Community Behavioral Health Center Clinician

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position will work within the Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) providing urgent assessment/intake services as well as maintaining a panel of patients receiving evidence-informed ongoing care.  The CBHC Clinician works as part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team to assess patient needs, develop treatment plans, and provide services and supports in line with patient preferences and clinical necessity.

Position: Community Behavioral Health Center Clinician        

Department: Bridge Clinic

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

Utilizing clinical social work techniques and theory in an outpatient setting, clinician will consult on, assesses, and intervene with high-risk patients and their families regarding the impact/amelioration of emotional and social problems. Duties also include, but are not limited to, conducting outpatient individual therapy conducting psychosocial assessments, making a psychosocial diagnosis, planning and implementing effective treatments, evaluation, education, supervision, coaching and mentoring of the patient (client) and family members. The position consults with, collaborates and communicates with a wide range of social, governmental and legal agencies, courts, schools, clinics, other hospitals, physicians and other sources in the overall care of the patient.

If not currently licensed as an LMHC or LICSW, this position will provide clinical services under the supervision of an independently licensed clinician.

• Assesses patient to ascertain those emotional and social problems. Utilizes the department’s psychosocial assessment tool as a guideline.
• Identifies those issues which must be addressed during the patient’s care, and formulates plan.
• Identifies need to involve patient’s family through the initial assessment process and attempts contact on same day, if indicated.
• Consults and collaborates with healthcare team members to insure that patient’s emotional and social needs are addressed.
• Provides for psychotherapeutic treatment and/or psychosocial support to patient to reduce the impact of identified problems.
• Utilizes Social Work technique and theory to assist patient and family in coping with illness or social problem to achieve improved functioning and emotional state.
• Maintains patient confidentiality according to hospital policy. Practices professional discretion when determining the inclusion of any patient information into medical record or department clinical record notes.
• Notes in medical record the exclusion of critical patient information and its availability.
• Documents each patient encounter in the medical record or the Department clinical record concurrently according to Department policies. Specifically, documents ongoing treatment work in the Department clinic records. Each recording shall include date, time, title and signature.
• Provides clinical supervision to other department personnel, as assigned.
• Complies with departmental, regulatory and professional requirements for documentation recording, and data collection.
• Submits department statistics and other records and reports within required timeframes.
• Maintains competency in areas of responsibility to ensure quality care.
• Attends scheduled staff meetings and in-service education program offerings with punctuality and consistency.
• Obtains continuing education units necessary to maintain licensure.
• Assists management in the operation of a quality department by participating in department programs and complying with department policies and procedures.
• Supports graduate and undergraduate training programs by supervising MSW and BSW students (per assignment).
• Identifies weaknesses in operation and recommends improvements.
• Works diligently on department committees, per Director’s appointments.
• Represents department throughout hospital and outside community regarding department’s practice and field of social work.
• Regularly maintains work area and equipment in a neat and orderly manner; assists in the cleaning and organizing of department on own initiative and reports any malfunctioning equipment as observed by supervisor.
• Maintains a complete understanding of emergency procedures.
• Conforms to hospital standards of conduct, including those pertaining to patient rights, so that the best possible customer service and patient care may be provided.
• Notifies supervisor when patients in age group not regularly served are present, and seeks assistance from individuals with the knowledge of the specialized needs of such patient age groups.

OTHER DUTIES:

• Performs other duties as needed.
• Utilizes hospital's behavioral standards as the basis for decision-making and to facilitate the hospital’s mission.
• Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.
• Knowledge of community resources and agencies that serve the children and families.
• Advanced interpersonal skills necessary to interact effectively with various healthcare professionals, to develop and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with patients and families, and to supervise graduate students.
• Must be comfortable in a fast paced and dynamic work environment (sense of humor is valued).
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
• Cultural sensitivity and comfort with a wide range of racial and ethnic populations.  Bicultural/Bilingual competency a plus.
• Computer literacy with ability to use standard word processing, spreadsheet programs and e-mail (i.e. MS Word, Excel, Outlook) and web browsers

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job.  The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

Requires Master’s Degree from an accredited school of Social Work or Master's Degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work or related field from an accredited school.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

Strongly preferred:  Massachusetts mental health counselor license or licensed independent clinical social work license or eligible status (i.e., has master's degree).

EXPERIENCE:

Requires level of knowledge of Social Work process and community resources and agencies in relation to health, illness, and disability, generally acquired through one to two years on-the-job training.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Ability to work in a multi-cultural, diverse, decentralized environment, as a member of a health care team and comfortable working with multi-cultural families
• Strong communication (oral and written), interpersonal, organizational, and record keeping skills.
• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills (beyond that of English) appropriate to the patient population served (especially Spanish, Portuguese Creole or Haitian Creole) preferred
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and responsibilities at the same time effectively.
• Knowledge of software applications such as Microsoft Excel and Word

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans