Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Hawai‘i Island Community Health Center is proud to offer our employees
the benefits explained below:
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Prescription Drug Insurance
• Vision Care Insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Savings
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Group Life Insurance
• Temporary Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Flex-Spending Accounts
• Leaves of Absence
• Hawaii Life Flight
• AFLAC Supplemental Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Pet Insurance
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance
• Unemployment Compensation Insurance

JOB TITLE: Licensed Mental Health Counselor FLSA STATUS: Exempt DEPARTMENT: Behavioral Health SUPERVISED BY: Behavioral Health Director

I. POSITION FUNCTION SUMMARY

Under the general direction of the Behavioral Health Director, the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) will counsel individuals and groups to promote and help maintain optimum mental health. The Licensed Mental Health Counselor will help Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center (HICHC) patients deal with thoughts of suicide; addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; problems with self-esteem; and issues associated with aging and mental and emotional health.

II. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position may have various work assignments within HICHC. This description is intended to be generic in nature, and as such it does not detail all duties and responsibilities of the job assignment. Various duties, responsibilities and accountabilities may be assigned to an incumbent in this position depending on clinic needs, and may include but not be limited to the following:

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Counsels patients, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes.

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Maintains confidentiality of records relating to patient’s treatment.

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Guides patients in the development of skills and strategies to deal with their problems.

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Encourages patients to express their feelings and to discuss what is happening in their lives and helps them develop insight into themselves and their relationships.

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Collects information about patients through interviews, observations, and tests.

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Prepares and maintains treatment records and reports.

o Documents all encounters in accordance with state and federal guidelines, ensuring accurate coding for billing standards.

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Evaluates patient’s physical or mental condition based on review of client information.

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Develops and implements treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge.

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Acts as a patient advocate to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.

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Refers patients to appropriate internal or external providers and/or resources for further treatment or assistance.

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Operates under all appropriate clinic’s rules and regulations and maintains records of the patients.

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Coordinates with other behavioral health team members to maintain a well-balanced caseload and to set up performance-improving strategies.

• Works as part of a multidisciplinary team and receives administrative, educational, and supportive supervision from Behavioral Health Leadership.

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Performs other duties as assigned, which are consistent with the position and in compliance with HICHC policies and procedures.

III. POSITION SPECIFICATIONS

Requirements of Positions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

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Master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited educational institution in counseling or in an allied field related to the practice of mental health counseling required.

• Minimum of three (3) years of post-degree clinical experience preferred.

Licenses and Certifications

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Valid Hawaiʻi Mental Health Counselor license required and must be maintained during employment.

Competencies

• Social Skills—the individual interacts in a professional manner with colleagues and patients, models teamwork and a positive attitude

• Problem solving skills—the individual identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully and utilizes management appropriately.

• Leadership—the individual inspires and motivates others to perform well and accepts feedback from others.

• Quality management—the individual demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness in tasks.

• Judgment—the individual exhibits sound, accurate, and ethical judgment.

• Planning/organizing—the individual prioritizes and plans out work activities, uses time efficiently, anticipates provider and patient needs and develops realistic action plans.

• Safety and security—the individual observes safety and security procedures and uses equipment and materials properly.

• Interpersonal skills—the individual remains open to others’ ideas and shows respect.

• Oral communication—the individual speaks clearly, assertively, and persuasively and demonstrates one-on-one and group presentation skills.

• Written communication—the individual edits work for spelling and grammar, presents data effectively and can read and interpret written information.

• Technology- the individual is adept at utilizing Microsoft Office and can learn new skills in adjacent electronic health record systems.

• Promotes an organizational culture that embraces diversity as a core value.

Knowledge

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Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

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Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

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Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, and cultures and their history and origins.

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Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.

Skills and Specifications

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Must be sympathetic and compassionate to the client’s issues.

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Good communication skills.

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Must be able to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.

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Ability to prioritize and balance tasks in a high paced environment.

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Can work independently.

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Emotionally stable, sensitive, mature with ability to deal with various people effectively.

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Effectively interprets and understands client’s problems.

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Ability to evaluate problems and identify a unique approach to treatment.

Physical Requirements:

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Prolonged periods sitting, listening, and observing or working on a computer.

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Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Personal Characteristics

Personal characteristics to include: a team player, high integrity, communication and customer relations skills, regular work attendance, courteous and friendly, able to work well with diverse groups of people, and gain and maintain respect of others.

Confidential and Sensitive Information

Because the employee has access to personal and professional data regarding individual employees and their families, personal data regarding individual patients and the families, and/or sensitive company financial data, an essential job result is the maintenance of a high level of confidentiality of the information processed by the employee. Violation of this confidence may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

IV. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS/WORKING CONDITIONS

General Remarks: The work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential tasks and functions.

Environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. There are no known environmental hazards on the premises. Work environment is often stressful. Work is mostly inside, and normal office worker safety precautions and practices are required. Incumbent will be exposed to patients' conditions and some-unpleasant sights, smells and contagious diseases including virus, disease and infection from patients and specimens in working environment. All employees are offered the opportunity to receive the Hepatitis B vaccination series.

Equipment Use: Frequent use of telephone system and office equipment including but not limited to computer, printer, facsimile machine, copier and general office supplies. OSHA: This position performs tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues; normal medical safety precautions and practices are required.

Work Hours: Eight to ten-hour workdays. Overtime may be required. This position is exempt under the provisions of the Fair labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not subject to the policies and procedures pertaining to overtime hours and premium pay. The foregoing position description is not all-inclusive of the duties that may be assigned to the employee. In order to ensure maximum flexibility and efficiency and to encourage cross training, employees will be assigned additional duties as deemed necessary or desirable by HICHC.

Mental Demands: Duties require attention to detail, alertness, problem solving, tolerance to stress and exercising sound judgment. Duties require high tolerance and adequate coping skills for dealing with loss, grief and bereavement. Good stress reduction and management skills are essential.

V. REMARKS

The foregoing position description is not all-inclusive of the duties that may be assigned to the employee. To ensure maximum flexibility and efficiency and to encourage cross training, employees will be assigned additional duties as deemed necessary or desirable by HICHC.