Licensed Clinical Social Worker

LCSW Behavioral Health Consultant

Join Decypher and make a direct impact on the health and readiness of America's service members, veterans, and their families. Since 2008 Decypher has offered healthcare industry professionals careers where their expertise is valued, and their work makes a meaningful impact. Decypher partners with the Defense Health Agency to deliver professional services, technology, and management solutions. Our mission is to provide and support quality care for our veterans, servicemembers and their families, across the United States.

The LCSW will provide integrated behavioral health services as a Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) within a primary care setting, delivering brief, evidence-based assessment and intervention under the Primary Care Behavioral Health model. The role requires successful completion of required training phases, collaboration with healthcare teams, and management of a full patient caseload while supporting population health initiatives and clinical quality standards.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a graduate school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• License: Have and maintain a current license to practice psychology or license to independently practice clinical social work or licensed professional counselor in any one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Experience: Must have a minimum of one year experience as a licensed clinical psychologist, or independently licensed clinical social worker or licensed professional counselor. Must have one year experience in the last three years in the evaluation and treatment of patients who have pain, psychological factors affecting their physical condition, or difficulty managing acute or chronic medical problems. Prior training or experience as a behavioral health provider integrated into PCMH setting is preferred. Must have at least 12 months of direct hands-on experience in the last 24 months with computer operations, basic word processing, data entry, and use of an automated medical record system. An optimal candidate would have a solid understanding of, and experience using, population health approaches to healthcare and proficiency in using motivational interviewing.

U.S. Citizenship is required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Function in a primary care location as a full-time equivalent provider as a Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) as detailed in the most current Primary Care Behavioral Health DHA Procedural Instruction and Procedures Manual. Successfully completes and passes Phase I and Phase II of DHA BHC training and evaluation.
• Demonstrates core competency skills for BHC independent practice (Phase II) within 90-180 days of starting.
• Phase I training and evaluation is face-to-face training. The candidate shall pass Phase I training and evaluation before beginning to see patients in primary care and proceeding to Phase II training.
• Phase II training and evaluation will occur within 90-180 days of completion of Phase I training and evaluation. Extension must be approved by the DHA PCBH Program Director. The candidate shall pass Phase II training and evaluation in order to remain in the position.
• Replacement/Turnover of an employee: The candidate is required to take and pass Phase I training and evaluation before beginning work at the MTF. If the candidate does not pass either the Phase I and/or II training and evaluation, the contractor shall submit a replacement candidate upon notice of the candidate's failure.
• BHCs provide focused evidence-based assessment and intervention (primarily cognitive, behavioral, motivational, and acceptance-based approaches) in primary care under the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model of service delivery for a range of problem presentations including but not limited to depression, anxiety, substance misuse, stress, insomnia, pain, obesity, diabetes, tobacco use and behaviors impacting health.
• Services will be delivered in a manner consistent with a population health approach. (e.g., 15- to 30-minute appointments; brief episodes of care; availability of same-day services, educational classes, team-based approaches to health service delivery and assessing/addressing population needs).
• BHCs will regularly engage in behaviors to increase the number and variety of referrals they receive from primary care managers (PCMs) to reach the utilization goal by maximizing opportunities to educate and train PCMH staff members on appropriate referrals and collaborating with the healthcare team to expand their ability to effectively delivery healthcare services.
• BHCs provide classes with topics appropriate for primary care (e.g., stress management class, sleep enhancement class, chronic pain class), and in a format appropriate for primary care (e.g. educational, didactic in nature; open enrollment; not psychotherapy process oriented).
• BHCs will work independently and effectively use appropriate communication format in addressing and resolving professional issue: use skill in communicating with people who may be physically or mentally ill, uncooperative, fearful, emotionally distraught, and occasionally dangerous.
• BHCs must possess organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills to articulate medical recommendations to patients, families/care givers, medical and nonmedical staff in a professional and courteous way.
• BHCs will successfully consult with primary care managers (PCMs) on-demand about general issues and specific patients; ensure PCMs receive same-day verbal and/or written feedback on patients seen each day.
• Deliver brief presentations/trainings to primary care team members regarding behavioral health issues and how they can provide stepped-care services on a range of patient problem presentations
• Participate in team efforts to develop, implement, evaluate, and revise clinical pathway programs needed in the clinic.
• BHCs will provide concise documentation of care and recommendations in the patient's electronic medical record after the patient is seen within the allowable timeframe defined by the MTF standard.
• BHC will effectively manage a full daily patient load and maintain scheduled template consistent with the DHA policy.
• Supervise providers who are in training or not fully licensed, if needed.
• Participate in approved research and quality improvement projects relating to primary care behavioral health services Consult with medical personnel, legal authorities, and military commanders as required.
• Attend and participate in meetings and required trainings (i.e. pain training, BBTI training, and etc) during normal duty hours and professional staff conferences and other appropriate professional activities.
• Participate in pain and/or sleep pathways and other initiatives as required by the DHA policy.
• Quality improvement meetings, professional staff meetings, commander's staff meetings, primary care staff meetings, and others required by applicable regulations, MTF guidance, or as directed by supervisor
• Participate in peer review process.

Work Environment & Schedule: On site, Monday to Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm. Flexible duty hours between 6:00am to 6:00pm to satisfy patient needs.

Compensation and Benefits: $83,000 + Benefits.

Physical requirements: Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while delivering brief patient consultations, documenting in electronic medical records, and participating in team meetings, with frequent use of standard office equipment. Must be able to communicate effectively with patients and staff in potentially high-stress situations, maintain focus in a fast-paced clinical environment, and occasionally move throughout the facility and lift up to 10–15 pounds.

Decypher is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce (M/F/D/V)