Behavioral Health Specialist

Summary

The Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) will primarily provide clinical care in the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model within a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) for individuals facing homelessness. The PCBH model utilizes brief (15- to 30-minute) visits for a wide variety of behavioral issues that present in primary care. Visits are consultative in nature, working with the primary care providers (PCP) to develop and implement treatment plans using evidence-based strategies. In addition, this position will include a portion of the time providing direct clinical services within Permanent Supportive Housing programs. The chosen candidate will provide individual or group psychotherapies, including evidence-base psychotherapy modalities a range of presenting concerns (e.g., CBT, MI). The BHC is accountable to the Director of Behavioral Health.

The ideal candidate is familiar with empirically-supported protocol for substance use (e.g., CBT, MI), demonstrates characteristics for working within a multi-disciplinary team environment, demonstrates strong interpersonal and negotiating skills, demonstrates strong analytical skills, strong verbal and written skills, manages time effectively, handles multiple assignments simultaneously, and prioritizes projects.  Also demonstrates professionalism in appearance and actions, supports the agency's Mission and Standards of Excellence, assumes responsibility for own actions, behavior, quality of work, and productivity.  

Job Duties

• Carries out the mission of HHH and ensures the quality of services through interaction with patients.
• Provides support services to patients with physical health, mental health and/or substance abuse diagnoses. 
• Performs assessments of patient needs and, with patient and primary care clinician, develops a negotiated care plan. 
• Provides consultant services to clinical staff based on Primary Care Behavioral Health Consultation model. 
• Evaluates and/or revises care plan as indicated with appropriate documentation in progress notes and communicates this to relevant multi-disciplinary team members.
• Provides evidence-based treatments for individuals with a range of presenting concerns.
• Builds and maintains a therapeutic relationship with patients through engagement and negotiated goal setting.
• Maintains clinical documentation.
• Maintains organization and patient confidentiality.
• Advocates with community service providers to facilitate access of patients to needed services. 
• Performs other duties as deemed necessary by supervisors. 
• Conducts group classes and group visits to promote skill building, education and improved health for the patient as needed.
• Attends and participates in meetings and Quality Improvement activities as required.
• Participates in evaluation of peers, support staff and supervisor as required. 
• Sustains productivity expectations established by supervisor. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• No experience required.
• Licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker ( LMSW), Licensed Professional Counselor- Intern (LPC – I), Licensed Professional Counselor Associate-Intern (LPA-I), Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist ( LMFT), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

Preferred Qualifications

• Practice experience in the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model.
• Experience and/or interest in working with homeless and/or medically underserved populations.
• Experience working with adults and children providing therapy.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office and Excel, spreadsheets, and computer data-base systems.