Mental Health Clinician Checklist


Instructions: This checklist is meant to serve as a general guideline for our client facilities as to the level of your skills within your nursing specialty. Please use the scale below to describe your experience/expertise in each area listed below.

Total Stars:

Obtained Stars:

Ranking: 0%

Proficiency Scale:

1 = No Experience

2 = Need Training

3 = Able to perform with supervision

4 = Able to perform independently

  WORKING WITH OTHERS         Rating Stars (Click) 1 2 3 4
  Engages in active and reflective listening  
  Speaks clearly and slowly enough to be understood  
  Uses non-judgmental words and behaviors  
  Communicates directly with the client’s family & significant others (with client consent)  
  Uses “person centered/person first” language  
  Uses technical language correctly  
  including clinical terminology  
  Demonstrates warmth  
  empathy  
  and genuineness  
  Shows respect and concern for others through words and actions  
  Focuses on and respects the concerns and preferences of the client and family  
  Provides support and encouragement to clients  
  Collaborates with providers and clients to complete tasks and solve problems  
  Maintains appropriate boundaries in all relationships  
  SCREENING & ASSESSMENT         Rating Stars (Click) 1 2 3 4
  Obtains information from providers knowledgeable of the client and family  
  Collects demographic  
  psychological  
  social  
  and medical information through interviews of the client and family  
  Summarizes all information verbally or in writing  
  Demonstrates sound judgment in evaluating and using the information collected  
  Assists clients in completing screening tools on substance use and mental health conditions  
  Scores and interprets the results of screening tools correctly  
  Assesses clients’ preferred method of communication and language barriers  
  Identifies client and family strengths and resources  
  Identifies client and family goals  
  Assesses clients’ motivation and readiness to participate in services  
  Identifies client problems  
  mental health and substance use conditions  
  and stressors  
  Identifies signs of abuse and neglect  
  Assesses level of risk for harm to self or others  
  Determines whether additional assessment is required and arranges if necessary  
  Assesses physical and psychological risk associated with acute intoxication  
  overdose  
  withdrawal  
  detoxification  
  and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders  
  Applies the criteria in the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM) in assessing clients’ behavioral health conditions  
  Applies the ASAM criteria to guide treatment planning and recommend a level of care  
  PLANNING SERVICES         Rating Stars (Click) 1 2 3 4
  Identifies recommended short-term and longerterm service goals  
  Identifies service options based on experience & research  
  Evaluates eligibility and insurance coverage or ability to pay for recommended services  
  Communicates outcome of the screening & assessment to the client & family  
  Assists the client & family in understanding the client’s conditions and effects  
  Discusses recommended goals and services with client & family & alternate options  
  Assists client in communicating his or her needs to others  
  Negotiates and finalizes a plan of care with the client & family based on their preferences  
  Assists the client in developing a crisis plan for future episodes of illness  
  Supports the client in developing wellness & recovery plans  
  PROVIDING SERVICES         Rating Stars (Click) 1 2 3 4
  Arranges for assistance  
  if needed  
  with language translation or literacy  
  Implements the plan of care (e.g.  
  begins services  
  makes referrals)  
  Monitors client’s condition  
  behavior  
  and progress on a continuous basis  
  Recognizes when progress has slowed  
  addresses barriers  
  and works to motivate the client  
  Evaluates progress and reviews and revises the plan of care on a regular basis  
  Encourages client participation in services and reaches out when the client is not engaged  
  Participates in developing  
  coordinating  
  and monitoring a discharge plan  
  Establishes working relationships & coordinates care with other providers and teams in the agency  
  Establishes working relationships & coordinates care with other providers in other agencies  
  Assists in establishing routine and formal working relationships with other agencies.  
  Reviews the list of the client’s medications and their effects and side effects  
  Supports client and family education about medication effects and side effects  
  Coaches the client on strategies for taking medications as prescribed  
  Coaches the family on strategies for supporting the client in taking medications  
  Supports the client’s participation in medical appointments  
  medical monitoring  
  and lab testing.  
  Assists the client in monitoring and reporting medication effects and side effects to the medical prescriber  
  Provides emotional support  
  encouragement  
  and reassurance  
  Helps the client define the problem by telling their story  
  discussing their situation  
  and challenging his or her current perspective  
  when warranted.  
  Helps the client set goals by discussing the possibilities and assisting the client to select and commit to new goals  
  Helps the client take action through problemsolving  
  education and training  
  reflecting on past experiences and patterns  
  creating an action plan  
  contracting  
  and providing feedback  
  Recognizes behavioral health crises and early warning signs of crises  
  Assists in deescalating problems in their early phase  
  Reports crises and seeks assistance from a supervisor or licensed behavioral health professional  
  Seeks assistance  
  as needed  
  from Village Public Safety Officers  
  other first responders  
  or community members  
  Assists in implementing the response to a individual  
  family  
  and community crises  
  Communicates with the family and others about the crisis and the response  
  Assists with notifications and investigations of reportable events (e.g.  
  abuse  
  domestic violence  
  assaults  
  neglect  
  deaths)  
  Provides support to those effected by the crisis and assist them in accessing supportive services  
  Assists the client and family in obtaining services related to the crisis (e.g.  
  domestic violence shelter; emergency foster care).  
  Participates in debriefing meetings to discuss the crisis and the response  
  Assesses family norms and roles (in nuclear and extended families  
  clans  
  biological and nonbiological families  
  Uses genograms and sociograms to assess and work with families  
  Identifies family dynamics  
  functional and dysfunctional units  
  and barriers to communication  
  Identifies the impact within the family of an individual with a mental health or substance use condition and accommodations made by the family for the individual  
  Identifies the impact on family functioning of stressors (e.g.  
  medical illness  
  separation  
  divorce  
  abuse  
  financial concerns  
  housing issues  
  legal trouble)  
  Engages members of the family in constructive problem-solving  
  Assists the family in improving its functioning  
  Identifies the functions  
  limitations  
  and risks of different types of groups (educational  
  psychoeducational  
  self-help  
  support  
  activity  
  skill development  
  therapeutic)  
  Identifies appropriate members for the different types of groups  
  Orients new members to groups addressing the purpose  
  rules  
  boundaries  
  levels of selfdisclosure  
  Runs groups effectively  
  providing adequate structure  
  encouraging member interaction  
  and maintaining safety  
  Assists clients in ending participation in a group or transitioning to another group  
  Manages the ending of groups  
  LINKING TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES Rating Stars (Click) 1 2 3 4 Maintains information on a range of community resources (e.g.  
  service  
  medical  
  financial  
  housing  
  spiritual  
  volunteer)  
  Maintains information on traditional support & intervention resources (Elders  
  traditional healers)  
  Identifies recommended resources and traditional supports for the client and family based on need and eligibility  
  Identifies resources outside of the community that may need to be brought into the community  
  Discusses resource recommendations & options with the client & family  
  Motivates the client & family to access and use resources  
  Negotiates a plan with the client & family about accessing resources based on their preferences  
  Makes a referral and actively connects the client or family to selected resources  
  Ensures that the referral was accepted and client or family is receiving services  
  Makes an alternate referral if the initial referral was unsuccessful  
  Draws on individuals in the community to offer support to the client & family  
  Educates clients  
  families  
  and the community about behavioral health conditions and their prevention and treatment  
  Provides information to destigmatize people with mental health and substance use conditions  
  Uses community gatherings to encourage healthy behaviors  
  Serves in community workgroups focused on prevention and early intervention with behavioral health conditions  
  Works with community leaders to develop supports for individuals and families at risk  
  Engages and provides support to individuals and families at risk  
  Educates clients and families about strategies for improving physical and mental health  
  Assists in assessing community needs and readiness for prevention and early interventions activities  
  Provides information to clients and families about their rights and responsibilities  
  Supports individual and family goals and wishes within the agency and with other organizations  
  Helps clients and families to participate in service planning meetings  
  Refers clients and families to peer and family support activities and advocacy organizations  
  CULTURAL COMPETENCY & INDIVIDUALIZING CARE         Rating Stars (Click) 1 2 3 4
  Recognizes and adapts to different cultures  
  including the varied Alaska Native tribes and communities  
  Recognizes and respects diversity  
  differences  
  and cultural traditions  
  including among different Alaska Native tribes and communities  
  Assesses and manages one’s own personal biases  
  Is aware of the traditions of the community.  
  Demonstrates awareness of and sensitivity to the client degree of involvement in their traditions  
  values  
  and community  
  Adapts services to the unique characteristics and preferences of the client and family  
  Applies knowledge of gender  
  sexual orientation  
  life span development  
  financial status  
  religion  
  disability  
  and intergenerational differences in delivering services  
  Promotes empowerment as a goal and desirable treatment outcome for Alaska Native/American Indian people by fostering client and family decision-making  
  problemsolving  
  and self-determination.  
  Effectively discusses cultural issues and differences with clients  
  Uses cultural views of health and family when assisting in providing services  
  Utilizes cultural resources and traditional practices when providing services (e.g.  
  storytelling  
  talking circles  
  and deferring to elders)  
  Identifies and addresses issues of difference to reduce conflict between individuals and groups  
  Routinely considers and discusses cultural issues in supervision and team meetings  
  Consults with elders or traditional healers in the community  
  DOCUMENTING         Rating Stars (Click) 1 2 3 4
  Completes all required documentation (e.g.  
  screening & assessment  
  intake  
  service plans  
  progress notes  
  discharge summaries)  
  Produces documentation that is objective  
  accurate  
  and legible with correct language  
  grammar  
  and spelling  
  Completes documentation in a timely manner  
  Reviews client documentation with clients when they request to do so and when approved by the agency  
  Demonstrates sensitivity when assisting clients in understanding their documentation during a records review  
  PROFESSIONAL & ETHICAL PRACTICE         Rating Stars (Click) 1 2 3 4
  Minimizes absences  
  arrives on time  
  and completes a full work day  
  Completes assigned duties in a timely way and follows through on instructions received  
  reasonable requests  
  and promises made  
  Acts professional in interactions with the client  
  family  
  community and other professionals  
  Works within the limits of assigned duties and role  
  Recognizes personal limits of knowledge and skills  
  Seeks additional supervision or consultation when uncertain about what to do or concerned about the performance of others  
  Complies with the Code of Ethics  
  Complies with laws  
  regulations  
  and agency policies  
  Manages effectively personal and professional boundaries with clients  
  families  
  and the community  
  Models appropriate personal and professional behavior  
  Respects client and family rights  
  Provides information and obtains informed consent  
  Complies with special rules and procedures related to consent for: involuntary commitment; mandated reporting; minors; or individuals unable to consent  
  under guardianship  
  or subject to a court order  
  Complies with laws  
  regulations  
  and agency policies regarding confidentiality and privacy (e.g.  
  HIPAA  
  Federal Privacy Act  
  42 C.F.R  
  Part 2)  
  Complies with the procedures regarding disclosure of confidential information (e.g.  
  mandated reporting  
  duty to warm  
  client authorized releases of information)  
  Maintains the physical security of confidential information (electronic and hard copy)  
  Educates clients and families about confidentiality  
  privacy  
  and their limits  
  Assists clients with decisions and process to release confidential information  
  Maintains the confidences and privacy of clients and families  
  even when not required by law  
  regulation or policy  
  Protects client and family anonymity when providing information for statistical information and research  
  Assists in ensuring that other individuals providing services comply with the laws  
  regulations  
  and policy on confidentiality and privacy  
  Recognizes signs of personal stress  
  Uses self-care strategies to manage stress  
  maintain health  
  and prevent burnout  
  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT         Rating Stars (Click) 1 2 3 4
  Sets personal goals for professional development  
  Participates in employer sponsored training and other continuing education activities  
  Adopts best practices learned through continuing education  
  Participates routinely and constructively in supervision  
  Uses supervision  
  peer consultation  
  and selfevaluation to enhance self-awareness and improve professional performance  
  Uses formal evaluations to improve professional performance and the quality of services provided  
  Provides guidance and mentoring to others