Integrated Behavioral Health Consultant

With the goal of access, quality, efficiencies, and patient satisfaction;  the Integrated Behavioral Health Consultant provides evidence based episodic services and clinical interventions that targets the emotional, cognitive, behavioral, situational, and contextual barriers to the patient’s physical health and wellness to a high volume of patients for a variety of emotional and psychiatric problems through an integrated and comprehensive team-based model.  As part of an integrated practice, they provide initial patient evaluations, triage assessments, crisis intervention management, brief individual counseling, skills training, care coordination, case management, resource management, advocacy, follow-up, and consultation to patients and providers on behavioral and mental health related issues. This position strives to remain accessible on a same day or next day basis as much as possible. They participate in interdisciplinary case conferences, work with primary care providers, and assist with program development. The collaborative, team-based approach of this position contributes to the mission of HFHC.

This position is full-time with a schedule of Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm. 

What You'll Do: 

Job Responsibilities & Duties

• Projects and carries out the goals of the clinic to provide high quality integrated care that is compassionate, culturally sensitive, equitable, and trauma-informed, to all patients and families who are eligible to receive services at HFHC.
• Collaborates with care team members to provide care to an average of 10-12 patients per 8-hour workday, addressing behavioral health needs for all walk-ins. Prioritizes and provides on-demand visits in addition to pre-scheduled follow up visits.
• Provides direct behavioral health and integrated services to individuals, families, groups and communities to all HFHC service areas via in person or telehealth approaches.  Maintains the role of a generalist and demonstrates ability to address the needs of all clinic patients from birth to death.
• Provides targeted assessment and evaluation, triage, brief intervention, referral, and acute crisis management.
• Conducts patient assessments. 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. Conducts SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) screenings requested by primary care providers to assist with identifying substance use and mental health needs, and providing education, support, and appropriate treatment recommendation. Uses brief assessments routinely (PHQ, GAD 7, ACES, AUDIT, etc.). Assists the primary care team with responding to positive screens (PHQ-9, GAD-7, AUDIT, etc.) through clinical assessment, intervention, and referral to specialty care when appropriate
• Conducts psychosocial evaluation, screenings, and triage assessments. Assists 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.
• Develops individualized treatment plans for patients based on psychosocial assessment that identifies: symptoms, areas of life affected by symptoms, medical necessity of treatment, patient centered goals and objectives, skills training, and other service needs.
• Discusses progress toward goals with client and works to meet client needs effectively and resolve individual barriers through patient follow up.
• Facilitates specialized counseling groups or classes within the scope of license and training.
• Adheres to the applicable ethical, therapeutic, and legal standards, which govern service delivery, as well as policies, procedures and laws, which apply to the organization as appropriate.
• Utilizes effective triaging and referral methods to refer patients to resources and specialty mental health care when appropriate
• Works closely and collaborates with other Behavioral Health and HFHC staff to provide the best possible care within scope of practice and services.  Consults with relevant care team members through education, support, and real-time consultation.
• Actively participates in the integrated care team setting by consulting and collaborating with all other service departments and staff including but not limited to Primary Care, Addiction Medicine, etc.
• Maintains good working relationship and communication with all staff, reflecting professionalism in all interactions.
• Maintains succinct, clinically appropriate, accurate. and timely clinical documentation in the EMR, ensuring encounter closures within 48 hours. Scans patient paperwork, obtains required signatures, and documents assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and other required data in compliance with organizational and legal standards. Properly codes and documents all patient encounters to meet UDS, CQM, and HEDIS requirements.
• Provides ongoing training for indirect support, and clinical expertise consultation to increase all team members’ effectiveness and base of knowledge.
• Maintains a clean, safe and unobstructed workplace.
• Attends All Staff meetings, Provider meetings, and other meetings as assigned; and is responsible for all information presented.
• Provides expertise on behavioral health for Hurtt Family Health Clinic staff through in-service training, consultations, and other more informal means.
• Collaborates with community resources and in-house services (e.g., medical, dental) to coordinate care for clients. Builds and maintains professional relationships for patient referrals, reflecting HFHC’s values. Develops and updates a comprehensive referral list and ensures referrals to community resources are provided. Maintains strong communication with related health, educational, and social service agencies.
• Assists in development of departmental policy, procedures, and quality improvement activities within the clinic as directed. May assist in the training of BH program staff.
• Assists with monitoring the quality of care being delivered and makes meaningful improvement to services, program, and processes and/or organizational effectiveness that creates new value for patients and employees.
• Participates in ensuring quality care delivery through enhancing patient experience, improving clinical experience, improving population health, and reducing costs.  Advocates for patients and follows-up with both patients and providers.

• Lead patient access and efficiency by modeling high effectiveness, training, and assisting other providers in maximizing time and access to care. This includes providing feedback to admin and provider mentorship.

• Ensures timely communication with HR and administrative staff to maintain credentialing and audit compliance requirements.
• Attends education programs and provides evidence of necessary education completion to upgrade skills and maintain licensing requirements.
• Complies with Hurtt policies and procedures and regulatory Federal, State and local rules and regulations including public health advisories and CMR reporting. Adheres to accreditation and compliance standards/guidelines and gets yearly culturally supportive training.
• Participates in all safety programs which may include assignments to an emergency response team for Disaster Preparedness.

• Participates in Peer review, Hurtt QI programs, and Continuous Quality Improvement, and in assuring quality patient care is maintained. 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 clinic’s quality assurance committee recommendations concerning integrative behavioral health care.
• Reports and responds to complaints regarding clinical care, resolving any complaint with expediency and in a professional manner in coordination with staff.
• Performs any and all such duties that are within the scope of this individual’s certifications that are requested by HFHC providers.
• Performs other job duties and/or special projects as requested by the Behavioral Health Director.

*Job duties & compensation vary based on licensure