Caring. Hope. Giving back. Our mission at the Bert Nash Center as the Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) of Douglas County is to advance the health of the community through comprehensive behavioral health services responsive to evolving needs and changing environments. We accomplish this by believing in our team. Each person that works for the Bert Nash Center contributes directly to the success of our clients, organization, and community. Our values of compassion, integrity, equity and hope reflect in everything we do.

Pay is based on experience, from $57,220-$78,397 annually. This is a full-time, hourly, exempt and benefit-eligible position.  Bert Nash offers excellent benefits which include medical, dental, vision, KPERS retirement, life insurance, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing free counseling and resources, and generous PTO.

A.  Responsibilities and Duties:  The primary responsibilities of the ACT Therapist are providing assessments, individual outpatient therapy, and substance use disorder treatment to adults with recurrent mental health and substance abuse disorders along with trans-disciplinary intensive, community-based services according to the TMACT fidelity standards. These duties encompass:

1.  Serving as participating a member on a community-based, trans-disciplinary, intensive supportive service team operating according to TMACT fidelity standards;

2.  Partnering with program staff to ensure service quality standards of the program, and specifically that TMACT fidelity standards are met; and generally that data collection and documentation and reporting, outcomes standards, Evidence-Based standards, and deadlines are met;

3.  Conducting outreach and motivational interviewing techniques for adults with co-occurring (mental health and substance abuse) disorders to assist the client in securing access to and mastering the use of community services and resources that will both reduce, or eliminate, the risk of hospitalization and support independent living in the community

4.  Will provide substance abuse education/prevention session(s) as needed

5.  Works quickly to develop rapport and assess needs for adults in acute states of psychiatric and substance abuse crises.

6.  Facilitates admissions to higher levels of care, when deemed necessary.

7.  Coordinating and cooperating with team members and clientele to formulate and implement strategies for addressing consumer housing and service needs;

8.  Providing outreach and crisis intervention services to clients, and prospective clients, to enable timely access to those services appropriate and necessary for crisis stabilization with the purpose of diverting the client from hospitalization;

9.  Conducting ongoing comprehensive substance use assessments that consider the relationship between mental health and substance use while tracking the clients' stages of change readiness and stages of treatment;

10.  Using cognitive behavioral approaches and relapse prevention techniques with the clients and potential clients

11.  Cross-training other ACT staff to help with the development and access to co-occurring disorder assessments, interventions, and treatment skills;

12.  Assisting with the evolution of an effective, efficient program of services;

13.  Working closely with referring agencies/entities to address all goals and concerns;

14.  Coordinating intervention activities with other teams and community members, as needed;

15.  Delivering services on an as-needed basis with respect to time of day and location;

16.  Providing feedback regarding service provision, resource acquisition, coordination of services, assessment, goal setting, and engagement of client;

17.  Regular and predictable attendance is essential;

18.  Assuming additional responsibilities that may be assigned as circumstances warrant.

19.  Coordinates with 24/7 crisis line contractor as needed.

20.  Will create substance use related educational and resource material for clients as needed

21.  Will keep current on Best Practices and emerging best practices in the substance use disorder field.

22.  Identifies strengths and needs of client/consumer and families and acts to involve them in planning for desired services.

B.  Accountability:  The ACT Team Therapist will be directly accountable to the ACT Program Manager or their designee. ACT Program Manager or their designee will, no less than annually, complete a performance evaluation in compliance with personnel policies.

C.  Qualifications:  The ACT Team Therapist position requires:

1.  Master's Degree and current licensure in Kansas as a Qualified Mental Health Professional and master's Level Addictions Counselor (LMAC), with preference given to clinical licensure. If not currently licensed as a LMAC, must be able to obtain licensure within 90 days of employment. Must serve as a QMHP and TPC on clients' treatment teams.

2.  Familiarity with behavioral health theory, emerging practices and Evidence-Based Practices in the substance use disorder field 

3.  Familiar with treatment approaches to treatment substance use disorders with an emphasis on co-occurring disorders

4.  Knowledge of community service programs and resources designed to assist in targeted populations of the county;

5.  A commitment to working with parents and consumers as partners;

6.  A commitment to developing cultural competence in the workplace and in-service delivery;

7.  Experience and rapport development skills with people experiencing acute crises. Relevant experience in mental health emergency services

8.  Prior experience providing effective, efficient therapeutic services to adults facing severe emotional disturbance mental health illness.

9.  Familiar with treatment approaches to treatment substance use disorders with an emphasis on co-occurring disorders

10.  Knowledge of or experience in community mental health;

11.Reliable transportation with a valid, unrestricted driver's license;

12.  Prior computer experience and administrative level computer fluency;

13.  An ability to work independently and in cooperation with others;

14.  Strong organizational skills;

15.  Strong oral and written communication skills;

16.  Strong interpersonal skills in working with diverse publics;

17.  Flexibility in assigned working hours;

18.  A commitment to interdisciplinary and community mental health center approaches;

19.  An energetic and positive approach to the rapidly evolving changes and challenges of a complex work place;

20.  Must pass background screen and meet all relevant licensing, credentialing, etc. requirements;

21.  Must be able to achieve within one's first 6 months of employment a working competency in the management and use of the Center's electronic medical records (EMR) software as demonstrated by timely and accurate documentation of the clinical record.

Bert Nash Center requires proof of Covid-19 immunization prior to starting any position. Covid-19 vaccine series must be completed or in process to be cleared for new hire orientation.