What are the responsibilities and job description for the Behavioral Health Counselor, Primary Care position at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital(WDH)?
We are seeking a full-time, 40-hour Integrated Behavioral Health Counselor to support one of our Wentworth-Douglass' Primary Care practices. This position operates Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, with flexibility in scheduling based on patient and practice needs. The role will be fully onsite during onboarding, with hybrid opportunities available depending on the final practice assignment. Practice assignment will be determined based on organizational needs.
In this role, the Integrated Behavioral Health Counselor will support one of our Primary Care practices, working as part of an integrated care team to provide short-term, solution-focused behavioral health services. The counselor will collaborate closely with primary care providers, nurses, care managers, and other members of the healthcare team to conduct behavioral health assessments, develop treatment plans, deliver brief interventions, and participate in warm handoffs from providers. Depending on practice needs, the role may include both in-person and virtual patient visits. The counselor will work independently while also being supported by a collaborative team of licensed behavioral health clinicians.
As part of our Integrated Behavioral Health Services team, you will work closely with primary care providers and interdisciplinary team members to deliver high-quality behavioral healthcare to patients across the lifespan. This role offers opportunities to participate in practice improvement initiatives, collaborate on innovative care delivery models, and contribute to the continued growth of integrated care services throughout our organization.
Responsibilities include:
* Providing short-term, evidence-based psychotherapy and behavioral health interventions to patients in the primary care setting, both in person and virtually.
* Conducting comprehensive behavioral health assessments and developing individualized treatment plans.
* Collaborating with primary care providers through warm handoffs and ongoing care coordination to support patient needs in real time.
* Providing crisis intervention, safety planning, referrals, resource navigation, and other supportive services as needed.
* Assessing patients to identify appropriate treatment recommendations and levels of care.
* Maintaining a caseload of scheduled patient visits, with an expectation of approximately eight 30-minute appointments per day and an average of six completed patient visits daily.
* Participating in case consultations, peer reviews, interdisciplinary meetings, and quality improvement initiatives.
* Supporting patients and families in accessing community resources and navigating behavioral healthcare services.
* Working collaboratively with Behavioral Health, Primary Care, and Collaborative Care team members to improve patient outcomes and enhance the overall patient experience.
Wentworth-Douglass Physician Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.
Education
- Master's Degree in a related field of study required
Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree?
- No
Licenses and Credentials
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker preferred
- Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker preferred
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist preferred
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor preferred
Experience
- Related experience 3-5 years required
- Demonstrated experience working successfully with people of various backgrounds and lifestyles in a manner that engages ongoing self-reflection and continual learning required
- Experience negotiating, advocating, and navigating systems required
Preferred Experience
- Experience working within an integrated behavioral health or primary care setting preferred
- Experience providing brief, solution-focused interventions preferred
- Experience collaborating within an interdisciplinary care team preferred
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrates proficient clinical judgment and application of professional values and ethics. Integration of prior clinical experience into current practice.
- Demonstrates proficiency in formulating assessments of risks, crisis intervention, psychosocial assessments, treatment plans, and documentation of both in a timely manner.
- Demonstrates proficient working knowledge of internal and external resources and refers appropriately.
- Ability to advocate, coordinate, and continuously communicate treatment plans with patients, family, and the interdisciplinary team.
- Utilizes supervision and consultation regularly and appropriately.
- Engages in quality improvement projects and uses data to measure progress.
- Facilitate skill-based groups.
- Demonstrate capacity to effectively communicate findings with a broader audience.
Wentworth-Douglass Physician Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.