Mental Health Practitioner

Do you have a desire to better the lives of the residents of Sherburne County?  
Join our professional team of Mental Health staff in the Therapeutic Services Unit of Sherburne County Health & Human Services!
The Mental Health Practitioner works as Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS) to provide a flexible package of mental health services for children who require varying therapeutic and rehabilitative levels of intervention. CTSS addresses the conditions of emotional disturbance that impair and interfere with an individual’s ability to function independently. For children with emotional disturbances, rehabilitation means a series or multidisciplinary combination of psychiatric and psychosocial interventions to: 

• Restore a child or adolescent to an age-appropriate developmental trajectory that had been disrupted by a psychiatric illness; or 
• Enable the child to self-monitor, compensate for, cope with, counteract, or replace psychosocial skills, deficits or maladaptive skills acquired over the course of a psychiatric illness. 

Vision:  We strive toward healthy families, communities, and workforce by valuing every voice, every need, every culture, and everyone’s involvement.
 
Mission:  To promote, protect, and enhance the health of all in Sherburne County.
 
This position is located at the Government Center in Elk River, MN. Our regular business hours are Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, though the department provides staff with flexibility in effort to strive for a desired work/life balance. Sherburne County is one of the fastest growing counties in Minnesota, where you can find a nice blend of suburban and rural life. If you are interested in bringing your skill and talent to a dynamic department in a growing community, we encourage you to apply for this great opportunity.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
These examples of typical duties do not include all possible tasks for this classification and do not limit the assignment of related tasks.  Regular attendance according to the department's approved work schedule is required for all Sherburne County positions.

• Provide skills training, assessment and monitoring in the areas identified in the adult or child’s Diagnostic Assessment and Functional Assessment(s). 
• Must have knowledge and understanding of mental illness. 
• Guide clients in the development of skills and strategies for dealing with problems. 
• Provide services in (to individuals, families or groups) a one to one and group format, in the recipient’s home, community or office. 
• Maintain records of progress for each face-to-face meeting and telephone contact with client. Reports will include an assessment of the adult/child’s ability to function and manage the symptoms of his/her illness based on observation and interaction with the client. 
• Maintain records of contact with other providers and or collateral contacts regarding client care. 
• Under the direction of the clinical supervisor, develop an Individual Treatment Plan (in conjunction with the youth and family) that identifies the interventions, treatment and services for the youth that is based on the needs identified in the Diagnostic Assessment. 
• Schedule appointments and see the client to give requested services for the time and frequency agreed upon by the clinical treatment team and client, and as needed based on the client’s immediate needs. 
• Coordinate and cooperate with other agency and community providers to provide the best possible care for the client. This practitioner will complete all necessary Release of Information documents for communication with other providers and keep these current for each client to be compliant with HIPAA and Data Privacy guidelines. 
• Monitor client progress and with the clinical team, modify the treatment plan as appropriate. Communicate changes in service needs and make recommendations to Clinical Supervisor/Mental Health Professional, Treatment Director, Case Manager, and other members of the treatment team on an ongoing basis to coordinate client care. 
• Intervene as necessary for emergencies and/or when he/she assesses that the client is unable to manage his/her illness in a reasonable manner. Contact to appropriate emergency services, doctors, staff, and emergency family contacts will be made to alert them of intervention planned or taken. 
• Meet regularly with Clinical Supervisor/Mental Health Professional for individual and group reviews of client needs and receive direction for treatment. Annual chart audits will be completed. 
• Complete CTSS Treatment Supervision plan and comply with plan requirements for supervision based on individual qualification status and certification requirements and update plan annually and/or as qualifications change. 
• Strive to meet program's productivity (billing) goal as appropriate to role and responsibilities.  
• Provide transportation when needed. 
• Work effectively with minimal supervision.