BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

About Whitman-Walker Health

Whitman-Walker envisions a society where all persons are seen for who they are, treated with dignity and respect, and afforded equal opportunity to health and wellbeing. Through care, advocacy, research, and education, we empower all persons to live healthily, love openly, and achieve equality and inclusion. For over 50 years, we have been meeting the needs of our communities with the endless dedication of our diverse teams.


Job Summary

The Behavioral Health Specialist serves as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team. This team member provides behavioral health screening, assessment, treatment, and referral to medical patients. They will also provide short-term, solution-focused psychotherapy and/or crisis intervention to individuals presenting with acute behavioral health needs.

Core WWH Primary Essential Duties:

• Performs and behaves in accordance with Whitman-Walker's mission, cultural norms, and core values of dignity, respect, affirmation, and humility.
• Maintains a respectful, non-judgmental, and compassionate manner with patients/clients/staff.
• Demonstrates excellent customer service by identifying and exceeding customer requirements.
• Adheres to Whitman-Walker policies and procedures, with special attention given to HIPAA requirements.
• Maintains data integrity through conscientious use of relevant tools and employing a system of checks and balances.
• Demonstrates organizational skills necessary to multi-task, meet deadlines, and re-prioritize as needed.
• Participates in organizational quality and performance improvement activities.

Role Specific Primary Essential Duties:

• Triage/Liaison Services- performs initial 15-30 30 minute behavioral health screenings of patients during medical visits to determine the appropriate level of need for mental health care or crisis intervention. Refer, as necessary.
• Behavioral Health Consultation- Intake visits usually 15 to 30 minutes for clients referred for general evaluation. The focus is typically on diagnostic and functional evaluation, problem-solving, recommendations for treatment, and forming limited behavioral change goals. The visit may involve assessing clients at risk because of some life-stress event, educating clients about community and/or clinic resources, or referring them to more appropriate treatment resources. In all cases, the visits will result in consultative feedback given to the clients' provider.
• Behavioral Health Follow-up and Consultation - provides consultative services over time to clients whose situation requires ongoing monitoring and follow-up; applicable to patients with chronic psychosocial issues and/or physical problems requiring longer-term management. While the visits are structured like regular behavioral health consultations, they are less frequent and spread over a longer period.
• Provides brief psychotherapy sessions to address short-term, solution-focused interventions.
• Routinely participate in monthly/weekly interdisciplinary Medical and Behavioral health team meetings.
• Daily Team Review of clinical schedule in order to promote efficiency, communication, and advanced preparation among all members of the medical team.
• Clinical documentation is required to be completed and locked within 72 hours.
• Other duties as assigned.

Core WWH Knowledge, Skills, and Talents Required:

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to manage time and effort to meet strategic objectives.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing excellent customer service, both internal and external.
• Knowledge of all applicable WWH policies and procedures.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of healthcare information systems with the ability to adapt to new electronic medical records and population health platforms.
• Analytical skills are necessary for the preparation of accurate, concise, and comprehensive reports.
• Ability to maintain records and information in an accurate, timely, and confidential manner.
• Ability to adapt to changes in the service delivery model, re-prioritizing as necessary.
• Flexibility to work various shifts, including afternoon, evening, and weekend shifts as necessary.
• Flexibility to work within the organization's various locations as necessary.
• Commitment to health equity.

Role Specific- Knowledge, Skills, and Talents Required:

• Ability to conduct sensitive, empathetic interviews that respect the dignity and diversity of clients.
• Ability to provide Telehealth and/or in-person assessment.
• Strong working knowledge of mental health, addiction, HIV/AIDS, and LGBT issues, strong clinical skills, with proven ability to engage, assess, provide interventions, and terminate appropriately with diverse populations.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships within the organization and with external providers.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and competence with issues related to racial, cultural, and sexual minority status.
• Good working knowledge of the health care delivery system, social services, and community-based resources.
• Experience working in a medical environment is required.
• Written and oral fluency in Spanish is preferred.

Education and Experience Required

• A master's degree in behavioral health (social work, counseling, psychology) is required
• An active licensure to practice in the District of Columbia (LGSW, LGPC, LICSW, LPC, LMFT, Lic Psyc) is required
• Experience working with an ethnically, culturally, and racially diverse work staff preferred; ability to work harmoniously with diverse groups of individuals required.
• A minimum of 1 year in the mental health field preferred

Working Conditions:

Working conditions for this position are normal for an office environment. Individual may be required to work evenings and/or weekends and organization events.

Physical Demands:

• Lifting: No more than 20 lbs. and infrequently.
• Movement: Standing and sitting for long periods.
• Visual: Long periods on computer.
• Concentration: Extended periods of engagement with computer systems where concentration is key to accuracy in data entry. Intermittent periods of engagement with a telephone system to respond to inquiries where concentration is key to task performance.
• Communication: Direct and indirect communication. Written and verbal competency.

Whitman-Walker is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against applicants, its employees, or former employees based on race, color, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or gender identity. For accommodation in the application process, please contact Human Resources.