Child Adolescent Psychiatrist

Scope

Skyland Trail is a nonprofit primary psychiatric residential treatment program for adults and adolescents. The adolescent residential treatment program located in Chamblee/Atlanta, GA, treats adolescents ages 14 to 17 with a mood or anxiety disorder.

Adolescent staff psychiatrists collaborate with a multidisciplinary team that includes mental health therapists, psychologists, pediatricians/physicians, family therapists, expressive and recreational therapists, nutritionists, academic coordinators, nurses, and residential staff. Staff psychiatrists lead treatment planning and guide evidence-based, measurement-driven care.

Staff psychiatrists serve as the primary psychiatrist for a caseload of adolescent patients enrolled in residential treatment and day treatment (PHP), providing medication management and psychotherapy. Residential and day treatment patients are seen weekly.

Staff psychiatrists are responsible for timely documentation of orders and session notes and for communicating changes in the treatment plan to the treatment team. Adolescent psychiatrists also engage parents/guardians in treatment.

Duties

• Complete 30-minute weekly sessions with a caseload of adolescent patients including psychotherapy and medication management
• Engage parents/guardians in therapeutic interventions
• Document assessments and clinical judgement processes in the electronic health record and share changes to the treatment plan or other pertinent information with the treatment team in a timely manner
• Serve as the leaders and chief medical decision-maker for a multidisciplinary treatment team
• Share teaching responsibilities with Chief Medical Officer for staff supervision as well as supervision of trainees
• Exercise prudent judgment in assessing the acuity of illness and severity of symptoms and disability to make sound clinical decisions for level of care and emergency management as appropriate
• Integrate physical lifestyle recommendations into holistic treatment planning, including healthy eating, active living, and other preventive medical suggestions
• Clearly and effectively communicate clinical recommendations and treatment plans with appropriate staff and stakeholders, including managed care organization representatives to advocate for patients healthcare rights and coverage
• Share on-call responsibilities (phone call) for after-hours emergencies approximately one week out of eight, depending on current staffing. No in-person assessments required while on call.
• Serve as a member of the Skyland Trail Professional Advisory Board and as a representative and advocate of Skyland Trail, its patients, and its organizational interests in the community at large.
• Contribute to organizational Performance Improvement (Quality Improvement) efforts, program development, and strategic planning, as required.

Competencies

• Excellent clinical skills, particularly in assessing and working with adolescents who have mood and anxiety disorders
• Pharmacological expertise to use evidence-based prescribing practices in adolescents to initiate and monitor appropriate psychiatric medications
• Working knowledge of CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing and dual diagnosis treatment preferred
• Skills and proficiency in establishing supportive, trusting relationships with adolescents with mental illnesses
• Ability to complete documentation in complete and timely manner in electronic record
• Interdisciplinary team leadership skills and basic management knowledge
• Dedication to maintaining excellent boundaries while simultaneously cultivating good therapeutic alliances with patients
• Working knowledge of general physical medical care and lifestyle medicine recommendations
• Excellent oral and written skills with ability to effectively communicate
• Knowledge and ability to enforce HIPAA standards and Skyland Trail Confidentiality Policies
• Knowledge of mandatory reporting laws for physicians and therapists within the State of Georgia, as well as involuntary assessment laws and processes