Behavioral Health Provider (Generalist)

Job Title: Behavioral Health Provider (Generalist) 

Position Class: Exempt

Supervision Received:  Director of Behavioral Health

Supervision Exercised: None (unless supervising for licensure or training)

Pay Range: Depends on licensure status and experience (more information sharable via direct communication)

General Summary:  

The Generalist Behavioral Health Provider (BHP) will provide Behavioral Health (BH) services to patients from across the lifespan (preferably able to see patients age 6 and up).  Services will include both consultation services to patients in the context of same-day PCP referrals via “warm hand-offs,” brief and solution-focused outpatient therapy, and more intensive therapy for patients unable to access specialty care in the community.  The Generalist BHP will function as an active and integrated member of an interprofessional health care team, collaborating to support and achieve patient health care goals.

Core Duties and Responsibilities, which include the following and other duties as assigned: 

• Maintain availability to PCPs and patient care teams throughout business hours  

• Provide generalist services within BHP's scope of practice and training  

• Remain available to provide consultation services to patients in context of same-day PCP referrals via “warm hand-offs” as well as cross-site consultation when necessary 

• Provide brief, limited, and solution-focused outpatient therapy 

• Provide more intensive outpatient therapy for patients unable to access specialty care    

• Collaborate with other members of the medical staff and health care teams in the   provision of health care services and provide “curbside” consultation  

• Coordinate appropriate referrals for patients needing more intensive or specialty services, and provide short-term bridging support/services to patients until otherwise established  

• Collaborate with staff colleagues to review and develop clinical guidelines and    processes and provide psycho-education pertaining to behavioral health principles  

• Keep and maintain appropriate and timely records relating to professional services   rendered   

• Respond to patient cases and other electronic health record communications in a   thorough and timely manner  

• Precept and supervise health professions students/trainees at your site(s) 

• Participate in quality of care reviews and practice-based research  

• Participate in clinical huddles/consultations, BH team meetings, clinic leadership team meetings/activities, and other clinic-based and system-wide meetings   

• Collaborate with psychiatry, CARP, dental, and pharmacy programs and facilitate integration and functioning of said services, including consulting with and triaging patients in need

• Maintain licensure requirements and follow ethical and professional expectations.

• Collaborate with supervisor and clinic leadership to ensure access to, and adequate utilization of, BH services

• Contribute to the BH program’s utilization goals, by striving to meet the individual BHP utilization expectation of providing services to patients

Essential Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Excellent interpersonal, interprofessional, and teamwork skills.

• Excellent therapy and consultation experience and skills

• Good time management skills, with ability to be flexible in an ever-changing healthcare setting and care flow

• Cultural competence in serving rural and underserved populations

• Competence in, or willingness to gain competence in, integrated behavioral health, and integrated primary care service delivery and settings

• Knowledge of evidence-based treatments for common mental health concerns seen in primary care (e.g. depression, anxiety, bipolar, grief, adjustment difficulty, stress, social issues, etc.)

• Basic knowledge of typical health conditions seen in primary care (e.g. diabetes, pain, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, substance use, etc.), and corresponding skills (e.g. Motivational Interviewing) that enhance motivation and assist in patient health behavior change 

• Advanced crisis intervention and risk management skills

•  Knowledge about resources and strategies to assist patients in addressing and overcoming social determinants/drivers of health.  

• Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.

• Proficiency with, or the ability to quickly learn, the organization’s electronic health record (Athena Health)

Education and Experience:

• Masters degree or higher in Psychology (MA, MS, PsyD, or PhD), Counseling (MA in Counseling, or LPC), or Social Work (LICSW only)

• Currently, supervision for licensure is not available through CCHS.  Applicants need to hold a current active license.

Physical Demands: 

Although most of the workday is spent sitting, the workday may include activities such as standing, walking, reaching, bending, and lifting. Requires full range of body motion, including on rare occasion, assisting in the lifting of patients manually. The employee will be expected to carry around a laptop throughout the clinic when performing consultation services.  The employee will need to be able to walk from a therapy office, to exam rooms down the hall, and back several or more times daily.