Associate Behavioral Health Specialist

The Associate Behavioral Health Specialist will work under the direct supervision and training of the Behavioral Health Director.

The Associate Behavioral Health Specialist provides behavioral health services, including conducting complete brief and focused assessments utilizing the biopsychosocial approach, using evidence-based brief therapy, being flexible, and practicing in a fast-paced clinic environment.

The Associate Behavioral Health Specialist work alongside the health center's medical teams to provide comprehensive whole-person care.

They will offer same-day mental health consults, psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, psychotherapy, alcohol, and drug screening using the SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment), education/support groups, and resource information.

The Associate Behavioral Health Specialist is the bridge between Camino Health Center, the community, and other local agencies that provide this population's services.

Camino will also provide the Associate Behavioral Health Specialist direct weekly clinical supervision towards your LCSW licensure requirements and there are loan reimbursement opportunities available.

Ensure that the core values of Camino Health Center – dignity, excellence, service and justice are carried out within daily tasks.

Essential Values-Based Competencies: Demonstrates values-based competencies in line with the four core values that are the foundation of all activities performed by employees in order to achieve the mission of the Camino Health Center.

• 1. Dignity: Demonstrates competence in communication and interpersonal relations
• 2. Excellence: Demonstrates competence in continuous improvement, continuous learning, and teamwork/collaboration
• 3. Service: Demonstrates competence in customer/patient focus, adaptability, and shaping change
• 4. Justice: Demonstrates competence in community orientation, stewardship, and strategic planning and action

Job Responsibilities

1. Provide high-quality, patient-centered and values-based primary behavioral health services.

2. Uses-strengths-based, wellness, resilience, and recovery models in conceptualizing the behavioral and care.

3. Effectively use huddles, and integration work to meet treatment and preventative care measures.

4. Provide psycho-education to patients regarding their mental health and/or substance use disorders.

5. Advocate for, teach, and support illness and whole health self-management and recovery approaches to health conditions.

6. Provides timely and clinically indicated referrals to community providers for patients who are experiencing severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorders.

7. Appropriate and complete referrals to specialty mental health care and SUD as needed.

8. Collaborate with medical, dental, psychiatry, optometry and other health care team members as appropriate for integration, consultation, and referral and follow-up.

9. Assist Medical Director, and Behavioral Health Director in program development, implementation and evaluation as necessary.

10. Active participation in the health center’s quality assurance and peer-review programs.

11. Cooperate in investigations, patient grievances and requests from payers.

12. Participates in all aspects of the Behavioral Health Integration services at Camino Health Center; huddles, warm hand offs, provision of resources to patients and staff, and treatment planning.

13. Comply with California mandated reporting under the Welfare and Institutions Code sections 15610.15610.70.

14. Provide patient care services in the spirit of the health center’s core values. Convey empathic behavior and communication with patients and encourage all members of the care team to do so as well.

15. Deliver services to the patients’ satisfaction as measured by the Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey.

16. Lead team in efforts to increase patient satisfaction survey completion rate.

17. Collaborate with the behavioral Health director and medical management team to investigate, respond and improve processes related to patient grievances received from payers, social media, and comment boxes/We Care emails.

18. Collaborate with the medical management team and BH Director to improve workflows, cycle times and the overall patient experience.

19. Respond immediately, if at all possible, to requests for consultation or intervention from other providers.

20. Provide primary behavioral health care services in accordance with health center policies, NASW professional standards and board approved privileging.

21. Provide coverage to the health center’s evening and weekend schedules.

22. Provide leadership in problem solving to see late arriving patients, difficult patient calls, and patients with high risk acuity needs.

23. Collaborate with the BH case manager and care team to maximize patient same day BH access.

24. Work under the supervision of licensed clinical social workers in the assessment and treatment of patients as necessary. If appropriate, assume responsibility for the clinical situation.

25. Assume a leadership role with the care team. Promote positive interactions within the team and engages members to achieve quality, patient experience and access goals.

26. Active participation in department and clinic-wide meetings/trainings.

27. Attend in-services and conferences to continue professional growth and development.

28. Complete clear and defensible documentation of patient visits and/or telephone encounters.

29. Appropriate and accurate code encounters.

30. Take reasonable steps to ensure that documentation in EHR is accurate and reflects the services provided.

31. Close encounters in accordance with health center protocols.

Additional Responsibilities

1. List infrequently performed and non-essential tasks.

2. Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities: List the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential functions of this position.

• 1. Work collaboratively with people of all ages, social, and ethnic backgrounds
• 2. Work independently and as part of a team
• 3. Excellent time management skills with the ability to simultaneously manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• 4. Able to work in a fast paced environment
• 5. Excellent oral and written communication; basic math skills
• 6. Proficient in using computer and office equipment
• 7. Ability to convey a sense of confidence and trust to all patients
• 8. Ability to relate well to other health professionals and support staff
• 9. Ability to carry out administrative and patient support services and consultative responsibilities
• 10. Ability to maintain patient confidentiality

Age-Related Competencies: List the knowledge, skills and abilities required to provide age-specific care.

Demonstrates the ability to meet the age related needs of the specific population served

Information Management

Treats all information and data within the scope of the position with appropriate confidentiality and security

Risk Management

Cooperates fully in all risk management activities and investigations

Safety Requirements

Knowledge of, observes, and complies with clinic safety policies and emergency procedures

Additional Requirements

1. Able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends

2. Able to work at various health center locations and outreach sites

Minimum Position Qualifications: List the minimum qualifications required for this position.

Education: Master’s degree in Social Work from a program accredited by the Council of Social Work Education, CSWE’s Commission’ on Accreditation

Experience / Training:: 1-2 years of experience providing direct behavioral health services to patient of all ages; ability to work through brief patient contacts as well as to make quick and accurate clinical assessments of mental and behavioral conditions; should be comfortable with the pace of primary care, working with an interdisciplinary team, and have strong communication skills

License / Certification: Valid Associate Social Worker (ASW) license issued by the California Board of Behavioral Health Sciences is required. It must be maintained to continue recording experience hours until licensed as an LCSW—current BLS certification.