.
• Embraces change and sets goals that align with the company's vision.
• Encourages and inspires others through positivity, vision, confidence, challenges, and recognition. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office tools and able to learn and effectively utilize electronic health record (EHR) systems.

Physical Demands

These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the Residential Therapist position. Reasonable accommodation can be provided to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of this position. 

While performing the responsibilities of the Residential Therapist position, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel and to manipulate keys on a keyboard. The employee is often required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, and may kneel or crouch. The vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Working Conditions

Working conditions include office and residential program environments. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. This position requires participation in a rotating on-call schedule, including availability outside of regular program hours to provide clinical consultation and support in response to urgent clinical situations. Evening and weekend work may be required as needed.

Confidentiality Statement

I acknowledge and understand that I may have access to confidential information, including Protected Health Information (PHI), regarding employees, clients, or the public. In addition, I acknowledge and understand that I may have access to proprietary or other confidential information or business information belonging to Trivium. Therefore, except as required or permitted by law, I agree that I will not:

• Access or attempt to access data that is unrelated to my job duties at Trivium.
• Access or attempt to access Protected Health Information (PHI) beyond my stated authorized HIPAA access level.
• Use or disclose to any other person, or allow any other person access to, any information related to facility that is proprietary or confidential and/or pertains to employees, students, clients, or the public. Use or disclosure of information includes, but is not limited to, verbal discussions, FAX transmissions, electronic mail messages, voice mail communication, written documentation, “loaning” computer access codes, and/or another transmission or sharing of data.
• Use or disclose Protected Health Information (PHI) for use in violation of HIPAA regulations.

I understand that Trivium Life Services and its employees, clients, or others may suffer irreparable harm by use or disclosure of proprietary or confidential information and that facility may seek legal remedies available to it should such use, or disclosure occur. Further, I understand that violations of this agreement may result in disciplinary action, up to and including, termination of my employment.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, or a related behavioral health field.
• Must be appropriately credentialed to provide psychotherapy in the State of Vermont, including current entry on the Vermont Roster of Non-Licensed, Non-Certified Psychotherapists when required, and be eligible to participate in supervised practice toward applicable independent clinical licensure (e.g., LCMHC, LMFT, or LICSW).
• Experience providing clinical mental health treatment in a residential setting or to individuals with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI) preferred.
• Working knowledge of emotional, behavioral, mental health, and substance use concerns relevant to the population served.
• Ability to participate in clinical crisis response and a rotating on-call schedule, including providing clinical consultation outside of regular program hours.
• Working knowledge of clinical interventions and willingness to continue developing clinical skills.
• Working knowledge of a variety of service modalities to meet the needs of the population served.
• Must be flexible, collaborative, open to feedback, and able to function as a member of an interdisciplinary team.