Behavioral Health Clinician (LCSW or LPC)

CommUnityCare Health Centers; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

CommUnityCare Health Centers seeks a Behavioral Health Consultant to integrate behavioral health with primary care teams across clinics in the Austin area. You will collaborate with physicians, residents, and advanced providers to assess, intervene, and support patients with a range of medical and behavioral health needs.

You will deliver brief, goal-oriented care, including telehealth when appropriate, and help design clinical pathways and psychoeducation for staff and patients.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field.
• At least 2 years of clinical experience in mental health.
• Current Licensure as LCSW or LPC in the State of Texas.

Responsibilities

• Consult and collaborate on a multidisciplinary team for integrated on-site care.
• Engage in population-based practice management with warm handoffs and urgent response.
• Promote the primary care-based behavioral health care model to support patient outcomes.
• Develop and implement assessments, screenings, or interventions with primary care or specialists.
• Document patient care plans clearly in the electronic health record.
• Use warm handoffs to communicate patient information and care plans to care teams.
• Support care team capacity to recognize and treat mental health conditions.
• Assess clinical status of patients referred for behavioral health support.
• Use population health data to support behavioral health needs of the primary care panel.
• Collaborate to treat and manage patients with chronic emotional/health problems.
• Refer cases to mental health specialists when appropriate.
• Identify at-risk patients and develop care plans for well-being.
• Build care plans addressing relapse and morbidity reduction.
• Collaborate with care teams to plan patient care.
• Educate patients and families on care, prevention, and treatment.
• Attend meetings and quality improvement activities.
• Respond to patient or staff concerns and resolve disputes.
• Participate in patient care huddles and planning sessions.
• Optimize care delivery using evidence-based guidelines.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards.
• Complete all care documentation timely and keep records current.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Team-based care

Telehealth

Care planning

Patient education

Education

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

Job description

As an integrated member of the care team in a fast-paced medical clinic, the Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) will work with the primary care providers, specialty providers, and medical residents to assist in caring for a diverse group of patients with a variety of medical, behavioral health, and behaviorally impacted conditions, including anxiety, depression, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, weight management and other conditions. This position will serve as a fundamental team member to continue to cultivate CommUnityCare’s team-based care model initiatives to serve the community by reaching a large portion of the population. This position may require travel between CommUnityCare sites.

Essential Duties

• Consult and collaborate on a multidisciplinary team to provide integrated on‑site care, recommendations, and feedback to physicians, physician residents, and advanced practice providers.
• Practice in a population‑based practice management strategy with flexibility for warm‑handoffs and the ability to respond to urgent situations.
• Engage in and advocate for CommUnityCare’s primary care‑based behavioral health care model to leverage innovation and strategic roles and responsibilities to promote behavior change for optimal patient whole person health.
• Provide assessments, screening, or intervention services as an essential member of the care team with the primary goal of collaborating with the primary care or specialty providers to identify, treat, and manage patient behavioral health concerns.
• Clearly and efficiently document patient care plans in the electronic health record.
• Utilize warm hand offs with primary and specialty care providers, as well as other care team members as appropriate, to communicate patient information, including assessments, and care plans.
• Support and promote care team capacity to recognize and treat mental disorders and psychosocial problems.
• In expert consultative capacity, assess the clinical status of patients referred for behavioral health support.
• Use population health data and techniques to support behavioral and mental health needs of a primary care panel.
• Collaborate with care teams to effectively and efficiently treat and manage patients with chronic emotional and/or health problems.
• Collaborate with the care team to refer cases to mental health specialists as appropriate.
• Identify “at risk” patients and develop care plans to promote psychological or physical well‑being.
• Build care plans that address relapse and morbidity prevention in conditions that tend to recur over time.
• Collaborate on patient care plans with the care team.
• Teach patients, families, and staff care, prevention, and treatment enhancement techniques.
• Attend and participate in meetings and Quality Improvement activities as appropriate.
• Respond to patient or co‑worker complaints and work toward a positive resolution of any dispute.
• Work effectively on a team and communicate respectfully with patients and all staff based on shared goals and mutual respect. This includes active and positive participation in continuous process and quality improvement efforts to improve patient care within the organization’s care model framework.
• Monitor the site’s behavioral health program, identifying problems related to patient services and making recommendations for improvement.
• Participate in evaluation of peers and support staff.
• Attend patient care huddles, meetings, patient conferences, or planning sessions. These may be related to quality assurance, patient care and other related topics within the clinic.
• Optimize the quality of care delivery through the use and promotion of evidence‑based guidelines and standards of care.
• Honor patients’ right to privacy and confidentiality. Adhere to strict patient, customer and business confidentiality standards.
• Complete all direct and indirect care documentation in timely manner and ensure patient records are current and complete.
• Ensure all tasks provided and associated with patient care, patient administrative processes and related duties comply with all regulatory and accreditation standards including The Joint Commission and CommUnityCare Standard Operating Procedures and CommUnityCare Policies and Procedures.
• Maintain self‑care to ensure optimal, ethical and safe health delivery service to patients.
• Maintain all licensure and/or certification requirements for continuing education and best practices.
• Seek opportunities and implement goals for own professional development.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent working knowledge of evidence‑based treatments for mental and behavioral health conditions.
• Ability to make quick and accurate clinical assessments of mental and behavioral conditions.
• High level of comfort in working as a behavior health consultant within a multi‑disciplinary care team.
• Ability to deliver care using brief, focused, goal‑oriented patient interactions, using both in‑person and remote care delivery models, including telehealth.
• Ability to design and implement clinical pathways and protocols for treatment of select mental and behavioral conditions.
• Ability to design effective psycho‑education curricula and lead effective psycho‑education classes. Ability to train and teach effective behavioral health interventions and the primary behavioral health model to medical practitioners and other behavioral health providers.
• Ability to work effectively as a team, interfacing with patients, primary care providers, consulting psychiatrist and mental health specialists, as well as with administrative and support staff.
• Ability to exercise balanced judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions, and to handle difficult or confrontational situations in a calm, consistent, and equitable manner.
• Ability to effectively represent PCHC’s interests in the community and maintain effective working relationships among co‑workers, public, private, and professional groups.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to multi‑task in fast‑paced environment.
• Efficient and organized.
• Reliable and punctual.
• Strong communication skills.
• Strong patient/customer service skills.
• Problem solving skills individually and in a group setting.
• Positive attitude, able to build morale.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work well as a team player with patient care as the first priority.
• Demonstrates cultural competence with patients and staff.
• Open to continuous learning to build effectiveness.
• Attentive to safety and security issues.
• Articulates and supports the mission of the organization.

Expected Behaviors

• Treat all people with dignity, respect and compassion.
• Honor diversity in practices of faith, traditions, and culture.
• Recognize the good work and accomplishments of others.
• Invite and acknowledge concerns, suggestions and opinions of others.
• Protect personal and professional privacy and confidentiality.
• Communicate truthfully and expect others to do the same.
• Identify and resolve difficult issues.
• Seek out and participate in opportunities for development.
• View change as opportunity.
• Accept and offer feedback that promotes respect and leads to development.
• Seek out education and training to build job skills.
• Exceed expectations of those we serve.
• Strive to exceed the requirements of our jobs.
• Seek to continuously improve the way we do work.
• Work with others in the spirit of teamwork.
• Be accountable for the successful completion of our work.

Minimum Education

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

Minimum Experience

At least 2 years of clinical experience in mental health.

Required Certifications/Licensure

Current Licensure as LCSW or LPC in the State of Texas.

Preferred Experience

At least 2 years of clinical experience in mental health with at least 1 of those years experience in a primary care setting.