Behavioral Health Clinician (Bilingual)

Behavioral Health Clinician

The Mission Neighborhood Health Center (MNHC) is a non-profit, multi-site community health organization offering comprehensive health services in the Mission and Excelsior Districts of San Francisco. The center offers primary health care services, adult medicine, pediatrics, family planning, OB/GYN, HIV and homeless services. We advocate for health equity and deliver innovative, high-quality services responsive to the neighborhoods and diverse communities we serve.

We are currently seeking qualified candidates for our Behavioral Health Clinician role. The position reports to the Director of Behavioral Health and Substance Use Counseling and is a regular, full-time, exempt role with a salary range of $85,937 to $124,536, depending on licensure and clinical experience, with full benefits.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

As a member of the primary care team at MNHC, the Behavioral Health Clinician (BHC) provides psychodynamic interventions, crisis intervention, grief/bereavement counseling, problem-solving, stress reduction & developing healthy coping strategies in individual/family/group settings. Assists clients with referrals to specialty services for clients needing more intensive mental health and substance use treatment. Under general direction of the Behavioral Health Director, the BHC delivers age-appropriate social work care to patients in accordance with agency policy and procedure and state and federal regulations. The BHC serves as an integral member of the healthcare team providing assessments, coordination, treatment planning, information and referral to community resources and other social services to meet the complex needs of patients.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS / RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work collaboratively with other disciplines and primary care teams (Prenatal, Teen, Pediatrics, Women's, and Adult) to provide comprehensive, holistic patient care across the lifespan, including Warm Hand Offs.
• Adhere to productivity standards in accordance with agency, FQHC, and grant requirements.
• Provide behavioral health services to patients diagnosed with mild to moderate mental health conditions, general psychosocial concerns, and substance use disorders.
• Engage patients in services, taking into account client-identified needs, mental health concerns, trauma, socioeconomic and cultural factors, family and immigration circumstances, and medical complexity.
• Provide crisis intervention and clinical assessment.
• Utilize evidence-based and solution-focused models of intervention, including mindfulness, CBT techniques, harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and health psychology, to provide therapeutic interventions and short-term counseling.
• In collaboration with MNHC care managers, address Social Determinants of Health impacting a patient's physical and mental well-being.
• Adapt treatment models and strategies to meet individual patient needs.
• Educate patients in strategies to address emotional dysregulation, traumatic responses, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and other manifestations of psychosocial stress.
• Support patients in addressing psychosocial and mental health factors affecting chronic diseases such as diabetes and chronic pain, and link patients to wellness supports and community resources, including family, educational, immigration, employment, and disability services.
• Serve as liaison to specialty services for patients with severe mental health and/or substance abuse treatment needs.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the medical record, including encounter forms and electronic logs, according to established protocols.
• Work closely with the MNHC Behavioral Health team on projects, meetings, initiatives, quality improvement, and group or individual consultation through case presentations.
• Facilitate behavioral health groups and/or mental health workshops for MNHC patients.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Teamwork: Promote team effort and use a team approach to problem-solving.
• Work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Understand and embrace the mission and strategic initiatives of the organization.
• Communication: Communicate effectively and collaborate with patients, staff, and partners.
• Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills.
• Customer Service: Strive to understand the needs of patients and clients.
• Treat everyone with dignity, respect, and appreciation for cultural differences.
• Honesty & Integrity: Adhere to NASW Code of Ethics and maintain the highest ethical standards.
• Earn trust, maintain confidences, and speak plainly and truthfully.
• Adaptability: Demonstrate flexibility and ease working in a fast-paced clinical setting.
• Maintain composure under pressure and handle complex problems with minimal supervision.
• Attention to Detail: Maintain the highest level of confidentiality when handling patient records and personal information.
• Collect, organize, and analyze information before making decisions.
• Time Management: Organize and establish priorities to complete work in a timely manner.
• Safety: Take immediate action to correct any unsafe situation.
• Follow proper procedures to ensure personal safety and that of team members.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's Degree in Psychology or Social Work from an accredited program or university.
• Active LMFT or LCSW license and registration with the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences.
• ASW or AMFT may be considered based on familiarity with integrated care models.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.
• Knowledge of health, mental health, and social issues impacting Latino and immigrant communities.
• Demonstrated expertise in patient eligibility, enrollment rules, procedures, and patient privacy and security standards (HIPAA).
• Proficiency with general office equipment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in a primary care setting

To learn more about our organization, please visit our website at We offer a full range of benefits which includes the following:

• Medical insurance with zero out-of-pocket expense under the base plan
• Dental and vision insurance at no cost to the employee
• Life insurance with a free basic policy and optional voluntary plan
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company contribution
• Three weeks of vacation annually
• 40 hours of paid educational leave
• 12 paid holidays, birthday holiday, two floating holidays, and 12 sick days per year
• Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care expenses
• Commuter benefits

As a condition of employment, all candidates are required to meet specific immunization standards. Documentation of current immunizations, including Varicella, TDAP, COVID-19, MMR, and Hepatitis B, as well as TB test results valid within the last two (2) years must be submitted before the start date. Failure to provide this documentation may result in a delayed start or withdrawal of the job offer. Mission Neighborhood Health Center is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment for our diverse workforce. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment for qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.