Behavioral Health Clinician

Description

Position at Lakeside Special Care Center Licensed Behavioral Health Clinician (LMFT or LCSW Required) Full Time / $110,000 - $120,000 DOE Lakeside Special Care, a beautiful skilled nursing and behavioral health facility in Lakeside, CA operated by Generations Healthcare, is seeking a compassionate and experienced Behavioral Health Licensed Clinician LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC) to join our dedicated team.This vital role supports the psychological, emotional, and social well-being of adults with moderate to severe mental illness in an inpatient residential setting. The clinician is responsible for conducting comprehensive assessments, developing individualized treatment plans, facilitating individual and group therapy sessions, delivering therapeutic interventions, and providing crisis response as needed. Integral to this position is close collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to ensure integrated, person-centered care.Beyond direct clinical care, the Clinician Supervisor also plays a key role in the training, supervision, and mentorship of advanced-level therapy students. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the professional development of future clinicians, while also educating staff and residents on relevant clinical topics, all within a supportive care model.More than just a provider of behavioral health services, the Clinician fosters therapeutic alliances rooted in compassion, competence, and respect—building meaningful relationships and serving as a bridge between Special Treatment Program (STP) residents and staff to promote trust, stability, and healing.If you are passionate about mental health, mentorship, teamwork, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of others, we invite you to join our kind and committed team at Lakeside Special Care—an organization known for its outstanding reputation, high-quality care, and nurturing work environment.Key Responsibilities:

• Works alongside BH Clinical Director in providing supervision to AMFT, MSW and PCC students.
• Manages day-to-day tasks, scheduling, training and ensure compliance with the student program.
• Establish rapport, in order to develop therapeutic relationships and maintain appropriate therapeutic boundaries with clients.
• Conducts both individual and group therapy using evidence-based practice (CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing) and interventions.
• Reports all violations of patients’ rights, allegation of abuse to the appropriate authorities.
• Possess knowledge of direct resident care services which ensures the safety, comfort and protection of residents.
• Gathers appropriate data. Formulates relevant assessment of patient’s mental health and medical history, social, and emotional situations using effective interviewing techniques, consultation with healthcare team and chart review.
• Develops personalized treatment plan to delineate strengths, deficits and high-risk psychosocial needs.
• Establishes and periodically revises the treatment plan on the basis of comprehensive and ongoing psychosocial assessment of patient concerns, strengths, needs, clinical impressions, and issues specific to spiritual and cultural values.
• Compiles and maintains accurate, current, legible patient records using approved forms and format.
• Documents all 1:1 session, high-risk incidents, assessments, plans, interventions, patient involvement, outside agency communication, interdisciplinary contacts and case closure according to patient care area standards.
• Works closely and collaboratively with multidisciplinary team members (PD, Psychiatrist, DON, Nursing Manager) providing outcomes, updates of assessment, treatment plan, treatment goals and objectives. Provides clinical impression of patients’ symptoms, changes in clients’ behavior, needs, appropriate interventions and strategies to address patient’s needs.
• Provides training to staff on behavioral health topics, helping to build a culture of understanding and support for patients facing mental health challenges.
• Conducts suicide risk assessment to identify suicidality and determine level of risk(. high, moderate or low risk for suicidality). In coordination with treatment the team clinician develops care plan and provides ongoing monitoring.
• Appropriately intervenes to decrease tension and assist clients in evaluating non-productive behaviors, thought processes and coping mechanisms during times of crisis.
• Participates in incident de-briefing with staff focused on providing staff space to process incidents, express and process feelings surrounding incidents.While providing support coaching and psychoeducation on best practices for managing behaviors.
• Participates in incident de-briefing with patients focused on providing space for patients to process feelings, identify triggers, leading to incidents while encouraging and engaging patients in use of coping skills.
• Identifies and effectively deals with resistance and conflict in work with clients (including patients, healthcare team members and community representatives as appropriate).
• Participates in facilitating and developing staff education and training.

Therapist Qualifications and Skills:

• Sensitivity to and willingness to interact with people of various social, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate with compassion and empathy
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong ability to assess situations, make informed decisions, and develop effective solutions.
• Good judgment, problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively as well as possessing the skills to lead, influence, and motivate others.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, expanding organization
• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with other personnel.
• Ability to build rapport with both patients and staff.
• Possesses creativity, demonstrate ability to think on one’s feet and outside of the box.
• Understands HIPAA compliance, always ensures confidentiality of patients.
• Proficiency with software and/or equipment (Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, Excel and
• Detail oriented, possess strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize projects, work relatively independently, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrates understanding of the most recent edition of DSM diagnostic criteria for disorders adults as well as cognitive and age-related developmental tasks.
• Applies the principles of behavior modification, assertiveness training and supportive therapy, and their application.

Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements:

• Master’s or Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or closely related field.
• Approved to provide clinical supervision by the BBS.
• One year of behavioral health experience required. Experience with Severely Mentally Ill and Group Facilitation preferred.
• Current LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC license in good standing with the BBS OR current registration as an AMFT or ASW Trainee/Intern with the BBS (board registered associates must maintain an active supervision affiliation with a board approved clinical supervisor and maintain associate registration status with the BBS in good standing). Individuals who are currently enrolled in a / Intern School Program may be considered on a case-by-case basis as approved by the Clinical Director of Behavioral Health.
• Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification required or obtained within an initial orientation period.
• Proficiency in Verbal de-escalation and physical intervention program (Pro-Act, CPI, or HWC)
• English proficiency required.

The Company is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. The Company prohibits unlawful discrimination against employees or applicants based on race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, reproductive health decision making, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, military status, veteran status, uniformed service member status, sexual orientation, transgender identity, citizenship status, pregnancy, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. The Company also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.