Qualified Mental Health Professional

Responsibilities

The Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) reports to the Licensed Child Care Administrator. The QMHP is someone who can assist children in foster care to thrive who constantly battle with the feelings of depression, anxiety, anger, emotional and behavior issues. The QMHP focus with helping caregivers is to assist them in learning and utilizing the appropriate skills to work with children who come from hard places. The QMHP main focus with helping children is to provide training to increase appropriate communication skills, practice appropriate problem solving, anger management, social skills, and interpersonal interaction, etc.); The majority of the QMHP’s time will be spent providing services to youth in a group home congregate living setting, and other community settings. We are looking for someone who has an unmatched passion for people, solid leadership/mentoring skills, and solution-oriented mindset.

Essential Duties

As a QMHP, you will be responsible for providing strengths-based training utilizing an evidence-based curriculum that will help develop and build skills that will help the child have a more successfully existence. The QMHP will work with the Licensed Child Care Administrator or QMHP supervisor to provide the following services: Skill Training & Development, Medication Training & Support Services and Crisis Intervention Services. The QMHP will implement the Service/Treatment Plan that is focused on the child and family needs and recognizing their strengths. The plan will address all the client needs that have been identified by the treatment team:

As the QMHP your key responsibilities will involve:

v Responsible for providing skill building training: one-on-one skills sessions in the home, at the office, or in the community relating to goals and objectives using evidence-based practices and curriculum.

v Provides support and crisis/emergency services for the child/adult/family through face-to-face contact, phone contact or availability by an on-call system (all time spent on crisis assessment and planning, crisis linkage and follow-up, and stabilization must be documented as crisis hours)

v Maintains all client documentation in the electronic record and write progress notes that are adhering to requirement set by the Texas Administrative Code.

v Utilize effective listening skills to establish rapport with client, family members and other individuals close to the client; provide emotional support and encouragement and engage family members in the service process.

v Maintains records in accordance with regulatory/agency standards. Enters data in a clear, accurate, and timely manner. Also, promptly submits documentation needed for the tracking of output/outcome measures. May be asked to assist in record review or qualitative review processes.

v Responsible for keeping the family and team members informed on progress toward achieving Service Plan goals

v Aid clients with daily living tasks such as behavior management, counseling services to the client, budget management, independent transportation assistance, time management skills and other tasks to promote independent living.

v Collaborates with court/probation, tribal/community agencies, families and other natural support systems to ensure client’s needs are met. Develops a strong working relationship with community partners.

v Assist clients in practicing effective communication, problem-solving and anger management techniques in their daily lives.

v Participate in staff meetings, monthly training, company programs, professional development training as required.

The QMHP can be counted in the child/caregiver ratio so other duties include:

v Knowing which children, they are responsible for;

v Childcare services for each assigned child;

v Being aware of and accountable for each child’s on-going activity;

v Providing the level of supervision necessary to ensure each child’s safety and well-being, including auditory and/or visual awareness of each child’s on-going activity as appropriate; and

v Being able to intervene when necessary to ensure each child’s safety.

i. In deciding how closely to supervise a child, the caregiver must take into account:

1. The child’s age;

2. The child’s individual differences and abilities;

3. The indoor and outdoor layout of the operation;

4. Surrounding circumstances, hazards, and risks; and

5. The child’s physical, mental, emotional, and social needs.

v Caregivers must:

o Be aware of the children’s habits, interests, and any special needs, including any special supervision needs;

o Provide a safe environment;

o Cultivate developmentally appropriate independence in children through planned but flexible program activities;

o Positively reinforce children’s efforts and accomplishments;

o Ensure continuity of care for children by sharing with incoming caregivers’ information about each child’s activities during the previous shift and any verbal or written information or instructions given by the parent or other professionals; and

o Implement and follow the children’s service plans.

v If a child is participating in an unsupervised childhood activity, the caregiver must:

o Know where the child will be;

o Give the child a specific time to return to the operation or the caregiver’s location;

o Provide, arrange, or confirm an appropriate method of transportation to and from the activity;

o Give the child a way to contact the caregiver in an emergency; and

o Be available to respond if the child contacts the caregiver and needs immediate assistance.

v Caregivers that supervise a child receiving treatment services for an emotional disorder must maintain daily progress notes for the child. Caregivers must sign and date each progress note at the time the progress note is completed.

v If a child or children are allowed overnight visits with staff, the child(ren) must be properly fed, lodged, and supervised, and their health, safety, and well-being protected. The person(s) responsible for the child(ren) must be given information about obtaining emergency medical care.

Staff Management

v The QMHP does not have any direct reports.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

v Has a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum number of hours that is equivalent to a major (as determined by the LMHA or MCO in accordance with §412.316(d) of this title (relating to Competency and Credentialing)) in psychology, social work, medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, counseling, sociology, human growth and development, physician assistant, gerontology, special education, educational psychology, early childhood education, or early childhood intervention;

v is a registered nurse or

v At least 2 years of experience providing therapeutic services for children/adolescents with behavioral challenges on an intensive level