Behavioral Health Counselor (School-Based)

A. Position Summary

This individual is principally responsible for intervening on behalf of children, adolescents, and adults of the Desert Sage Health Centers. (DSHC) patient mix, who have suffered neglect, physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse, or suffer from emotional disturbances or mental illness.

The Licensed Mental Health Provider is responsible for assessing, and if appropriate, treating and connecting these individuals in need of services to appropriate DSHC departments, programs, and/or to other agencies and sources around the community which could meet the individual needs of the identified client.

B. Supervision Received

Reports and works under the Behavioral Health Director

C. Primary Duties and Responsibilities

1. Conduct a psychosocial assessment of the client and determine if the client meets criteria for Behavioral Health services.

2. Responsible for learning and implementing the DSHC electronic medical records (EMR) system following heath center policies.

3. Diagnose client using DSM-VTR criteria, and if appropriate, psychometric tools and records.

4. Develop a treatment plan that identifies both short and long term need of the client.

5. Provide individual, couple, family, and group treatment services, when appropriate.

6. Develop and implement group counseling/interactive sessions, as appropriate.

7. Conduct crisis intervention and coordinate follow up care, including hospitalization referral, if needed.

8. Triage with nurse and providers in coordinating patient care.

9. Serve as a consultant to clinicians though Behavioral Health integration.

10. Advocate for the client or family in obtaining needed services from appropriate agencies.

11. Make appropriate client referral to community agencies. Coordinate the delivery of these services, assess client progress and evaluate outcomes, as appropriate.

12. Network with community service providers to help assure the availability of services.

13. Awareness/acceptance of cultural competency aspects and sensitivity.

14. Maintain appropriate records, execute proper forms, and protect client confidentiality.

15. Provides quality service by informing the client of rules, regulations, and legal requirements related to care and by documenting the client’s situation and own actions.

16. Responsible for following and implementing HIPAA, OSHA, and corporate compliance policies and procedures.

• 17. Attend and participate in inter-disciplinary team meetings
• 18. Employee knows DSHC’s 5 core values

D. Marginal Duties

1. Participate in coalitions, groups and organizations that are working toward goals that are beneficial to the rehabilitation of the mentally ill, when appropriate

2. Provide community education and consultation services to increase awareness of mental illness and to make clients aware of services available

• 3. Provide consultation/education or limited supervision to students, entry-level case managers, or volunteers
• 4. Other duties as assigned by supervisor

E. Performance Criteria

1. Complete required documentation in accordance with legal and Medicaid requirements and DSHC policy and procedures

2. All documentation indicates the client’s progress, services provided, attainment of client goals and discharge referral information

3. Records progress notes pertaining to individual and group counseling sessions in a legible, coherent and timely fashion, using the electronic health record (EHR) system following health center policies

4. Reports to work punctually during assigned working hours; when a problem necessitates absenteeism or tardiness, the supervisor is notified immediately

5. Complies with all DSHC policies and procedures as well as Federal and State legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation; enforcing adherence to requirements; informing management of needed actions

6. Adheres to a professional code of conduct and advocates for professional values

7. Complete 20 hours of ongoing training per year, or as required by state licensing board. (Including meeting participation and conferences.)

8. Familiarity/adoption of Meaningful Use (MU) criteria, completing accurate charting, data collection, orders/tracking/flowsheet/template documentation. Responsible for implementing PCMH Model of Care including Standard Elements/Factors.

G. Minimum Qualifications

• 1. Licensed to practice in the State of Idaho
• 2. LMSW (Licensed Master’s of Social Work)
• 3. LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor)

4. Previous preferred experience in individual assessments/interventions and family/group therapy.

H. Preferred Qualificiations

• 1. LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
• 2. LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor)
• 3. LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
• 4. Two or more years of previous direct client treatment
• 5. Previous experience with health care preferred
• 6. Bilingual preferred in English/Spanish at a high level of competency in each language
• Desert Sage Health Centers | Equal Opportunity Employer