Sunshine Community Health Center
Job Description
Job Title: Behavioral Health Clinician
Department: Medical
Reports To: Medical Director
FLSA Status: Exempt
SUMMARY OF POSITION
The Behavioral Health Clinician at SCHC is considered part of the primary care treatment team. They assist in identifying, triaging and managing patients with medical and behavioral health problems within the primary care setting. In addition, the Behavioral Health Clinician will provide more comprehensive and long-term management of patients with complex BH needs.
The BHC will participate on an on-going basis, with a collaborative evaluation of patient’s needs (problem focused versus extended-complex) and also with our QA processes for ensuring appropriate patient screening and follow up on general depression and anxiety.
The BHC will provide skill training through psycho-education and patient education strategies and will develop specific behavioral change plans for patients and behavioral health protocols for target populations.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
●Formulates behavioral health interventions appropriate to a primary care setting and assists with implementation and monitoring of treatment plans.
●Assists primary health care providers in recognizing and treating mental disorders and psychosocial problems.
●Works as team with providers to coordinate care for patient.
●Assesses the clinical status of patients referred by primary care providers through brief consultative contacts.
●Works with primary care team to triage patients and provides referrals to specialty care behavioral health as appropriate (this may lead to “self-referral for more extended-complex treatment” as deemed appropriate.
●Assists in the detection of “at risk” patients and development of plans to prevent further psychological or physical deterioration.
●Assists in preventing relapse or morbidity in conditions that tend to recur over time.
●Teaches patients, families, and staff care, prevention, and treatment enhancement techniques.
●Provides targeted assessments and evaluations, including diagnostic impressions and the utilization of screening tools.
●Provides timely and succinct feedback regarding consultation findings and recommendations.
●Maintains familiarity with verbal de-escalation techniques and acts as resource to staff.
●Consistent attendance and punctuality is required and expected to work the hours set by SCHC and/or the schedule set by supervisor.
●Expected to complete required trainings such as CPR, Mental Health First Aid, Living Well Alaska, Motivational Interviewing and any others deemed necessary for this position.
TEAM DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
●Assumes an active role on the primary care team.
●Analyzes population data to identify high leverage interventions within patient panels.
●Assists in facilitating coordination of care.
●Assists in development and implementation of a plan of care to attain optimal patient function.
●Effectively utilizes electronic health record (EHR) to document patient activity and manage patient population.
●Works effectively and cooperatively with other members of Care Team.
●Participates in Care Team training and learning activities.
OTHER DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION
●Conducts groups in subjects related to physical and emotional health.
●Applies computer techniques to support EHR patient record entries.
●Serves as a member of site committees as requested.
●Attends and participates in meetings and activities as required.
●Understands and supports the concept of the Chronic Care Model, Meaningful Use, Patient Centered Care and an integrated model of BH care.
LEGAL CONCEPTS
●Maintains confidentiality.
●Follows federal, state and local legal guidelines.
●Follows license criteria.
●Maintains HIPAA compliance.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Received: Works under general direction of the Medical Director and closely with Panel Providers. Supervision is received through personal conference, general observation of work in progress, and periodic review by supervisor of completed work.
Exercised: None
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Education: Masters of Social Work from an accredited graduate school of social work or related field from a regionally accredited university.
License: Maintain a current, active license with the State of Alaska as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Experience: Must possess specialized experience which involves using psychological assessments, formulating diagnosis or treatment recommendations and providing counseling services to patients.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES
●Excellent working knowledge of behavioral medicine and evidence-based treatments for medical and mental health conditions.
●Ability to make quick and accurate clinical assessments of mental and behavioral conditions.
●High level of comfort in working with primary care medical providers using a consultative style.
●Ability to work through brief patient contacts, including via telephone and teleconferencing.
●Knowledge of psycho-pharmacology and community standards of care.
●Ability to design and implement clinical pathways and protocols for treatment of selected mental and behavioral conditions.
●Ability to design effective psycho-education curricula and lead effective psycho-education classes.
●Ability to train and teach effective behavioral health interventions and the primary behavioral health model to medical practitioners and other behavioral health providers.
●Ability to work effectively as a team, interfacing with patients, primary care providers, community psychiatric and mental health specialists, as well as with administrative and support staff.
●Ability to exercise balanced judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions, and to handle difficult or confrontational situations in a calm, consistent, and equitable manner.
●Ability to effectively represent SCHC’s interests in the community and maintain effective working relationship among co-workers, public, private, and professional groups.
●Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
●Knowledge of crisis intervention, brief and long term therapy processes.
●Knowledge of medical terms, abbreviations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis and demonstrates this knowledge verbally and in writing.
●Will be held to productivity standards set by the Medical Director.
●Expected to read and respond timely to emails through.
●Must be computer literate, proficient with Microsoft Office products, EHR and type a minimum of 45 words per minute.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to assess patients as well as to record, prepare and communicate in writing, in person and by phone. Occasional bending, stooping, lifting, and stretching. Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer, telephone, and medical equipment. An individual in this position may be exposed to communicable diseases and other diseases common to health settings, Bloodborne pathogens, and physical hazards (e.g. needle stick, etc.).
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Normal healthcare office setting. SCHC is a tobacco-free campus.
EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
SCHC is an Equal Opportunity institution and does not discriminate against any person in employment or in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs and benefits on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, ability to speak English, disability, sex, age, sexual orientation or marital status. Persons alleging unequal treatment should contact the Human Resources Manager at (907) 733-9236.
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