Behavioral Health Clinician HIV-LCSW/LMFT

Job Description

Job Description

Join our team and receive a one-time $7,500 bonus  after one year of service—exclusively for full-time, on-site employees who meet performance expectations and receive successful evaluations. Plus, enjoy access to our generous loan repayment program!  Apply today to learn more!

Position Purpose:

This position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by providing high-quality behavioral health services to underserved individuals living with HIV. This Licensed position (LCSW or LMFT) will conduct assessments, provide crisis intervention, and deliver short- and long-term counseling services to support positive health outcomes and comprehensive patient care. Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and HIV-focused programs, including AOM, D2C, PSS, MCC, and Testing, the selected candidate will  play an integral role in advancing patient-centered services and addressing the behavioral health needs of our community. This position is based on-site at our Vermont Clinic and includes Saturday coverage, with limited tele-health services provided as appropriate. The position includes adherence to all JWCH and BBS standards, contribute to patient satisfaction and program goals, and may provide clinical supervision to ASW's pursuing licensure, if eligible under BBS requirements.

Principal Responsibilities:

1. Conducts bio-psychosocial assessments to identify non-medical needs (i.e., social, emotional, or economic factors) that may interfere with regular HIV medical care utilization, including medical co-morbidities, sexual risk behaviors, non-compliance, substance use history, mental health status, housing instability, transportation barriers, and related factors.
2. Work with an HIV multidisciplinary team to ensure that the patient’s clinical treatment goals and behavioral health needs are met by attending case conferences, chronic disease management meetings, staff consultations, and individual meetings with staff to ensure quality of care.
3. Conducts functional and strengths-based assessments along with comprehensive diagnosis for mental health, substance use, trauma, and psychosocial needs.
4. Delivers patient education, counseling, and other brief interventions to improve HIV knowledge and reduce patient risk for transmitting HIV and/or acquiring other sexually transmitted infections.
5. Develops care plans that are coordinated and integrated with a comprehensive range of medical and psychosocial services to address social, emotional, and practical needs.
6. Provides in-person and, on occasion, remote (via HIPAA-compliant software) psychotherapy, counseling, and psychoeducation specific to HIV, utilizing individual, family, and group modalities. 
7. Uses evidence-based interventions for patients and their significant others that include social, emotional, and practical life skills to support coping, distress tolerance, stress reduction, mindfulness, relaxation, and access to necessary resources, with the goal of improved functioning and positive health outcomes.
8. Utilizes both short-term and intensive longer-term interventions, as approved by funding sources, targeting trauma, mental health symptoms, improved psychosocial functioning, and reduction of substance use.
9. Interventions are client-centered, strengths-based, and developed through a comprehensive treatment plan based on a thorough bio-psychosocial assessment.
10. Consults with primary care providers to enhance understanding of the patient, support treatment approaches that integrate behavioral health needs, and assist with implementation of bio-psychosocial treatment and care plans.
11. Works with ECM Case Management staff to coordinate care, provide referrals, facilitate service coordination, and reduce barriers to care.
12. Attends weekly case conferences to assist in problem-solving related to patients and to ensure high-quality clinical guidance and care coordination.
13. Participates in community meetings pertaining to the needs of JWCH patients.
14. Participates in Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings held weekly in the clinics.
15. Provides after-hours emergency psychiatric support, as assigned.
16. Provides phone consultation as needed.
17. Completes all charting as required by JWCH, including assessments, progress notes, care plans, and billing documentation. Encounters must be closed by the end of each shift without exception. If supervising ASWs, those encounters must be closed within five (5) days from the date of service.
18. Assists with provider education related to integrated behavioral and primary care services, with particular emphasis on HIV care.
19. Participates in behavioral health quality assurance and improvement activities to maintain and strengthen standards of care, in accordance with the organization’s CQI Plan.
20. If supervising ASWs, complies with all BBS requirements and ensures ASW encounters are closed in a timely manner.

21. Maintains a full patient panel and an average of 7.0 encounters per 8-hour shift after six months of employment. Most clinicians will need to schedule 10–12 patients per day to achieve 7.0–8.0 encounters per day due to no-show rates.

22. Adhere to all organizational safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements to ensure a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors. 

23. Participate in required safety and compliance trainings and apply learned practices in daily work activities. 

24. Identify, report, and help mitigate unsafe conditions, incidents, or hazards in the workplace.

25. Use equipment, tools, and supplies safely and responsibly in accordance with organizational and regulatory standards.

26. Maintain awareness of infection control, occupational health, and emergency preparedness procedures appropriate to the role.

27. Participate in JWCH’s customer service training called AIDET on an annual basis

a. Demonstrate an understanding of AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, and Thank You) to apply in patient encounters or team discussions

b. Utilize the AIDET communication framework to communicate with patients and team members in a manner that reduces patient anxiety, increases patient compliance, and improves clinical outcomes.

28. Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

1. Master’s degree in social work, social welfare, psychology from an accredited college or university. 
2. LCSW/LMFT with current California BBS license.
3. Have a minimum of two (2) years of experience working with HIV-positive patients or equivalent experience.
4. Have a working history or educational background, that includes knowledge of STDs, HIV,Hepatitisand/or Tuberculosis within the last five (5) years.
5. Knowledge of substance abuse and mental health issues and treatment, and related sexual risks.
6. Strong desire and documented experience working with low-income underserved patients in particular HIV.  
7. Experience /knowledge in human, social, and/or behavioral health services, especially low-income underserved individuals. 
8. Demonstrated understanding of the impact of trauma informed care, person centered care and behavioral and medical conditions impacting this population
9. Knowledge of evidence-based treatments (DBT, CBT, Seeking Safety, Motivational Interviewing)
10. Knowledge of principles, procedures,methods and techniques of mental health emergency procedures such as 5150, CPS reporting, APS reporting, and Tarasoff reporting.  
11. Experience working with substance abuse disorders, preferred
12. Evidence of valid California Driver’s License and current Auto Insurance. 
13. Must be proficient in EMR’s and able to use NextGen proficiently.
14. Experience working in a medical setting preffered.
15. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preffered.

Disclaimer:  Salary offered will be based on the candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications, and in accordance with applicable laws and internal pay equity policies.
*All JWCH, Wesley Health Centers workforce members are recommended to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.

Employee Benefits:
At JWCH Institute, Inc., we believe in taking care of those who take care of others. If you work 30+ hours per week, you’ll enjoy competitive pay and a robust benefits package that includes:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Monthly employer-sponsored allowance for assistance with health premiums.
• Funded Health Savings Account (up to deductible) to assist with carrier-approved medical expenses.
• Paid time off (vacation, sick leave) and 13 paid holidays.
• 401(k) Safe Harbor Profit Sharing plan.
• Mileage reimbursement.
• Short- and long-term disability plans (LTD/STD).
• Life insurance policy & AD&D, and more!

Become part of a team where your work matters. Apply today and help us change lives, one patient at a time.

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