Mental Health Consultant

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Provide consultation, diagnostic assessment, and treatment for children, adolescents, adults, and families who exhibit severe emotional disturbances, substance abuse, or criminal behavior; screen, evaluate, and facilitate referrals to community agencies and program admittance.
• Oversee, evaluate, and coordinate protective mental health services performed by subcontracted providers; provide consultation in the development of services, support, and treatment strategies with providers and clients; maintain communication, coordination, and continuity between providers, agencies, and the client.
• Manage care coordination functions in accordance with criteria for utilization review and guidelines; analyze relative clinical data and authorize expenditure of funds to provide needed services.
• Ensure residential facilities and service providers meet licensure rules; perform quality assurance and improvement assessments; report infractions and monitor plans of corrections.
• Monitor clients for signs of child abuse, neglect, or life threatening situations; communicate risk to community emergency services; investigate client complaints and allegations of abuse or neglect in mental health programs or facilities; interview complainants, witnesses, victims, alleged perpetrators, and other relevant parties.
• Collect medical, mental health, and social information from treatment records and medical charts; provide diagnostic assessments and mental status exams; document and maintain all contacts, records, file notes, and reviews; prescribe treatment; make behavioral and clinical observations; conduct home visits; investigate, report, and present findings and recommendations at hearings.
• Provide individual and group therapy and counseling sessions; conduct cognitive behavioral intervention; facilitate interventions for consumers frequently involved in the crisis system and community emergency services.
• Review clinical information to determine medical necessity, continued stay criteria, and approval for discharge from hospital; monitor progress of in-patient care.
• Evaluate referrals from local acute care and state hospitals; develop services and support for the client on a trial visit; monitor progress of trial visit plans.
• Facilitate non-restrictive care; determine need, type, and length of time for continued services and appropriate post discharge care; create outpatient alternatives; authorize or deny payment for service requests.
• Provide crisis intervention on the County Mental Health Crisis Line; train and assist with care coordination and case management principles and practices.
• Mediate conflict and facilitate decision-making among schools, families, child welfare, correctional agencies, and other parties; act as representative on committees, interagency task forces, special projects and other community outreach activities as assigned.
• Analyze and review federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures in order to ensure compliance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

LEVEL AND TYPE OF WORK AND/OR SUPERVISION:

Mental Health Consultant

• Journey level
• Professional
• Perform the full range of duties, working independently, applying well-developed subject knowledge, and exercising judgment and initiative.
• Receive occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise.
• Fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit.
• Work is reviewed based on compliance, appropriateness, and effectiveness in meeting goals and deadlines.
• Receive direction from manager or staff.
• May exercise functional and technical supervision over staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. Requirements are determined at the time of recruitment based on responsibilities of the individual position and business needs of the department.

Mental Health Consultant

Training and experience for this journey level, professional classification includes meeting the standards of Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) as outlined by Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 309-019-0105 (10) and described within Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 291-124-1030 (2).

Depending upon assignment, candidates may be required to pass a criminal background check, have a valid driver license, and/or additional training, licenses, or certificates.