Licensed Clinician - Special Populations

Title:  Behavioral Health Clinician – Special Populations

Department: Behavioral Health / Special Populations

Status: Exempt

Position Classification/Category: Behavioral Health Clinician

Level: N/A

Location: Multiple possible sites; Assigned clinic(s)

Hourly Pay Range:

Reports To: Assistant Behavioral Health Director

Direct Reports: none

Summary of Position

A Behavioral Health Clinician in Special Populations at Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Centers will assist in promoting, providing, and expanding behavioral health and substance abuse services in the community, with particular focus on people who experience increased clinical complexity, have disproportionate health inequalities, and/or higher vulnerability due to medical, legal, social, or developmental factors.  The incumbent will provide depression, substance abuse, and other wellness screening, evaluation, and treatment to patients during visits to the clinic and other service sites.  They will assist with identifying, diagnosing, treating, and referring patients to behavioral health and/or substance abuse treatment, in coordination with a team of health care providers.  The Behavioral Health Clinician in Special Populations will provide patients with brief educational interventions, such as strategies to reduce distress and resources to improve access to social determinants of health.  The Behavioral Health Clinician in Special Populations will provide support and direction to patients that require assistance developing a care plan for managing chronic physical and/or mental health condition(s).  The role extends beyond traditional therapy to include risk management, interdisciplinary coordination, and advocacy within complex systems. The clinician functions as both treatment provider and critical navigator of care for individuals with the highest levels of need and vulnerability.

Minimum Qualifications

Ability to assess, treat, prevent, and provide strategies and care planning for patients with chronic physical health, mental health, behavioral health, and substance use conditions.  Experience in the use of motivational interviewing, prevention education, and behavioral health modalities; particularly the transtheoretical model.  Ability to interact and render service in a sensitive manner to diverse populations.  The incumbent will interact respectfully and professionally with patients, caregivers, staff, and external customers.  The incumbent must be able to commute independently between CRCHC sites and other service locations. 

·         Experience: 2 years professional experience working in a primary care, behavioral health, or a community-based setting.  OR two years of behavioral health screening, social work, patient / child advocacy, or related work, independently or under the supervision of a licensed independent mental health provider, OR 2 years of experience providing substance abuse, mental health, or chronic disease-related assessments, screenings, prevention campaigns, or educational sessions. Demonstrated training, experience or certification relevant to the population(s) served (e.g., trauma-informed care, addictions, ACTT or CSS team, child and family therapy, I/DD services).  Competence in diagnostic formulation across complex and overlapping presentations.

·         Additional skills required: Knowledge of legal and ethical standards for the delivery of behavioral health care.  Excellent interpersonal and coaching skills.  Desire to develop leadership skills.  Strong computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office products, cloud-based platforms, and familiarity with documentation in electronic health records (EHRs).  Excellent verbal and written communication skills.  Able to work both independently and within a multidisciplinary team.  Awareness of systemic prejudices, stigma, and access barriers affecting special populations.  Relevant current knowledge of population-specific regulations, funding streams, and service requirements (e.g., Medicaid special provisions, court orders, child welfare mandates).  Ability to navigate multi-system collaboration (healthcare, education, justice, housing, social services).  Tolerance for high-acuity, high-liability clinical environments.

• Additional skills preferred: Spanish language fluency. 

Education: Master’s Degree (or greater) in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or related field.

Licensure/Certification:  Licensed Clinical Social Worker OR Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor OR Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Supervision:  The incumbent must maintain documentation of supervision received through individual or peer group supervision, consistent with their practice requirements.  The incumbent is responsible for immediately communicating any changes in the status of their license or ability to practice to the CRCHC Associate Behavioral Health Director or Chief Behavioral Health Officer and to their professional board. 

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

·         Frequent walking, standing, bending, kneeling, crouching and moving about.

·         Use of stairs, ramps, and elevators.

·         Repetitive movement of hands and fingers – typing and/or writing.

·         Ability to talk and hear.

Key Responsibilities

·         Support the integrated care team with facilitating screenings, providing treatment, under supervision, and referrals to appropriate support services, including behavioral health and substance abuse treatment

·         Administer behavioral health, substance abuse, or wellness assessments, including Audit-C and PHQ-9 and provide treatment using evidence-based interventions, appropriate to the special population

·         Assess and intervene with, when possible, social determinants that may interfere with achieving positive health outcomes

·         Identify, assess, treat, refer, and promote substance abuse and behavioral health services adapted and specific to the population(s) being served

·         Provide educational interventions to support behavioral health, substance abuse, and chronic disease management adjusted to the specific circumstances of the special population

·         Develop, review, and evaluate patient care plans and lifestyle planning goals through shared decision making

·         Participant in and/or facilitate behavioral health integration workgroups, seminars, and trainings specific to special populations and incorporate emerging best practices and evidence into clinical work

·         Participate in and/or facilitate quality improvement activities by initiating or contributing to monitoring, measuring, analyzing, improving and/or guiding program goals, objectives and/or services.

·         Support current incentive, regulatory, and certification requirements (such as Meaningful Use, PCMH and UDS) through documentation, participation in initiatives, and other activities as directed.

·         Other tasks as assigned