Behavioral Health Therapist - LMSW

Title: Behavioral Health Integration Therapist-Safety Sensitivie


Department: Behavioral Health Clinic

Reporting Relationships: The Behavioral Health Integration Therapist will directly report to the Clinic Supervisor and indirectly to the Program Director for Behavioral Health.

Job Summary: The Behavioral Health Integration Therapist is responsible for direct patient care services to individual patients, including social assessment and referral to community resources. This position is an integral part of the care team and provides case management services for appropriate patients identified in need of services. The Behavioral Health Integration Therapist is responsible for the timely and accurate delivery of services upon referral of patients by providers, assuring that services are delivered in a courteous and professional manner and in accordance with applicable policies and procedures, rules, regulations, and prevailing law. The Behavioral Health Therapist will maintain effective relationships with other community agencies to support cross-referral of patients. In matters pertaining to behavioral health, this position serves as "internal consultant" to providers and staff within the practice. Services are delivered in primary care clinics throughout the White River Health System.


Job Duties:

1. Provide direct patient care.

1. Completes evaluations with variety of diagnostic tools, following best practices.
2. Provides acute and chronic care according to behavioral health principles and practices.
3. Monitors effective therapy.
4. Knowledge of the development and maintenance of information/referral systems.
5. Manages the BHI registry for patient caseload.
6. Triages patient phone calls and evaluates patient problems.
7. Demonstrate a sensitivity and responsiveness to a variety of cultural values and beliefs and social determinants of health.
8. Conduct basic screenings of patients, including review of barriers to health self-management; depression; stress; and substance use.
9. Provide basic crisis intervention services to patients in need.
10. Provide basic case management supports regarding health and mental health needs, functional abilities, readiness to change, caregiver stability, social supports, financial resources, environment and safety concerns, life care planning and self-management skills.
11. Communicates effectively with colleagues, patients, physicians and administration.
12. Demonstrates positive and effective verbal and writtent communication skills with patients, families and co-workers, and in patient documentation.
13. Educates patients and families.
14. Provides staff with education formally and informally.
15. Demonstrates efficient management of time and resources.
16. Utilizes and conducts research/inquiry appropriate to clinical setting.
17. Maintains a current level of clinical practice by selecting appropriate avenues for professional growth and routinely seeks continuing education according to best practice. Evaluates goal attainment and revises goals on an on-going basis.
18. Adheres to and enforces WRHS policies and procedures.
19. Maintains productivity equivalent at or above 75% of paid worked hours (i.e., 6 hours of billable time on an 8 hour paid worked day).
20. Completes documentation on date of service or within 24 hours of delivery.
21. Collaborates with care coordinators, patient's PCP, psychiatric APRN or MD, and nursing staff on patient care and treatment where required.
22. Provides assessment and care management services, including the administration of validated rating scales; behavioral health care planning in relation to behavioral/psychiatric health problems, including revision for patients who are not progressing or whose status changes; provision of brief psychosocial interventions; ongoing collaboration with the billing practitioner; maintenance of the registry; all in consultation with the psychiatric consultant.
23. Available to provide services face-to-face with the beneficiary; has a continuous relationship with the beneficiary and a collaborative, integrated relationship with the rest of the care team.
24. Able to engage the beneficiary outside of regular clinic hours as necessary to perform the behavioral health care manager's duties.
25. May or may not be a professional who meets all the requirements to independently furnish and report services to Medicare.
26. Performs other duties as assigned by supervision.

Qualifications:

1. Education: Master's degree/licensure required; LMSW, LAC preferred
2. Training and Experience: 2 years post-licensure preferred, experience working in the medical setting preferred, must be licensed in the state of Arkansas
3. Job Knowledge: Knowledge of acute and chronic care protocols in the delivery of behavioral health care, knowledge of assessment of patient health, knowledge of health promotion principles, techniques, and patient learning measurements, knowledge of access to resources and systems of care. Must have a working knowledge of and adhere to all WRHS policy and procedure. Must have a working knowledge of and adhere to all unit/department policy and procedure including medical record documentation and utilization of up-to-date forms. Must demonstrate working understanding of HIPAA, Patient Rights, and appropriate conduct. Must demonstrate the continued ability to create and maintain a positive culture that is respectful of patient and employee rights, consistent with WRHS Standards of Behavior.

Essentials:

1. Must be able to report to work fit for duty and free of any adverse effects of illegal drugs, medical marijuana, prescription medication, and/or alcohol.
2. Must be able to effectively communicate both orally and in writing with other individuals.

Physical Demands : Sitting, standing, walking, and lifting will occur for the majority of the shift. Must be able to lift 20 pounds. Must be able to sit/stand for extended periods of time. Fine motor skills. Visual acuity. Depth perception. Travel required at least 50-75% of the time.