Behavioral Health Clinician

Department: Community & Behavioral Services   Healing Center

Covered Position: Yes

Exemption Status: Exempt

Pay Grade(s): 13-14 ($87,243.00+ DOE) 

Purpose: The   Behavioral Health Clinician provides comprehensive, culturally responsive,   trauma-informed behavioral health services through the CBS Healing Center.   The clinician assesses and treats mental health, substance use, and   co-occurring concerns; develops individualized treatment plans; provides   psychotherapy and crisis support; coordinates care; and helps participants   connect with community, cultural, medical, and social supports. Services may   be delivered in person, by telehealth, and in community-based settings. The   clinician works within professional scope, licensure requirements, Healing   Center policies, and applicable ethical, confidentiality, documentation, and   quality-of-care standards to support the mental, emotional, social, cultural,   and spiritual well-being of Tribal citizens, families, and communities. 

Essential Functions. An individual in this role must be able to   perform the following functions with or without reasonable accommodation:

· Conduct timely, comprehensive behavioral health   assessments, including biopsychosocial history, mental status examination,   substance use screening, suicide and violence risk assessment, diagnostic   formulation, level-of-care determination, and identification of participant   strengths, needs, preferences, and cultural supports.

· Develop, implement, monitor, and   update individualized, participant-centered treatment plans with measurable   goals that reflect clinical needs, participant priorities, family and   community context, cultural identity, and recovery goals.

· Provide evidence-informed,   culturally responsive, and trauma-informed psychotherapy and counseling to   individuals, couples, families, and groups across the lifespan, within the   clinician’s education, training, competence, and professional scope.

· Maintain an assigned caseload and   manage the full course of care, including engagement, scheduling follow-up,   reassessment, transition planning, referral, discharge, and reengagement when   clinically appropriate.

· Assess and respond to urgent and   emergent behavioral health needs; complete suicide risk screening and   assessment, collaborative safety planning, lethal-means safety counseling,   consultation, crisis stabilization, and coordination with emergency or crisis   partners in accordance with policy and scope.

· Identify and treat mental health,   substance use, and co-occurring conditions using current diagnostic criteria   and clinically appropriate interventions. Refer participants to withdrawal   management, residential treatment, higher levels of care, medication   services, or specialty services when indicated.

· Coordinate care with Healing Center   team members, primary care and behavioral health providers, Tribal programs,   schools, courts, child welfare, probation or parole, crisis services, and   other community partners when authorized and clinically appropriate.

· Participate in multidisciplinary   case consultation, clinical staffing, care transitions, utilization review,   and collaborative service planning while clearly documenting clinical   recommendations and follow-up responsibilities.

· Complete accurate, timely, and   clinically meaningful documentation, including assessments, diagnoses,   treatment plans, progress notes, risk assessments, safety plans, releases of   information, referrals, care coordination, discharge summaries, and other required   records.

· Maintain participant records in   accordance with Healing Center procedures and applicable requirements for   confidentiality, informed consent, records access, telehealth, mandated   reporting, HIPAA, and 42 CFR Part 2.

· Use clinical supervision and   consultation appropriately, including prompt consultation regarding   participant safety, ethical concerns, scope-of-practice questions, complex   clinical presentations, mandated reporting, and significant changes in   condition.

· Engage participants through a   strengths-based, relational approach that respects self-determination and   integrates culture, community, family, traditional values, and healing   practices when desired by the participant and appropriate to the clinician’s   role.

· Collaborate with Tribal Family and   Youth Services and other authorized partners to support children and families   involved with child welfare; understand the purpose and significance of the   Indian Child Welfare Act and advocate for culturally responsive, family-centered   coordination within the clinician’s role.

· Develop and facilitate clinically   appropriate groups, workshops, and psychoeducational activities based on   identified participant or community needs, available evidence, cultural   relevance, and Healing Center priorities.

· Provide services through in-person,   telehealth, and approved community-based modalities, using privacy, safety,   emergency, and technology procedures appropriate to each setting.

· Contribute to continuous quality   improvement by reviewing outcomes, participant feedback, access and   engagement data, documentation quality, and service trends; complete required   program and grant data accurately and on time.

· Participate in outreach,   prevention, community engagement, and educational presentations related to   mental wellness, substance use, recovery, suicide prevention, resilience, and   available Healing Center services.

· Maintain professional competence   through supervision, consultation, continuing education, and an annual   development plan. Maintain all licenses, credentials, and certifications   required for the position and assigned duties.

· Follow professional ethics,   clinical boundaries, employee responsibilities, and all applicable Tribal   policies and Healing Center procedures.

· Perform other duties as assigned   that are consistent with the position’s purpose, professional scope, and   qualifications.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities. A comprehensive set of capabilities required to   perform job tasks effectively:

· Knowledge of behavioral health assessment,   differential diagnosis, treatment planning, psychotherapy, substance use   treatment, co-occurring disorders, crisis intervention, suicide prevention,   safety planning, and continuity of care.

· Knowledge of trauma-informed,   recovery-oriented, person-centered, family-centered, harm-reduction, and   strengths-based approaches.

· Knowledge of Alaska Native and   American Indian history, cultures, community strengths, historical and   intergenerational trauma, Tribal sovereignty, and the role of culture,   identity, family, and community in healing.

· Knowledge of the Indian Child   Welfare Act and its significance to Alaska Native and American Indian   children, families, and Tribes.

· Knowledge of professional ethics,   clinical boundaries, informed consent, mandated reporting, confidentiality,   HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and secure behavioral health documentation practices.

· Skill in establishing therapeutic   relationships and providing respectful care to participants with varied   backgrounds, identities, ages, abilities, clinical needs, and readiness for   change.

· Skill in clinical interviewing,   risk assessment, diagnostic reasoning, case formulation, treatment planning,   evidence-informed intervention, de-escalation, and care coordination.

· Ability to recognize clinical   deterioration, safety risks, medical or psychiatric emergencies, and needs   beyond the clinician’s competence or the Healing Center’s level of care, and   to respond or refer appropriately.

· Ability to integrate cultural   practices and traditional healing supports into care through participant   choice, collaboration, and appropriate partnership, without practicing beyond   professional training or authority.

· Ability to manage a caseload,   organize competing priorities, meet documentation timelines, follow through   on referrals and clinical tasks, and communicate barriers promptly.

· Ability to deliver effective   services in person, by telehealth, and in approved community settings while   maintaining privacy, professional boundaries, and participant safety.

· Ability to work independently   within established authority and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary   team; seek supervision and consultation when clinical risk, ethics, law,   policy, or scope requires it.

· Ability to communicate clinical   information clearly and respectfully in verbal, written, and electronic   formats and to tailor communication for participants, families, providers,   and partner agencies.

· Ability to use electronic health   records, telehealth platforms, standard office technology, clinical screening   tools, and program data systems accurately and securely.

· Ability to protect confidential   information and exercise sound professional judgment in complex or sensitive   situations.

Minimum Qualifications (education, experience, skills):

· Master’s degree in social work, counseling,   psychology, marriage and family therapy, or another behavioral health   discipline that meets applicable professional licensure requirements.

· Current State of Alaska behavioral   health professional license at the appropriate level for assigned duties, or   eligibility to obtain the required Alaska license within a timeframe approved   by Tlingit and Haida. Clinical practice must remain within the authority of   the license or approved supervised status.

· Two (2) years of experience   providing behavioral health assessment, counseling, psychotherapy, substance   use services, or closely related clinical services. Qualifying supervised   graduate clinical experience may be considered in accordance with   organizational requirements.

· Ability to meet payer,   credentialing, background check, and professional liability requirements   applicable to assigned services.

· Qualified Addiction Professional   credential, or ability to obtain it within an approved timeframe, when   required for assigned substance use assessment or treatment responsibilities.

· Must be 21 years of age with a Valid   driver’s license and ability to meet Tribal driving requirements when travel   or community-based service delivery is assigned.

Preferred Qualifications (education, experience, skills):

· Independent clinical licensure in Alaska, such as   Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed   Marriage and Family Therapist, or Licensed Psychologist, as applicable to the   discipline.

· Experience providing integrated   treatment for mental health, substance use, trauma-related, and co-occurring   conditions.

· Experience serving Alaska Native   and American Indian individuals, families, and communities and working   effectively within Tribal systems.

· Knowledge of Tlingit and Haida   cultures, values, traditions, communities, and regional resources.

· Training or demonstrated competence   in one or more relevant approaches, such as motivational interviewing,   cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy skills,   trauma-focused treatment, family therapy, substance use interventions, harm   reduction, or suicide-specific care.

· Experience providing telehealth,   group services, crisis intervention, community-based care, or services across   the lifespan.

Physical Requirements. The   physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met   by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job   with or without reasonable accommodation:

· The majority of work is performed   in a professional office setting and is generally sedentary, requiring   routine walking, standing, bending, and carrying of items weighing less than   40 lbs

Work Environment. The work   environment characteristics described here are representative of those an   employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job:

· Some travel may be required on   small aircraft or ferry. 

· Certain positions at Tlingit and   Haida may have exposure to certain hazardous materials or conditions. The supervisor will review these if   applicable.