Behavioral Health Specialist Supervisor

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Under the direction of the Behavioral Health Program Manager, the Behavioral Health Specialist Supervisor (BHSS) is responsible for operationalizing the Behavioral Health Collaborative Care Model across multiple IHA practices.  Main responsibilities include development and coordination of workforce, scaling the Behavioral Health Collaborative Care model across additional medical offices, and assuring adequate patient care within the Collaborative Care model. The BHSS supports clinical work as needed to support needs within the team. 

The BHSS supports the integration of the Behavioral Health Collaborative Care staff within the office team through training, coaching, process improvement and workflow redesign. This position assesses practice readiness for Collaborative Care, recommends and creates action-plans for program expansion and effects implementation of embedded behavioral health.

The Behavioral Health Specialist Supervisor (BHSS) has supervisory responsibility for multiple Behavioral Health Specialists. Responsibilities include assessing team competency, evaluating staff productivity, monitoring and evaluating the aggregate work of the behavioral health team and assuring core project deliverables are met.  This position trains, mentors, and supervises Behavioral Health Specialists and support teams.  The BHSS collaborates on the development of an infrastructure that assures successful results in patient mental health, integrates evidence-based clinical guidelines, and promotes quality and efficiency in the delivery of health care. This position assumes responsibility for clinical panels during Behavioral Health Specialist absences.    

This position supports IHA practices for all Behavioral Health Collaborative Care needs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Supervisory Responsibilities:

1. Supervises the work of assigned staff including the monitoring of staff competencies, hiring of new staff, orientation of new assignments, developing goals and objectives, conducting annual performance appraisal and the utilization of performance resolution process when needed.
2. Provides mentoring and acts as a preceptor for Behavioral Health Specialists.
3. Regularly assesses the clinical performance of Behavioral Health specialist staff via documentation audits, live service observations and other performance management tools. Monitors and maintains staff productivity and acts as a key resource to the Behavioral Health Specialist team to maximize resource utilization (staff and equipment). Provides reports necessary to monitor/track operational efficiency and effectiveness of operational processes. Tracks appropriate outcomes of Behavioral Health Specialists.
4. Under the direction of the Behavioral Health Program Manager, Behavioral Health Collaborative Care Medical Director, ensures quality outcomes and meets behavioral health collaborative care best practices.
5. Assists clinical management in the implementation of strategic and operational goals and plans.
6. Establishes and maintains relationships at the practice level where Behavioral Health Collaborative Care is implemented, acting as a liaison and representative for the program and BHS.
7. Supports and coordinates continued growth and expansion of Behavioral Health Collaborative Care, working directly with practice leadership, as needed.
8. Leads behavioral health team meetings and small group discussions, facilitates networking and sharing of case studies.
9. Contributes to ongoing Behavioral Health Specialist curriculum development with ongoing development of education, resources and tools.  Ensures all employees are oriented to their department and job and provided with appropriate training, development and continuing education.
10. Promotes teamwork and a positive working environment for staff.
11. Assesses appropriate caseload of Behavioral Health Specialists and adjusts, as appropriate.
12. Provides clinical supervision to limited license social workers on the Behavior Health Collaborative Care team.
13. Leads quality efforts related to Behavioral Health Collaborative Care work with the Electronic Medical Record, including developing and maintaining smart phrases and auditing workflow.
14. Contributes to the building of a financial model for behavioral care management.
15. Attends, participates in and presents at internal and external customer events.
16. Assumes additional responsibilities and performs work, as required.

Behavioral Health Specialist Responsibilities:

1. Supports and closely coordinates mental health care with the patient’s primary care provider and, when appropriate, other treating mental health providers.
2. Screens and assesses patients for common mental health and substance abuse disorders.
3. Provides patient education about common mental health and substance abuse disorders and available treatment options.
4. Monitors patients (in person, by telephone, or via secure video) for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications.
5. Supports psychotropic medication management prescribed by PCPs, focusing on treatment adherence, side effects and other complications, and effectiveness of treatment.
6. Provides brief interventions using evidence-based techniques such as Behavioral Activation, Problem-Solving Therapy, Distress Tolerance and Motivational Interviewing.
7. Provides or facilitates in-clinic or outside referrals to evidence-based psychosocial treatments (e.g., CBT, IPT), as clinically indicated.
8. Participates in regularly scheduled (usually weekly) caseload consultation with the psychiatric consultant and communicates resulting treatment recommendations to the patient’s PCP. Consultations will focus on patients new to treatment or who are not improving as expected.
9. Facilitates patient engagement and follow-up in care.
10. Tracks patient follow-up and clinical outcomes using a registry. Documents patient encounters in the registry and uses the system to identify and re-engage patients.
11. Documents patient progress and treatment recommendations in the registry so they can be easily shared with PCPs, the psychiatric consultant and other treating providers.
12. Facilitates treatment plan changes for patients who are not improving as expected in consultation with the PCP and the psychiatric consultant. These may include changes in medications or psychosocial treatments or appropriate referrals for additional services.
13. Facilitates referrals for clinically indicated services outside the primary care clinic (e.g., social services such as housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, mental health specialty care, substance abuse treatment).
14. Completes relapse prevention plan with patients who are in remission.

ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS:

1. Creates a positive, professional, service-oriented work environment for staff, patients and family members by supporting the mission and values of Trinity Health Medical Group.
2. Must be able to work effectively as a member of the Behavioral Health Collaborative Care team.
3. Assumes responsibility for performance of job duties in the safest possible manner, to assure personal safety and that of coworkers, and to report all preventable hazards and unsafe practices immediately to management.
4. Successfully completes all relevant organizational training and adheres to Trinity Health Medical Group standard of care as outlined in the Trinity Health Code of Conduct.
5. Maintains knowledge of and complies with Trinity Health Medical Group standards, policies and procedures.
6. Maintains general knowledge of Trinity Health Medical Group  office services and in the use of all relevant office equipment, computer and manual systems.
7. Maintains strict confidentiality in compliance with Trinity Health Medical Group  and HIPAA guidelines.
8. Serves as a role model by demonstrating exceptional ability and willingness to take on new and additional responsibilities.  Embraces new ideas and respects cultural differences.
9. Uses resources efficiently.
10. If applicable, responsible for ongoing professional development – maintains appropriate licensure/certification and continuing education credentials, participates in available learning opportunities.

MEASURED BY:

Performance that meets or exceeds IHA CARES Values expectation as outlined in IHA Performance Review document, relative to position.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION:  Master of Social Work

CREDENTIALS/LICENSURE:   Valid LMSW in the state of Michigan

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE:   5 years’ social work experience in related field, with 2 years’ experience related to integrated behavioral health in primary care.  Working knowledge of mental health disorders.  Experience with adult and/or pediatric patients in team-based care setting.  Experience as a participant in continuous quality improvement and previous supervisory/management experience preferred.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS (ABILITIES & SKILLS):

1. Demonstrated experience in talent acquisition, support of complex employee relations issues, performance management, employee communication and/or change management.
2. Ability to coordinate, direct and supervise the work of others.
3. Ability to mentor and train other Behavioral Health Specialists and team members.
4. Joins with leadership by providing feedback and guidance to staff and demonstrating effective conflict resolution that demonstrates respect, limits and flexibility.
5. Confidently effects change.
6. Ability to support and facilitate implementation of programming, including measures, milestones and benchmarks.
7. Knowledge of behavioral health collaborative care procedures and policies related to position responsibilities.
8. Competent in Motivational Interviewing.
9. Fluent in conflict resolution that demonstrates respect, limits and flexibility.
10. Knowledge of mental health conditions and evidence-based treatment in primary care.  
11. General understanding and ability to utilize community resources.
12. Autonomous work ethic. Possesses critical thinking skills and ability to analyze complex data sets. Ability to manage complex clinical issues utilizing assessment and triage skills and protocols. Ability to implement evidence-based interventions and protocols for behavioral health conditions.
13. Proficient/knowledgeable in medical terminology.
14. Proficient in operating a standard desktop and Windows-based computer system, including but not limited to, electronic medical records, email, e-learning, intranet, Microsoft Word and Excel, and computer navigation.  Ability to use other software as required while performing the essential functions of the job.
15. Excellent communication skills in both written and verbal forms, including proper phone etiquette.  Ability to speak before groups of people, either in-person or virtually, and display positive listening and relationship-building skills. Demonstrates ability to influence and negotiate individual and group decision-making.
16. Outstanding organizational and time management skills to effectively juggle multiple priorities and time constraints.
17. Ability to exercise sound judgement and exceptional problem-solving skills, specifically as it relates to resolving patient mental health concerns.
18. Ability to coordinate, plan, evaluate and integrate clinical education and professional development activities that foster and maintain care management best practices.
19. Ability to work effectively with various levels of organizational members and diverse populations including IHA staff, providers, patients, family members, insurance carriers, vendors, external customers and community groups.
20. Ability to handle patient and organizational information in a confidential manner.
21. Knowledge of the compliance aspects of clinical care and patient privacy and best practices in medical office operations.
22. Ability to travel to other office/practice sites and meeting and training locations.
23. Successful completion of IHA competency-based program within introductory and training period.

MINIMUM PHYSICAL EXPECTATIONS:

1. Physical activity that often requires keyboarding, phone work and charting.
2. Physical activity that often requires extensive time working on a computer.
3. Physical activity that may require walking, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, climbing, kneeling and/or twisting.       
4. Physical activity that may require lifting, pushing and/or pulling up to 20 pounds.
5. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, depth perception, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust and focus. 
6. Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, photocopier, telephone, calculator and other office equipment.
7. Must hear and speak well enough to conduct business over the telephone or face to face for long periods of time in English.

MINIMUM ENVIRONMENTAL EXPECTATIONS:

This job operates in a medical facility and requires regular walking to various locations around the hospital/clinic. Employees will be working where there is patient care equipment. Hazardous materials, including bloodborne pathogens and bodily fluids are also present. Exposure to sharps, x-rays, patients' conditions and some unpleasant sights, smells and contagious diseases is possible.  This position requires significant interaction with people (many of whom are scared, hurt and/or ill) which can be stressful and result in competing priorities.