Behavioral Health Specialist - Pediatrics

Community Health Center of Snohomish County offers competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package designed to address health, time off, retirement and career-advancement needs.  Benefits available include health insurance (medical/dental/vision), up to 120 hours of vacation time pro-rated by FTE every 12 months, paid sick leave, 10-paid holidays, 403(b) Safe Harbor retirement plan with employer match, disability and life insurance, and more! We also offer $0.75/hour for those who test proficiently in a second language.

Job Summary

The Behavioral Health Specialist in this position operates within the primary care clinics and will be serving children/youth, ages 18 and under. The Behavioral Health Specialist provides individual therapy to youth in coordination with family/caregivers and outside partners. The Behavioral Health Specialist provides clinically appropriate individual, family, and group therapy to established CHC patients, focusing on prevention as well as brief, solution focused interventions and other clinical modalities in accordance with the State of Washington Department of Licensing and their professional scope of practice. The Specialist makes recommendations relative to psychological intervention strategies and conducts follow-up consultations to help reinforce behavioral health interventions. Position may require travel between CHC clinical sites. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Reads, speaks, understands and writes proficiently in English.
• Works independently and is self-directed.
• Works effectively in a team environment.
• Organizes, prioritizes, and coordinates multiple activities and tasks.
• Works with initiative, energy and effectiveness in a fast-paced environment.
• Remains calm and effective in high pressure and emergency situations.
• Problem-solves with creativity and ingenuity.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Knowledge of DSM-5 criteria for various mental health conditions.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications; Word, Excel and Outlook.

Preferred:

• Bilingual skills.

Education

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, Behavioral Science, Social Work or related field.

Experience

• Not less than a 0.5 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) of patient care within field of training within the past year.
• CPT-4 coding experience.
• ICD-10 coding experience.
• Healthcare information systems, such as electronic health record and practice management systems experience.
• Experience in a multiple provider medical practice.
• Working with low income, multi-ethnic populations.

Preferred:

• Experience in a chemical dependency setting for at least one year.

Credentials

• Marriage and Family Therapist license (LMFT) with the state of Washington; or
• Mental Health Counselor license (LMHC) with the state of Washington
• Independent Clinical Social Worker license (LICSW) with the State of Washington and board certified by the American Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).
• Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (CPR/AED) certification - must be obtained within 45 days of employment.
• Successful completion of CHC’s credentialing and privileging review upon hire and re-credentialing as appropriate.

Preferred:

• Substance Use Disorder Professional Certification (SUDP) with the state of Washington.
• Meet criteria for a Child Mental Health Specialist (CMHS)
• Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Certification. (obtain within first 3 months)

Job Specific Functions/Performance

1. Provides support for patients, related to behavioral health issues. Makes recommendations relative to psychological intervention strategies and conducts follow-up consultations to reinforce behavioral health interventions
2. Performs assessment and triage of patients by conducting a brief screening visit, evaluating the level of functioning, determining the risk level, determining if referral to another agency is appropriate, and assisting with diagnosis through diagnostic interviewing and behavioral management.
3. Makes psychological intervention, psycho educational, care management, referral, and external consultation recommendations.
4. As a member of the care team, provides opportunities for increased access for patients.
5. Assists patient with compliance with planned interventions, maintaining patient stability/preventing relapses, assisting patient with difficult conditions, procedures or lifestyle changes, assisting in managing disability issues, and participating in conjoint consultation with PCP.
6. Conducts group classes to promote skill building or education, provides information on disease, proposed interventions, and coping with side effects, and addresses negative beliefs about interventions.
7. Serves as liaison to community specialty behavioral health providers by identifying beneficial community resources and making referrals, educating patients about external resources, and serving as liaison with those providers to assure effective communication
8. Administers mental health rating scales to patients as indicated. In collaboration with the medical care teams, uses the rating scales to assess patient progress with treatment, and determine the need for psychiatric consultation.
9. Provides support and assistance to patients with chemical dependency issues. Makes recommendations relative to chemical dependency strategies and referral needs and conducts follow-up consultations to reinforce behavioral health interventions.
10. Adheres to attendance standards in order to perform the job functions for daily operations and/or continuity of patient care.

CHC is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer (EEO/AA)/At-will employer.