Lead Behavioral Health Clinician

About the role

Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is made up of a multidisciplinary team of Psychiatrists, Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Mental Health Professionals, Medical Assistants, and Administrative Staff. These professionals work together to provide a gold standard of care regarding effective treatment to support Memorial Hermann patients in an effort to connect the patient to the most appropriate level of care. Our goal is to increase access to behavioral health treatment services, promote better health outcomes for patients with chronic or urgent mental health treatment needs by utilizing empirically validated interventions, decrease unnecessary ER visits, and decrease incarcerations.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the day-to-day functioning of the BHS Case Management Team.
• Collaborate with Behavioral Health Services leadership, the hospital treatment team, patients & their families to maintain focus on safety and high levels of customer service.
• Serve as the liaison between the behavioral health team, courts, law enforcement and other community partners to ensure timely and accurate coordination of involuntary admissions and court-related requirements.
• Review Secure Report for hospital enrollments.
• Assign new referrals to Hospital Base Clinicians, Case Managers, and Providers.
• Track patients' progress through the transitions of care, both acute and ambulatory.
• Administer status updates to the team regularly.
• Advise/assist clinicians in the field, as needed.
• Maintain data within BHS.
• Demonstrate consistent professionalism and an ability to work effectively & efficiently in a fast-paced, stressful environment.
• Provide training and education as needed to the Behavioral Health team regarding process updates.
• Collaborate with BHS leadership, the hospital treatment team, patients & their families, and outside agencies/facilities, as indicated, to maintain focus on safety and high levels of customer service.
• Participate in patient care as dictated by volumes, including assisting in working on managing a small caseload, completing bedside counseling encounters, and/or performing BHS consults.
• Ability to apply theory into practice by identifying appropriate resources on assigned cases, working collaboratively with patients, families, multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies, and seek consultation/supervision from clinical leaders and providers on complex psychiatric and/or medical cases.
• Ensure safe care to patients, staff and visitors; adhere to all Memorial Hermann policies, procedures, and standards within budgetary specifications including time management, supply management, productivity and quality of service.
• Promote individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education and skills competency; support department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organization; serve as a resource to less experienced staff.
• Demonstrate commitment to caring for every member of our community by creating compassionate and personalized experiences. Model Memorial Hermann’s service standards of providing safe, caring, personalized and efficient experiences to patients and our workforce.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Masters Degree in Social Work and licensure as a clinician; or Master’s degree in counseling or related field
• Licenses/Certifications:
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • License Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor (LCSW-S)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S)
  • Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Six (6) years psychiatric/healthcare field experience preferred; internships considered.
• Ability to interpret internal and external business and clinical challenges and recommend best practices to improve Behavioral Health services throughput and processes.
• Demonstrates best practices in coordinating front-line clinical operations and provides guidance to clinicians.
• Strong oral/written communication and interpersonal skills to enhance & maintain positive relations with senior management, physicians, outside agencies/organizations, and staff across all disciplines.
• Autonomy in clinical practice and administrative duties.
• Knowledge of interviewing, assessment, organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Strong analytical and PC skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to connect the healthcare teams, patients, and families with necessary services, both inside and outside the MHHS network.
• Maintain clinician annual core competencies in:
  • HIPAA/Privacy
  • Cultural Competence
  • Information Security Awareness
  • Domestic Violence
  • Levels of Care
  • Medications
  • Substance Use
  • DSM
  • Suicide/Homicide Assessments
  • Psychiatric Emergencies