JOB SUMMARY:
Under the general direction of the Behavioral Health Program Manager and the Director of Behavioral Healthcare, the Associate Behavioral Health Clinician is responsible for providing evidenced-based behavioral healthcare assessment and clinical services to patients at the El Dorado Community Health Center's (EDCHC) clinics for a variety of emotional and psychiatric problems. As part of an integrated behavioral health and primary care practice, they provide initial patient evaluations, triage assessments, crisis intervention management, brief individual and group counseling, skills training, care coordination, case management, resource management, advocacy, and follow-up. They participate in interdisciplinary case conferences, work with primary care providers, and assist with program development. Supervision provided to those requiring it for their licensure by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
-
Responsible for providing quality treatment services to the clients according to established policies and procedures as determined by professionally accepted standards identified by the Board of Behavioral Services (BBS).
-
Conduct psychosocial evaluations, screenings, and triage assessments. Provide assistance to patients in dealing with psychosocial factors which affect their health and well-being and detection of high-risk patients to provide care to prevent further psychological deterioration. Uses brief assessments routinely (PHQ, GAD 7, ACES,AUDIT, etc.)
Completes risk assessments of patients in crisis or with suicidal thoughts using evidence-based tools (such as Columbia Risk Assessment) to assist with safety and planning. -
Developing individualized treatment plans for patients based on a psychosocial assessment which identifies: symptoms, areas of life affected by symptoms, mental health diagnosis using DSM V, medical necessity of treatment, patient centered goals and objectives, skills training and other service needs.
-
Consult and collaborate with primary care and behavioral health providers, providingeducation, support, and real-time consultation to primary care providers.
-
Complete legible and legally defensible medical record entries in a timely manner on adaily basis using the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. Entries include patienttreatment plans, and progress notes, summarizing patient subjective, objective, assessment and treatment data that facilitate continuity of care between visits as well as required documentation needs for HRSA.
-
Participates in a comprehensive quality improvement process, which includes routine auditing of medical records to ensure quality clinical care, compliance with clinic protocols, and implementation of the Board’s quality assurance committee recommendations concerning integrative behavioral health care.
-
Provide and/or oversee referrals to community resources. Develop and maintain relationships and good communication with related health, educational and social services agencies.
-
Maintain the highest standards of professional practice, ethics, and patient confidentiality.
-
Other duties and/or special projects as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE OF:
-
Current evidence-based practices and techniques in psychotherapeutic treatment,including brief solution-focused treatment and trauma informed care.
-
Managing behavioral crises, conducting psychosocial assessments, developingcare plans and providing brief therapeutic treatment.
-
Principles and practices of an integrated behavioral health and primary care service delivery model and specialty services in a community health center that serves a culturally and socially diverse, low-income population with complex substance use, mental health and co-occurring medical conditions.
-
Federal, State and County laws or regulations, HIPAA, FQHC, HRSA requirements and professional licensing guidelines of ethics, privacy, confidentiality, and ability to treat applicable to providing behavioral health services; this includes Mandated Reporting, Duty to Warn, and Suicidal and Homicidal threats.
-
Community resources and patient eligibility criteria; experience planning, coordinating and following up on referrals.
-
Basic information about public and private health insurance and third-party reimbursement issues.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE WITH:
-
Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and providing consultations to medical providers
-
Effective oral and written communication
-
Efficient and effective use of the eCW EMR system
-
Exercising good judgment in clinical decision making and patient care
-
Use of a computer for word processing, data entry and e-mail
ABILITY TO:
-
Independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and
their family members of all ages •Provide counseling and psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, and families -
Provide consultation services to staff about psychosocial needs to patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment
-
Demonstrate effective time management to organize work, establish priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain flexibility in situations involving change or implementation of new procedures with positive disposition
-
Maintain quality control standards
-
Analyze and pay attention to detail
-
Interpret, adapt, and apply treatment protocols/guidelines and procedures
-
Understand patient needs as consumers of health care and focus service around those needs
-
Plan, organize, direct, manage, and coordinate the functions and services ofan assigned behavioral health patient
-
Develop rapport and work with people of all ages, cultural, spirituality, gender,sexual orientation, social, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds
-
Maintain professional behavior with all levels of colleagues, staff, patients and the public, including refraining from negative comments about peers and in medical records, resolving conflict with peers and staff in a private setting, and demonstrate courtesy and respect to all staff
-
Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted during the course of this job description
-
Work as a member of a team, in a consultative role with primary care providers
-
Support and contribute to efforts to maintain and improve client satisfaction in all aspects of health care delivery
-
Accept and be receptive to audit feedback and other types of clinical and peer review, able to accept changes as needed
-
Computer literacy, including ability to input information, retrieve patient information, manage scheduling, and locate information and resources in an electronic health record and on the Internet
-
Report any accident or incident to self, patient or other witnessed toappropriate staff on appropriate forms
-
Attend education programs and provide evidence of the necessary educationcompletion to upgrade skills and maintain licensing requirements
-
Attend and participate in monthly staff, provider and other meetings asrequired or requested
-
Facilitate the transition of high-risk/severe patients to higher levels of care
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Licensing Requirements:
-
Graduation from an accredited institution with a master’s degree program in social work, counseling, or marriage and family therapy
-
Current, valid, unsuspended California License as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW), an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC), or an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT)
-
One (1) year of experience in mental health services, which can include college field/intern placement
-
Current CPR/BLS certification
-
Bilingual in Spanish/English is highly desirable
Physical Requirements:
Function in a normal health center/interior office environment. See, hear, talk, walk or move about; sit and/or stand, remain alert and engaged for long periods of time; reach, stoop, bend, lift up to 50 lb.; repetitive hand movement; use and view a computer; calculator; fax, copier and telephone; read and write English.
