Behavioral Health Specialist
Under the general supervision of the Manager of Integrated Behavioral Health, the Behavioral Health Specialist provides and coordinates support, counseling, advocacy and referrals to community resource services to medical department patients.
Representative Duties:
- Provides direct case coordination services to medical patients
- Upon referral of patients, reviews medical and psychosocial history, assesses problems and refers patients as appropriate in a timely, courteous manner
- Provides case coordination services to medical department patients as indicated
- Provides information to patients about available community resources and assists patients to determine eligibility and obtain services by giving resource list and/or contacting services directly
- Provides on-going supportive maintenance to patients as appropriate and conducts outreach to encourage clients to utilize further needed services
2. Provides direct behavioral health services to primary care clients
- Provides psychosocial assessments, behavioral health and substance abuse diagnostic evaluations for medical patients
- Provides direct behavioral health treatment to medical patients with an emphasis on short-term, evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatment within the primary care setting
- Identifies high-risk psychosocial factors that impact health status; engages patients by phone and in person to monitor progress, build therapeutic alliance, provide education, encourage treatment adherence, mitigate risk factors, review goals and expectations of treatment in order to stabilize functioning
- Develops and provides group therapeutic interventions for medical patients
- Assumes essential role in coordination of care
- Supports achievement of quality measures as defined by Accountable Care Organizations
- Adheres to NASW Code of Ethics
3. Child/Adolescent Care (if applicable)
- Demonstrates an understanding of the developmental milestones of children/adolescents
- Demonstrates an understanding of development of gender identity and sexual orientation in children/adolescents
- Demonstrates an understanding of the needs of children/adolescents with mental health issues
- Demonstrates an understanding of the needs of children/adolescents with addiction issues
- Demonstrates an understanding of the child’s/adolescent’s role within a family system
- Demonstrates effective and age-appropriate clinical interventions with youth and families
4. Ensures access to care:
- Effectively manages caseload, including bringing new clients into BH care and ending episodes of care as appropriate
- Maintains required caseload and meets productivity expectations, according to department standards
- Maintains same-day or next day appointment availability to respond to urgent needs related to diversion or crisis work
5. Provides coverage for assigned open access paging days:
- Covers open access pager shifts in the morning, afternoon, and evening (2 to 3 per week)
- Responds to requests from medical staff for routine and crisis interventions and warm handoffs
- Handles periods of multiple, simultaneous requests for patient care
- Actively interacts with and solicits referrals from medical providers
- Participates in covering business hours behavioral health on call
6. Collaborates with other agencies and services:
- Develops and maintains resource listings appropriate for Fenway Health patients
- Works with Medicaid, Medicare, Welfare, Social Security, housing, educational, day care and other institutions to assist patients
- Consults with a variety of health center and community staff (Nutritionists, Home Health Aides, P.H. Nurse, and Medical staff) about specific clients and general approaches to patient treatment
7. Performs and Completes Administrative Tasks in a timely and efficient manner
- Writes case notes for each client interaction
- Completes treatment plans, treatment plan updates, session notes, assessments, and discharge summaries according to department standards and in accordance with Fenway policy
- Participates in staff and team meetings and conferences
- Participates in regularly scheduled supervision
8. Meets Agency Participatory Expectation
- Suggests and participates in continuing quality improvement efforts
- Adheres to all agency and departmental policies and procedures
- Participates in quality assessment and improvement activities as requested
- Adheres to the highest principles of patient and client confidentiality
- Adheres to established safety policies, procedures and precautions; identifies potential or actual unsafe situations in the environment and takes measures to rectify the situation
- Attends all required meetings, in-services and professional trainings
- Attends all regularly scheduled meetings, trainings, forums and pertinent FCH staff meetings
- Maintains professional competence necessary to perform job responsibilities; maintains and provides agency with records of continuing education activities
- Serves on agency committees and in professional organizations when requested
9. Performs related duties as required
We offer competitive salaries, and for those who qualify, an excellent benefits package; including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans, and a retirement plan with employer match. We also provide 12 paid holidays, paid vacation, and more.
LGBTQIA+ identified persons, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), and individuals from other historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Requirements
- Requires a Master's Degree in Social Work or related mental health field.
- LCSW required, LICSW preferred or equivalent independent licensure required
- Experience with CBT, short-term interventions and mental health and substance abuse assessment and evaluation
- Interest in or experience with LGBT and HIV issues
- Ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to be an effective team member
- Flexibility, adaptability, and ability to multitask required
- Experience working in an ethnically, culturally, and racially diverse environment preferred
- Ability to work harmoniously with diverse groups of individuals required
Physical Requirements:
Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodations:
- Sit at a computer station for extended periods of time
- Ability to keyboard for extended periods of time
- Ability to move around the medical care areas and see patients in non-traditional settings, such as an exam room
Supervisory Responsibility:
None