JOB SUMMARY: The Master’s-level Mental Health Student Interns (Student Intern) at BestCare will be provided with supervision and oversight so they can develop the knowledge and skills for a profession in behavioral health. The Internship Program is designed to serve as a bridge between the knowledge they gain in completing required coursework and applying that knowledge to clinical client services. It is expected that student intern will maintain ethical standards and follow all BestCare’s policies as well as State and Federal regulations throughout the program to guide their development into professional clinicians. The following represents the primary opportunities and responsibilities that a Student Intern may expect during the internship.

ESSENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. The Student Intern can expect to work in a diverse, clinical setting with clients that are experiencing a variety of hardships.
2. At the beginning of the internship, the Student Intern will receive and complete required/assigned training as well as a site-specific orientation.
3. A qualified, designated Clinical Supervisor will serve as a resource and will be responsible to timely provide all necessary documentation and coordination with the affiliated university. The Clinical Supervisor will meet all requirements under OAR 309-019-0125.
4. The Student Intern, with the Clinical Supervisor, develops goals for the internship (Student Scope of Practice and Education Agreement), identifying areas of particular interest to the intern, as well as goals related to the competencies of the profession. These goals will be reviewed and updated throughout the internship at least every 3 months to evaluate progress towards goals, identification of deficiencies, and development of a plan to address any deficiencies.
5. The Student Intern will participate in a variety of shadowing opportunities with the entire outpatient team, including other program offerings to learn the entire array of services provided based on the program site, which may include case management, psychiatric management, providing therapy, medication-supported recovery, MOMs program, and substance use/mental health counseling and therapy.
6. After completing the shadowing opportunities and being approved by the Clinical Supervisor, the Student Intern will begin practicing therapy/case management on their own for a small caseload, under continuing supervision.
7. The Student Intern will be provided the designated weekly supervision, as well as individually and in group settings with the clinical team. Weekly, 1-hour, individual supervision will include but is not limited to the review of cases relating to the:
8. Diagnosing and making appropriate treatment recommendations
9. Developing service plans and setting goals for treatment
10. Termination of therapy services, review of documentation to ensure appropriate, thorough, and accurate documentation, and coding of services
11. Opportunities will be provided for observation through provision of direct clinical services under supervision;
12. Opportunities will be provided to learn about other aspects of their profession including, but not limited to, burnout and compassion fatigue, self-care, theoretical orientations/interventions, proper documentation in EHR (Electronic Health Records), transference and countertransference, boundaries, legal considerations, and testifying in court, etc.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Performs work in alignment with BestCare’s mission, vision, values;
2. Supports the organization’s commitment to foster and maintain a culture of inclusivity, open-mindedness, cultural awareness, compassion, and respect for all individuals;
3. Strives to meet Program/Department goals and supports the organization’s strategic goals;
4. Adheres to the organization’s Code of Conduct, Business Ethics, Employee Handbook, and all other relevant policies, procedures, and other compliance needs;
5. Understands and maintains professionalism and confidentiality per HIPAA, 42 CFR, and Oregon Statutes;
6. Attends required program/staff meetings and completes assigned training timely and satisfactorily;
7. Ensures that any required certifications and/or licenses are kept current and renewed timely;
8. Works independently as well as participates as a positive, collaborative team member;
9. Performs other organizational duties as needed.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES: Must have demonstrated competency or ability to attain competency for each of the following within a reasonable period:

• Knowledge of social aspects of psychological and emotional disturbances
• Willingness to gain familiarity with harm reduction and medications used in the treatment of addiction
• Knowledge and training in substance use disorders and related issues and understanding of recovery models including harm reduction and medication supported recovery, as well as the “Stages of Change/Motivational Interviewing” model of treatment
• Knowledge and understanding of medications for opiate use disorder and alcohol use disorder
• Proficiency in MS Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook), EHR platform, databases, virtual meeting platforms, internet, and ability to learn new or updated software;
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills;
• Strong communication skills (oral and written);
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through;
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines;
• Critical thinking skills;
• Ability to maintain strict confidence as required by HIPAA, 42 CFR, and Oregon Statutes;
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships;
• Ability to function well and use good judgment in a high-paced and at times stressful environment;
• Ability to manage conflict resolution and anger/fear/hostility/violence of others appropriately and effectively;
• Ability to work effectively and respectfully in a diverse, multi-cultural environment;
• Ability to work independently as well as participate as a positive, collaborative team member.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must be currently enrolled in their second year in an accredited-university, Master’s degree program in social work, psychology, counseling, or marriage and family counseling. In addition, students must have:

1. QMHA-I certification required
2. Must maintain a valid Oregon Driver License or ability to obtain one upon hire and be insurable under the organization’s auto liability coverage policy (minimum 21 years of age and at least 3 years without any DUI or moving violations)
3. A signed, collaborative educational agreement between BestCare Treatment Services and the graduate program for the student;
4. Minimum commitment for duration of internship as agreed upon in the Collaborative Educational Agreement.
5. Minimum number of hours per week as determined by the Collaborative Educational Agreement, with a stable and reliable schedule to be coordinated and designated with the onsite clinical supervisor.
6. Demonstrated ability to learn the skillset to conduct basic competence in the following essential job functions: facilitation of mental health assessment, completion of treatment plans, facilitation of mental health psychotherapy treatment for individuals and within a group therapy setting;
7. Demonstrated cultural responsiveness, effective communication and competence in care coordination, development of working alliances with individuals, inter- and intra-agency collaboration, and the rendering of services and supports within their scope and in accordance with the service plan, including transition planning; and
8. Demonstrated basic clinical competency in the following areas: diagnostics, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing, trauma informed care, foundational knowledge in substance use disorders, and suicide risk assessment and safety planning. If topic areas have not been trained up in, willingness to participate in designated training to scale up skills is recommended. This should be discussed with onsite supervisor at start of practicum for learning plan clarity;
9. Ability to develop strong collaborative relationships with the clinical team, willingness to participate in a variety of shadowing opportunities with the outpatient teams;
10. Ability to get along and work collaboratively and effectively with the clinical team;
11. Ability to work within the scope of practice and competencies identified by the collaborative educational agreement and the policies and procedures for the credentialing of clinical staff as established by the provider and the graduate program;
12. Ability to show openness in the learning space, with compassionate and respectful communication with receiving and giving feedback in all contexts of the role;
13. Adherence to program procedures for client documentation within designated electronic medical record. This also includes adhering to completion of documentation as based on guidelines for the program. Completing assessments, treatment plans, and individual therapy notes within 72 hours is the expectation.
14. For individuals in recovery from substance-use disorder, must have maintained continuous recovery for the previous two years at the time of hire

NOTE: Bilingual in English/Spanish a plus