Behavioral Health Specialist- Primary Care

Responsibilities

• Assess patients for common mental health and substance use disorders using structured behavioral health assessment and monitoring tools
• Risk-stratify and refer patients to appropriate level of care, including collaborative care, specialty care, and crisis intervention
• Closely coordinate care with the patient’s medical provider and, when appropriate, other behavioral health providers
• Systematically track treatment response and monitor patients (in person or by telephone) for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications
• Support medical providers’ adherence to behavioral health evidence-based practice guidelines
• Provide recommendations for psychotropic medication management as reviewed by primary care provider or a consulting psychiatrist taking into account adherence monitoring, side effects, and effectiveness of treatment
• Provide brief behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, brief alcohol interventions, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing, or other treatments as appropriate
• Provide short-term cognitive behavioral therapy when deemed appropriate and necessary by primary medical team and consulting psychiatrist
• Facilitate in-clinic or outside referrals to evidence-based psychosocial treatments as clinically indicated
• Provide patient education about common mental health and substance abuse disorders and the available treatment options
• Encourage patient engagement, treatment adherence, and commitment to follow-up care
• Organize & maintain clinical case management information (protected health information) in an electronic database and track patient follow up and clinical outcomes
• Document patient progress and treatment recommendations in EHR and other required systems so as to be shared with medical providers, psychiatric consultant, and other treating providers
• Meet regulatory and compliance standards for documentation
• Facilitate treatment plan changes for patients who are not improving as expected in consultation with the medical provider and the psychiatric consultant and who may need more intensive or more specialized mental health care
• Facilitate referrals for clinically indicated services outside of the organization (e.g., social services such as housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, mental health specialty care, substance abuse treatment)
• Develop and complete relapse prevention self-management plan with patients who have achieved their treatment goals and are soon to be discharged from the caseload
• Review all cases in which care has lasted longer than 6 months for appropriate termination or referral to a higher level of care
• Participate in QI and other practice improvement initiatives
• Supervise social work students and other trainees in the conduct of evidence based therapies

Qualifications

• Current Pennsylvania LCSW, LSW, or LPC licensure required
• Candidates must be eligible to obtain New Jersey licensure
• Successful applicants are required to obtain New Jersey licensure within six (6) months of hire and maintain licensure in good standing thereafter
• Master of Arts or Science- Social Work, Psychology, Nursing or Counseling (Required)
• 2+ years clinical experience providing crisis and/or utilization management services (Required)
• 0-1 years behavioral health care industry experience; experience with assessment and treatment planning for common mental health and/or substance use disorders; experience with evidence-based counseling techniques (Preferred)