Job: Mental Health Counselor

Total Longterm Care is a non-profit PACE program that provides managed health care and supportive services designed to assist seniors who want an alternative to nursing home placement. With Total Longterm Care's assistance, participants can stay in their own homes and communities. The mission of Total Longterm Care is to enable frail individuals to live with dignity in their communities.

We are currently seeking a Mental Health Counselor to join our outstanding team!

POSITION SUMMARY:
Under the supervision of the Social Work Specialist, provides high quality clinically appropriate mental health services to participants of Total Longterm Care in conjunction with members of TLC’s team of providers. This includes but is not limited to individual, family, and group counseling; information and referral for participants and families. Also included are initial psycho-social assessments with treatment plan, medication review and treatment recommendations. Facilitates weekly mental health update meetings with teams. Facilitates in-services on mental health and behavioral issues for assisted living staff and TLC staff.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:
1. Physical Requirements - Requires manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination; the ability to use department equipment; and the ability to lift/carry up to 30 pounds using appropriate body mechanics. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle in order to perform home visits.

2. Visual, Hearing and Communication Requirements - Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range, with or without reasonable accommodation. Must be able to document care provided in participant records. Must be able to communicate verbally with participants, family and team.

3. Pressure Factor - Requires working under stressful conditions. Working conditions may be noisy and crowded and fluctuating indoor temperatures. Required to meet scheduled appointments while dealing with frail and confused participants. Subject to participants that may have the potential for verbal or physical aggression as well as difficult family dynamics, including caregivers under stress.

4. Environmental Conditions - May be exposed to a risk of bodily injury through contact with moving instrumentation, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, bodily fluids, communicable diseases and any other conditions common in a healthcare environment. Subject to unpleasant odors.

QUALIFICATIONS:

MUST PASS A PRE-EMPLOYMENT PHYSICAL AND DRUG SCREEN.
Minimum of one year prior experience working with a frail or elderly population required. Extensive knowledge of gero-psychiatric issues, e.g. depression, anxiety, dementia, etc. Extensive knowledge of chronic disease processes of the elderly and related psycho-social implications. Knowledge of grief and loss issues in the elderly. Demonstrated knowledge and sensitivity to the elderly and their cultural issues, e.g. African-American, Hispanic, Asian Pacific cultures. Demonstrated skills in the provision of psychotherapeutic modalities, i.e. individual, group and family interventions. Extensive knowledge of community resources designed to support the elderly population. Skills in solution focused, brief psychotherapeutic techniques. Effective communication skills with other disciplines and ability to work with members of the team to develop and implement behavior management plans. Knowledge of various psychotropic medications commonly used to treat behavioral conditions of the elderly. Skills in conflict management and mediation. Demonstrated skill and knowledge of differential diagnosis and assessment of behavior issues of the elderly. Licensed under Colorado law governing the practice of psychotherapy.