Description

Job Summary: The Behavioral Health Provider is the primary interface for patients to access services such as peer/family counseling and support, screening, assessment, brief treatment, consultative services, education and engagement, linkages, outreach and advocacy. The role provides brief, short term, solution-focused assessment and interventions geared toward functional restoration rather than symptom elimination. As part of a multidisciplinary team, provides consultation to primary care providers and develops a clear treatment plan for the primary care team to manage. Provides behavioral health services and substance abuse screening to children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. This position will approach his/her task using a team based care approach that supports patients and their families in self-management, self –efficacy and behavior change. Working with interdisciplinary professionals and in collaboration with the team also provides orientation, consultation, and ongoing training to pertinent primary care staff as needed in order to strengthen the relationship between primary care and behavioral health services at MarillacHealth.

Essential Functions:

• Provide brief assessment and interventions with older adults, adults and children with behavioral health needs in primary care, using methods supported by evidence, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and behavioral activation.

• Provide patient and family education effectively and sensitively to encourage compliance with medical and behavioral regimes.

• Functional and strength-based assessment and diagnosis.

• Possess skill and expertise to discuss common psychotropic medications with a patient, including indications, effects and side effects and demonstrate the ability to appropriately recommend initiating medication to primary care physician.

• Administer screenings to individuals of all ages using standardized & validated measures of Mental Health and/or Substance Use Disorders (SUD).

Possess knowledge about adult and pediatric screening instruments for and consult with primary care team • Provide early interventions and referrals to specialty mental health services, including referral for more intensive psychological or psychiatric support services, if needed.

• Provide motivational Interviewing to develop behavioral strategies aimed at symptom reduction

• Provide Self-Care Plan development and skills training to facilitate disease self-management, improved coping, distress tolerance, stress reduction, and relaxation.

• Provide substance use/ abuse evaluation, identification of maladaptive coping strategies, and development of harm reduction strategies.

• Effectively utilize a brief consultation model to communicate with the primary care provider Provide consultation and training to other members of the primary care team in the area of mental health, and behavioral medicine. Enhance understanding of the patient, provide decision support for treatment planning and assist in the implementation and monitoring of biopsychosocial treatment plans.

• Consult with primary care providers to manage psychosocial aspects of chronic and acute diseases. Work with primary care team to treat and manage patients with chronic mental medical problems efficiently and effectively. Working as a primary care team member to develop specific clinical pathways or best practice programs for targeted patient groups Identify referral resources and facilitate referrals for further assessment and additional services as appropriate.

• Provide services appropriate to the age-specific needs of all patients in accordance with the principles of growth and development for infant, child, adolescent, adult and geriatric life cycles.

• Utilize an electronic medical record to document all patient/ caregiver interactions, as well as other electronic tracking tools and measures. Assist with the tracking and evaluation of programs.

• Be immediately available to staff during working hours to assist in crisis Intervention as well as a psychiatric emergency.

• Productivity - Productivity expectation of trained BHC is an average of 8 – 10 behavioral consultations per clinical day. • Professionalism - Participate in ongoing training and quality improvement activities,

• Education - Assist with educational opportunities for onsite healthcare providers to fully integrate and sustain motivational interviewing, brief counseling and SBIRT services.

• Other duties as assigned

Competencies: • Knowledge of Electronic Medical Record systems • Computer skills including: Microsoft Suite • Ability to work independently, organize tasks, problem-solve, make decisions, and handle multiple priorities

Qualifications

Required Education/Experience:

• Master’s degree in clinical social work and licensed in State of Colorado.

• Must hold current license such as; LCSW, LPC, or LMFT

Preferred Education/ Experience:

•Minimum experience 3 years. Previous experience working with adult population within ethnically and culturally diverse families.