Behavioral Health Clinician | Central Nursing Support Services | Full-time | Variable (3-12 shifts)

UF Health; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

UF Health in Gainesville, FL seeks a Behavioral Health Clinician to provide proactive behavioral health support, identify escalating patient behaviors early, and implement individualized care plans.

You will respond rapidly to behavioral emergencies to ensure safety of patients, staff, and visitors, and work with nursing, psychiatry, and the interprofessional team in a trauma-informed, patient-centered environment.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related clinical field, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.
• Minimum 2-5 years of behavioral health, psychiatric, or acute care experience.
• Strong skills in de-escalation, therapeutic communication, and trauma-informed care.
• Licensure as LCSW/LMSW, LMHC, LMFT, or RN with behavioral health experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive and responsive behavioral health support.
• Identify escalating patient behaviors early and implement individualized behavioral care plans.
• Respond rapidly to behavioral emergencies to ensure safety of patients, staff, and visitors.
• Collaborate with nursing, providers, psychiatry, and interprofessional team to promote a patient-centered approach.

Skills

De-escalation

Therapeutic communication

Trauma-informed care

Education

Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field

BSN

Job description

Responsibilities

The Behavioral Health Clinician is a licensed behavioral health professional who provides proactive and responsive behavioral health support. This role focuses on early identification of escalating patient behaviors, implementation of individualized behavioral care plans, and rapid response to behavioral emergencies to ensure the safety of patients, staff, and visitors. The Behavioral Health Clinician serves as a subject matter expert in crisis prevention, trauma-informed care, and de-escalation. Working in collaboration with nursing, providers, psychiatry, and interprofessional team members, the clinician promotes a proactive, patient-centered approach that reduces behavioral emergencies while improving patient and staff outcomes.

Schedule

FTE: 0.90 (3-12's shifts)

Hours: Variable

Days: Variable

Location: Gainesville, FL

Qualifications

Education

Required: Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related clinical field or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.

Experience

Required: Minimum 2-5 years of experience in behavioral health, psychiatric, or acute care setting. Strong skills in de-escalation, therapeutic communication, and trauma-informed care, with ability to function effectively in high-stress, fast-paced clinical environments.

Preferred: Crisis prevention/de-escalation certification preferred at time of hire.

Licensure

Required: Active, unrestricted licensure as one of the following: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW/LMSW), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT), or Registered Nurse with behavioral health experience.