JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: COMMUNITY PSYCHIATRIC SUPPORT THERAPIST (CPST)
MISSION
To help adolescents and their families recover from the effects of mental illness, learn to care for
themselves and each other; and achieve effective quality health care, behavior health treatment and
residential services to children, adolescents and their families in a therapeutic milieu to enhance further
growth and community reintegration in the least restrictive setting possible.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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Responsible for participating in the orientation of new residents, providing them and their families
with information regarding the facility, contact information and procedures.
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Responsible for completing required assessments, e.g., independent living assessment, within
guidelines established by agency and directives.
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Responsible for conducting ongoing assessments of the needs of the resident and the family.
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Responsible for communicating with the court system, including probation officers and court appointed
representative/advocates, regarding court dates, court imposed restrictions and expectations and,
when possible, attend court dates with the resident.
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Maintains appropriate contact with families and/or guardians and collaborative agencies, e.g.,
returning phone calls within acceptable timeframes.
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Provides assistance to the resident in achieving personal independence in managing basic needs
as identified by the resident and/or parent/guardian, e.g., developing daily living skills.
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Responsible for assisting the resident, parent and/or guardian and collaborative agencies during
the discharge process and provide appropriate step-down services, e.g., psychiatric, communitybased, etc.)
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Responsible for participating in treatment team meetings, monthly case conferences, case
presentations and training activities.
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Responsible for completing required clinical documentation, in accordance with regulatory
agencies requirements, in a timely manner.
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Responsible for attending training and/or consulting with supervisor to maintain a current
understanding of the facilities residential treatment program developments and activities.
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Participates in research and evaluation projects as assigned by the supervisor; prepares
presentations for therapist’s meetings, team meetings and in-service meetings on relevant
treatment topics.
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REQUIRED TRAINING
All direct care staff must remain in compliance with regulatory trainings. Failure to remain compliant will
result in staff being removed for the work schedule.
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CPR
Client Rights
Haugland Behavior System
Behavior Management Plan
Obtaining Medical & Psychiatric Assistance
Non-Physical Intervention/
De-escalation Techniques
 Fire and Other Disaster Procedures
 Human Resource Orientation
Abuse and Neglect
Minor Aversive Interventions
Major Aversive Interventions
Assistance with Self-Administration of Medication
Identification & Assessment of Contraindications
Identification & Utilization of Less Restrictive
Alternatives
 Annual Training
Other – Tuberculosis testing prior to employment and, thereafter, annually.
MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
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Bachelor’s degree required.
Minimum one year’s experience in case management, case
coordination or a related service.
Current, valid Ohio driver’s license.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in performing duties and responsibilities. Must demonstrate
acceptable clinical observation, diagnostic skills and documentation skills.
Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under
“Specific Duties and Responsibilities”.
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for completing assigned work and meeting deadlines. Completes assigned
tasks on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, policy, standards and prescribed procedures.
Communication: Ability to effectively communicate with patients, families, interdisciplinary team members,
regulatory agencies and the general public in a clear and concise manner.
Attendance: Responsible for being punctual for designated work schedule and meetings. Adheres to policies and
procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to management for approved absences
and paid time off.
Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to accomplish job
responsibilities. Strives to anticipate work to be completed and initiates proper and acceptable direction for
completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
Judgment: Ability to solve practical problems with a variety of concrete variables in a situation where only limited
standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule
form. Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and
assists in solutions to problems or situations.
Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions
such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified, i.e., unclear
communications, variance with policy and procedures. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and
improve cooperation between all staff within the department.
Interpersonal Skills: Ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills in mental health counseling, and as a multidisciplinary team member, with residents, families and the general public. Shares knowledge with supervisors and
staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all staff. Develops and
maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with all staff members, representatives from organizations and
the general public.
Management of Time: Ability to plan and organize daily work schedule. Establishes priorities for the completion of
work to meet deadlines in a timely and effective manner. Avoids duplication of effort.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established within the facility and the
various regulatory agencies. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.
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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED
TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Physical Requirements: Must be able to operate office equipment, office machines to include computers,
calculators, copier and facsimile. Must be able to operate and manipulate a variety of behavioral therapy: of force
frequently and /or negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. As
needed, must be able to physically assist in crisis interventions which involve physically managing a patient in
order to prevent patient from hurting self or another.
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or
compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange
information. Includes receiving instructions from immediate supervisor.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read policy manuals, behavioral assessments and therapeutic reference
materials; IEP goals and objectives; student reports and other program related documents. Requires the ability to
prepare cognitive and behavioral assessments, goals and objectives, therapy plans, consequence records and
communication logs, student progress reports, incident reports, memorandums, correspondence and other
program related documents using proper format.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data,
establish facts and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions furnished in
written, oral, diagrammatic or schedule form.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and
written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively using therapeutic and behavioral terminology.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract totals; to multiply and
divide; to determine percentages and decimals; and to compute interest and ratios.
Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, therapeutic instruments and supplies, office and
classroom equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of colors.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instruction. Must
be adaptable to performing under considerable levels of stress.
Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by
means of spoken works.
Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) Must be able to communicate via telephone.
This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities and
skills required for the job and is subject to review and revision in accordance with the needs of
Sequel Pomegranate Health Systems.
I have read and understand the responsibilities of the Community Psychiatric Support
Therapist. I agree to perform these duties and responsibilities and understand this job
description will be the formal basis for my performance evaluation. I also understand that
failure to meet the duties and responsibilities of this position will result in correction action up
to and including termination from Sequel Pomegranate Health Systems.
Signature
Print Name
Date
03/2017
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