Job Description

JOB PURPOSE: Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) provides a range of services inclusive of assessment and intervention related to health behaviors that affect the patient’s management of chronic medical illnesses. In this role the BHC’s and behavioral health teams work collaboratively to ensure ongoing communication and coordination, promoting cohesive, whole health care to patients.

BHC’s deliver a range of interventions for patients of all ages regarding psycho-social concerns that may be related to life stressors, acute and/or chronic medical/mental health conditions, motivational barriers to healthy lifestyle, and/or other identifiable behavioral health concerns, while making appropriate recommendations to medical providers and patients. Interventions may include brief health behavior focused primary care population-based consultations, crisis triage, brief solution-focused therapy, assessment and treatment planning for patients experiencing a mental health crisis in the primary care setting.

The primary goal of the Elk Ridge Community Health Behavioral Health Consultant(Elk Ridge) is to support Elk Ridge’s Mission of providing comprehensive, quality health care that is affordable and accessible to all who may have healthcare needs, by successfully performing the primary essential functions.

Job Functions:

• Provides focused quality clinical services as appropriate to the patient’s presenting health and behavioral concerns. Range of services may include consultation, health behavior assessment and intervention and coordination of care related to life stressors, acute and/or chronic medical health conditions, acute and/or severe mental health conditions, substance use problems, motivational barriers to healthy lifestyle, and/or other identifiable behavioral health concerns, while making appropriate recommendations to medical providers, patients, and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Provides interruptible and accessible services to support referral and warm hand-off requests.
• Cultivates education and self-management skills to targeted populations with comorbid medical and mental health conditions, chronic medical disease, behavioral health concerns, and other health related conditions that impact biopsychosocial health and functioning.
• Collaborates with the primary care providers, and interdisciplinary medical team members in providing health behavior support to patients while addressing physical health conditions/comorbidities that contribute to the patient’s overall health.
• Reaches out to Specialty Behavioral Health to staff cases, promotes continuity care, enhances smooth transition to services, and supports primary care teams’ capacity to manage mild behavioral health conditions.
• Responsible for maintaining accurate electronic patient records while remaining in compliance with all HIPAA and Confidentiality policies and procedures. Maintain patient charts and records according to established Electronic Health Records guidelines for documentation, billing, coding, and procedures for the range of services delivered within Primary Care Behavioral Health.
• Protects and maintains the confidentiality of patient records and information, proprietary information and personnel information. Completing all clinical documentation clearly, thoroughly, accurately and within timeframes specified by Elk Ridge Health policies and procedures and regulatory authority.
• Provides education to the primary care and behavioral health teams regarding the latest information and knowledge pertaining to behavioral health assessment and intervention, related behavioral health conditions, safety and risk assessment, in order to improve patient care and assist with enhancing utilization of Behavioral Health services throughout the organization.
• Attends all applicable behavioral health and medical provider meetings and participate in on-going training activities as needed.
• Collaborates with primary care providers and interdisciplinary medical team to offer support to patients in need of health counseling and to develop integrated treatment plans.
• Provides patients with efficient and well-coordinated navigation to crisis services and engages mobile crisis teams when needed, ensuring a safe transition to higher levels of behavioral health care.
• Participates in the Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) in providing rapid, expert intervention techniques such as verbal de-escalation and therapeutic communication to ensure the safety and well-being of both patients and staff.

Joint Commission Responsibilities:

• Maintains a clean, safe, and hygienic work environment in compliance with all Policies and Procedures including but not limited to work areas, workstations, examination rooms, hand washing, infection prevention and control etc. for this position.
• Demonstrates an understanding of and proficiency with the application of all compliance and reporting requirements respective to Joint Commission Certification (JCC) standards.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications Details

Education Master’s degree in a Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field from an accredited university.

Experience

Three (3) years’ post graduate experience working with behavioral health patients in a clinical setting (outpatient and/or inpatient).

Previous training in Crisis Intervention, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention and/or related intervention care models.

License

Current Arizona Behavioral Health License at the independent level (LPC, LCSW, Clinical Psychologist) in good standing with the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health.

BLS Current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) for health care providers

Fingerprint Clearance Card

Level I fingerprint clearance card: current valid and in good standing or have applied for it within seven working days after beginning employment

If applicable, equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered, and must be directly related to the functions and responsibilities of the job.

Preferred Qualifications Experience Details

Education Doctoral Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field from an accredited university.

Experience

Five (5) years’ post graduate experience working with behavioral health patients in a clinical setting (outpatient and/or inpatient).

Experience Three (3) years’ post graduate experience working in an integrated medical setting.

Bilingual (English/Spanish) with the ability to speak, read and write in both languages.

Transportation:

• Employees in this position are required to have reliable transportation that can meet any operational reassignments of the organization during the workday. If an employee is driving during work hours, the employee is required to possess a valid driver’s license and must comply with Arizona vehicle insurance requirements.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Elk Ridge Community Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age 40 and over, disability, genetic information, military status, ancestry, marital status, familial status, or any other status protected by law or regulation.

It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.

All employees are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and will be subject to post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty and follow up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal and State regulations for alcohol and controlled substance testing. Employees in positions holding responsibility for the safety and welfare of others will also be classified as safety sensitive.

Elk Ridge Community Health is a Non-profit 501(c)(3) Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and abides by all applicable federal Drug-Free Workplace standards.