Behavioral Health Consultant - Willow Community Health Center

Under the supervision Medical Director, or the Medical Director’s designee, this position is a provider of behavioral health services both independently and as a part of a multidisciplinary team. Assesses social and emotional needs of health center patients at various clinics to identify risk areas related to various health conditions, pregnancy, parenting, families in crisis and adolescents and adults with psycho-social needs. Provides direct counseling services to patients. Promotes healthcare integration through utilizing primary care behavioral health.

1. Delivers behavioral/mental health care to patients of all ages.
2. Assesses, diagnoses, treats, manages, evaluates and monitors acute and chronic mental illnesses.
3. Assesses patients’ behavioral health needs, primarily in the context of a Primary Care setting to support patients’ overall physical and emotional health.
4. Administers and interprets a variety of developmentally-based screening tools.
5. Provides counseling services and psychosocial assessments to individuals utilizing evidence-based therapeutic interventions and psychotherapy modalities.
6. Assists patient/families in coping with medical and psychosocial illnesses, diagnoses, treatment options and prognosis.
7. Individual, couples, and/or family treatment with patients, including:
   1. Functional and strength-based assessment and diagnosis.
   2. Motivational Interviewing to engage patient in services aimed at symptom reduction.
   3. Psychoeducation for patients and their support systems.
   4. Brief behavioral or psychotherapeutic intervention aimed to address specific, focused problems and promote self-efficacy.
   5. Self-Care Plan development and skills training to facilitate disease self-management, improved coping, distress tolerance, stress reduction, and relaxation.
   6. Medication adherence counseling and disease self-management counseling.
   7. HIV transmission risk reduction planning and counseling.
   8. Crisis intervention on behalf of patients with immediate availability when requested by medical providers, case managers or patients.
   9. Substance use/abuse evaluation, identification of maladaptive coping strategies, and development of harm reduction strategies.
8. Provides crises intervention to patients as required.  Assesses the type and nature of the emergency and triages as necessary.
9. Develops, generates and updates, in conjunction with the patient/health care team, individualized treatment plans that include the patient’s strengths, needs and has measurable goals and objectives.
10. Monitors the implementation of treatment plans, provides follow-up and assessment of services in relation to goals and objectives of the treatment plan.
11. Collaborates with primary care practitioners/medical providers to enhance understanding of the patient, provide decision support for treatment planning, and assist in the implementation and monitoring of biopsychosocial treatment plans.
12. Attends and participates in all staff meetings, team huddles, and/or interdisciplinary team meetings, as required.
13. Referral of patients to psychiatric, psychotherapeutic, or substance abuse treatment services for longer term care when indicated by diagnostic impression of patient.
14. Responsible for succinct case documentation utilizing the electronic health record system. Maintains clinical documentation related to patient treatment and intervention in accordance with Ingham County Health Department requirements, accreditation standards and third party billing standards in a timely manner.
15. Maintains productivity standards that are directed by management.
16. Responsible for knowledge about patient recipient rights and procedures governing them.
17. Observes all rules of confidentiality as it relates to patient information, both internally and in dealing with outside individuals and/or agencies.
18. May lend professional expertise in quarterly peer reviews, peer training and small group in-servicing.
19. Adheres to the expectations of participation in continuing education to maintain and increase professional competence which may include unit seminars or theoretical issues, in-service training programs, or conferences that are relevant to the clinical work.
20. Participates in clinical supervision related to the effective treatment of patients.
21. May participate as a Field Supervisor and preceptor for Social Work students.

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Must adhere to departmental standards in regard to HIPAA and other privacy issues.
• During a public health emergency, the employee may be required to perform duties similar to, but not limited, to those in his/her job description.

Education: Possession of a Master’s Degree in Social Work, or a Master’s in related Human Services field with eligibility for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Experience: One year of professional experience.

Other Requirements: LMSW, LLMSW or LPC. For LLMSW full licensure required within two years of employment. Must complete Basic Life Support certification. 

Working Conditions:

• This position works in an indoor environment. There is no planned exposure to prominent lights, noises, odors, temperatures or weather conditions.
• This position is exposed to individuals in crisis. These individuals may suffer from mental or emotional illness, have violent tendencies or be unconcerned with their personal safety and hygiene.
• This position is required to travel for meetings and appointments.

• This position requires the ability to handle varying and often high levels of stress.
• This position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, traverse, climb, balance, twist, bend, stoop/crouch, squat, kneel, crawl, lift, carry, push, pull, reach, grasp, handle, pinch, type, endure repetitive movements of the wrists, hands or fingers.
• This position’s physical requirements require periodic stamina in balancing, twisting, bending, stooping/crouching, squatting, kneeling, crawling, lifting handling, and pinching,
• This position’s physical requirements require regular stamina in standing, traversing, climbing, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching, and grasping.
• This position’s physical requirements require continuous stamina in sitting, walking, typing and enduring repetitive movements of the wrists, hands or fingers.
• This position performs sedentary work requiring a negligible amount of effort in the physical requirements above.
• This position primarily requires close visual acuity to perform tasks within arm’s reach such as: viewing a computer screen, using measurement devices, inspecting and assembling parts, etc.
• This position requires the ability to communicate and respond to inquiries both in person and over the phone.
• This position requires the ability to operate a PC/laptop and to enter & retrieve information from a computer.