Integrated Behavioral Health Consultant

Description

With the goal of access, quality, efficiency, and patient satisfaction, the Integrated Behavioral Health Consultant provides evidence-based episodic services and clinical interventions that address emotional, cognitive, behavioral, situational, and contextual barriers to physical health and wellness. The position serves a high volume of patients with a variety of emotional and psychiatric concerns through an integrated, comprehensive, team-based model. As part of an integrated practice, responsibilities include initial patient evaluations, triage assessments, crisis intervention and management, brief individual counseling, skills training, care coordination, case management, resource management, advocacy, follow-up, and consultation with patients and providers regarding behavioral and mental health concerns. This position strives to remain accessible to patients on a same-day or next-day basis whenever possible. The position participates in interdisciplinary case conferences, collaborates with primary care providers, and assists with program development. This collaborative, team-based approach supports the mission of HFHC.

This position is full-time with a schedule of Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm.

The best candidate for this position:

• is licensed in California as ASCW, AMFT, or APCC or LSCW, LMFT, or LPCC
• has at least 2 years of clinical work experience and preferably some experience in medical social work
• has a current CPR/BCLS certification
• has work experience with multicultural environments serving diverse groups of men, women, and children. Work experience with communities in need is preferred, but not required
• has comprehensive knowledge of community resources and public and private benefits programs, including familiarity with funding sources such as Medi-Cal and Medicare.
• has knowledge and experience navigating the healthcare continuum, mobilizing community resources, and working with diverse and disparate populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness and those who are uninsured.
• has knowledge of psychosocial factors affecting the delivery of health services to unhoused patients and the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions commonly experienced by these populations

What You'll Do:

Job Responsibilities & Duties

• Provides high quality integrated behavioral health care that is compassionate, culturally sensitive, equitable, and trauma informed to all individuals, families, groups, and communities eligible to receive services at HFHC. Carries out the goals of the clinic and maintains a generalist role, demonstrating the ability to address behavioral health needs across the lifespan, from birth through death, and across all HFHC service areas through in-person and telehealth approaches.
• Provides timely, accessible, and efficient behavioral health services in collaboration with the care team that includes evaluation, brief intervention, referral, and acute crisis management. Prioritizes and provides on-demand visits in addition to pre-scheduled visits. Leads patient access and efficiency by modeling high effectiveness and assisting other providers in maximizing time and access to care, including providing feedback to management.
• Leads patient access and efficiency by modeling high effectiveness, training, and assisting other providers in maximizing time and access to care. This includes providing feedback to admin and provider mentorship.
• Conducts comprehensive and brief behavioral health assessments, screenings, psychosocial evaluations, and triage assessments. Routinely utilizes evidence-based screening and assessment tools, including PHQ-9, GAD-7, ACES, AUDIT, SBIRT, and other appropriate tools. Conducts risk assessments for patients in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts using evidence-based tools, such as the Columbia Risk Assessment, to support safety planning and appropriate intervention.
• Responds to positive behavioral health screenings in collaboration with the primary care team through clinical assessment, intervention, education, support, and referral to specialty care when appropriate.
• Identifies and addresses psychosocial factors that affect health and well-being, including identifying high-risk patients and providing appropriate intervention and support to prevent further psychological deterioration. Utilizes past clinical experience and strong diagnostic skills to appropriately assess and triage complicated mental health and substance use conditions.
• Develops individualized, patient-centered treatment plans based on psychosocial assessment and clinical need. Treatment plans identify symptoms, areas of life affected by symptoms, mental health diagnosis using the DSM, medical necessity, patient-centered goals and objectives, skills training, and other identified service needs.
• Provides brief, evidence-based behavioral health interventions appropriate to the fast-paced primary care environment. Utilizes therapeutic modalities within scope of practice, including behavioral and cognitive approaches, value-based interventions such as ACT/FACT, motivational interviewing, and other appropriate interventions.
• Provides ongoing patient follow-up to assess progress toward goals, meet patient needs, address and resolve individual barriers, and advocate for patients. Follows up with both patients and providers as appropriate.
• Facilitates specialized counseling groups and classes within the scope of licensure, certification, and training.
• Uses effective triage, referral, and care coordination methods to connect patients with appropriate internal services, specialty mental health care, and community resources. Collaborates with community resources and in-house services, including medical and dental departments, to coordinate care. Builds and maintains professional relationships with health, educational, social service, and other community agencies to support patient referrals and care. Develops and maintains a comprehensive and current referral resource list.
• Actively participates as an integrated care team member by consulting and collaborating with Behavioral Health, Primary Care, Addiction Medicine, Dental, and other HFHC departments and staff. Provides education, support, and real-time clinical consultation to support effective patient care.
• Provides behavioral health expertise throughout HFHC through in-service training, ongoing education, consultation, mentorship, and informal clinical support to increase team members’ effectiveness and knowledge base

Requirements

What You'll Bring:

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree (MA) 
• Experience: 1-2 years of clinical experience post Master’s degree with some experience in a medical setting.
• Job Related Certifications / Licensing: Master’s degree in Social Work or Counseling, current NPI number (or obtain NPI prior to employment), and Current California registration or license (Social Worker, Professional Clinical Counselor, or Marriage and Family Therapy)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or community health setting (preferred).
• Relevant hospital or medical setting experience (preferred).
• Current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification for infants and adults, obtained within 30 days of hire.
• Comprehensive knowledge of community resources and public and private benefits programs, including familiarity with funding sources such as Medi-Cal and Medicare.
• Knowledge and experience navigating the healthcare continuum, mobilizing community resources, and working with diverse and disparate populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness and those who are uninsured.
• Knowledge of psychosocial factors affecting the delivery of health services to unhoused patients and the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions commonly experienced by these populations.