Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinician - Child

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinician is a key member of the Department of Psychiatry who assesses, and intervenes with patients and their families by providing individual, group, couples, and family psychotherapy using a racial justice and health equity lens. Duties also include, but are not limited to: conducting psychosocial assessments, making a psychosocial diagnosis, planning and implementing effective treatments, evaluation, and education of the patient and family members. The position consults with, collaborates, and communicates with a wide range of disciplines within BMC and the community in the overall care of the patient.

Position: Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinician - Child       

Department: Psychiatry Clinic

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluations in coordination with patient, family, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams, and develops treatment plans based on patient needs/goals.
• Provides individual, group, couples, and family psychotherapy to patient and/or family to reduce the impact of identified problems to achieve improved functioning and emotional state.
• Identifies need to involve patient’s family through the initial assessment process and engages the family in treatment planning, if indicated.
• Consults and collaborates with interdisciplinary healthcare team members to ensure that the overall health needs of patients are addressed.
• Provides risk assessment and intervention as necessary. When indicated, refers to and coordinates with appropriate emergency services.
• Maintains a complete understanding of emergency procedures.
• Reports any and all suspected cases of abuse and neglect and follows up to ensure patient receives timely comprehensive consultations and compliance with legal mandates.
• 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.
• Documents each patient encounter in the medical record and complies with departmental, regulatory and professional requirements for documentation recording and data collection.
• Provides clinical supervision to other department personnel, per assignment.
• Supports graduate and undergraduate training programs by supervising MSW, BSW, Mental Health Counselor, and Psychology student interns, per assignment.
• 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.
• Identifies weaknesses in operation and recommends improvements.
• Works diligently on department committees, per assignment.
• Represents department throughout hospital and outside community regarding department’s practice and field of behavioral healthcare.
• 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.

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.

(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 school of Mental Health Counseling or related field as determined by the Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

Preferred: Massachusetts Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).

EXPERIENCE:

Requires level of clinical knowledge of behavioral health counseling and community resources and agencies generally acquired through one to two years of experience working in an outpatient behavioral health setting.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred
• Advanced interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with patients and families and to interact effectively with various healthcare professionals.
• Understanding of and comfort working with individuals who experience complex medical and psychiatric problems.
• Knowledge of and competence in advocating with community resources and agencies that serve individuals, children, and families who are low-income or have psychiatric needs.
• Ability to work effectively, comfortably, and sensitively with ethnically, culturally, and racially diverse individuals and with people from historically underrepresented communities.
• Bicultural/bilingual competency is a plus.
• Experience with and comfort treating substance use disorders is preferred.
• Must be comfortable in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment (sense of humor is valued).
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively on an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals.
• Computer literacy with ability to use standard word processing, spreadsheet programs, and e-mail (i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook) and web browsers.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans