Behavioral Health Support Specialist

About the role

We are seeking a Behavioral Health Support Specialist (BHSS) for our Birch Grove Health Center. Our care team works closely with embedded partners from other mental health and substance use treatment organizations.

Responsibilities

• Supports patient and team in identifying and advocating for referral to behavioral health-specific services (internal or external).
• Provides ongoing follow-up support in-person or by telephone to support patient-identified goals.
• Identifies when patients may need more intensive case management support and refers patients to community partners when indicated (i.e., MH intensive case management support).
• Screens and provides intervention for a variety of health screenings (i.e., PHQ, SBIRT, GAD, etc.).
• Provides coaching to patients with a variety of health conditions with a targeted focus on patients who have behavioral health needs.
• Refers patients with behavioral health needs to BHCs for assessment and intervention and follows care plans providing supportive interventions as identified by BHC team members.
• Screens and provides intervention to a person at risk for suicide, or domestic violence, creates safety plans, consults, and collaborates with BHCs and PCPs on interventions and referrals to appropriate services.
• Aids PCPs and BHCs in delivery of group visits. Responsible for collaborating on group facilitation and curriculum development for group visits.
• Utilizes motivational interviewing to assess patient readiness to change.
• Utilizes a trauma-informed care practice of engagement with patients; for example, asking a patient, “What’s happened to you?” rather than, “What’s wrong with you?”
• Ensures clear concise documentation in EPIC within scope of practice and in alignment with organizational policies.
• Participates in care team huddles, discipline-specific team meetings, and monthly case consultation meetings.

Requirements

Minimum: High School Diploma

Bilingual

Excellent interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills

Skills to intervene and promote reconciliation, compromise, and positive outcomes in difficult interactions.

Registers or is working towards a Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) certification within 3 years of employment and maintains certification while employed.

Prior to employment, Preferred: Two to three years of experience in the social services field Certification in health coaching, maternal and child health, alcohol and drug counseling, and/or other healthcare-related certification. Experience working with health-related issues, significant psychosocial needs, substance abuse, and history of trauma Bachelor’s degree in health education, health promotion, psychology, or social work. Basic knowledge of adult learning models Skilled at using electronic health records as applicable to area of work (EPIC, Wisdom)

Qualifications

Registered or working towards a Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) certification within 3 years of employment and maintains certification while employed.

Skills

• Health Coaching
• Mental Health Counseling
• Alcohol and Drug Counseling
• Maternal and Child Health
• Adult Learning Models
• Electronic Health Records (EPIC, Wisdom)

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Voluntary Accident, Short Term Disability, and Critical Illness Insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with Available Company Match
• Organization Paid Standard Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Wellness programs such as cooking, Zumba, Yoga, and meditation
• Personal and professional development workshops

Pay

Competitive pay

Schedule

Full time