Behavioral Health Consultant - Pittsburgh - Full Time

Highmark Health; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) to join their healthcare team. In this pivotal role, you will work closely with care managers to enhance the mental health and overall well-being of patients. Your expertise in evidence-based counseling techniques and crisis intervention will be vital in addressing psychosocial challenges and facilitating connections to necessary services. This position offers a dynamic environment where you can make a significant impact on patient care, advocating for those in need and promoting their active participation in treatment. If you are passionate about mental health and eager to contribute to a collaborative healthcare setting, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 2 years experience in mental health and substance abuse treatment.
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Responsibilities

• Act as a core care team member to develop clinical pathways for patient groups.
• Provide therapeutic counseling services using short-term interventions.

Skills

Evidence-based counseling techniques

Mental health assessment

Crisis intervention

Communication skills

Motivational interviewing

Education

Master’s degree in Mental Health Field

Tools

CPR certification

Act 34 Criminal Background Clearance

Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance

Act 73 FBI Fingerprinting Clearance

Job description

Company :

Allegheny Health Network

Job Description :

GENERAL OVERVIEW:

A BHC is a member of the core healthcare team who assists the care managers in managing overall health of their enrolled population. The BHC’s goals are to help improve recognition, treatment, and management of psychosocial/behavioral problems and medical conditions in the enrolled population. The BHC provides clinical mental health consultation services within the scope of their state's professional licensure board to all patients referred by the care team. The BHC participates in the management of psychosocial aspects of chronic and acute diseases, application of behavioral principles to address lifestyle and health risk issues, consultation and co-management in the treatment of mental disorders and psychosocial issues. The BHC is the team's go-to expert for mental health and substance abuse assessment, intervention, and connection to higher levels of care for mental health and addiction services as required.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Member of Care Team & Population Health Efforts
   • Acts as a core care team member to develop specific clinical pathways or best practice programs for targeted patient groups
   • Participates in practice staff meetings and trainings
   • Provides education and support on a variety of topics from behavioral health and substance abuse background, training, and expertise to multidisciplinary team members during the course of treatment planning for patients
   • Participates in daily huddles, listening for behavioral health, substance abuse, and psychosocial needs
   • Provides population based care based on registry to high risk/high need patients
   • Provides services to all enrollees (not just those with diagnosable mental disorders)
   • Participates in system-wide BHC learning collaborative
2. Effective Communicator and Change Agent
   • Promotes ongoing change efforts in the practice and within the AHN health system around mental health and substance abuse disorders
   • Documents in the same medical record as the rest of the team in a place that is easily visible by providers and other team members
   • Engages patients via telephone as well as in person
3. Clinical Interventions
   • Meets patients and providers where they are, usually the same day a patient presents in clinic providing immediate support to include assessment, intervention and referrals to higher levels of care for mental health and addiction needs when required
   • Often sees patients immediately after other team members (often in exam room or nearby consult room) and encourages patient participation in the overall treatment plan
   • Provides therapeutic counseling services appropriate to the ambulatory care environment: using 15-30 minute interventions
   • Identify functional outcomes; make recommendations that target occupational, social, and familial functioning; home activities; recreation
   • Treat patients with short term interventions based on “treat to target” approach using solution focused approaches, CBT, Motivational Interviewing and other short term counseling interventions
   • Coordinates with patient family members and other support systems (with patient permission)
   • Provide brief follow up, including relapse prevention education
   • Promote skill building to enhance psychological and physical health/sometimes in the form of groups
   • Helps patient in crisis get urgent mental health and substance abuse needs met
   • Triage and refer patients to specialty mental health and substance abuse services when appropriate (i.e. Childhood trauma, IOP, inpatient hospitalization, PTSD, psychiatry, etc.)
4. Advocacy, Outreach, Community Linkages, and Coaching
   • Advocates for patients who are perceived as difficult to work with or “non-compliant”
   • Reaches out to patients who are not engaging (usually via phone) to re-engage them in their care
   • Encourages patient to become an active participant in their own care and treatment
   • Connects patient to a variety of resources in the community related to social determinants of health

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum

• Master’s degree in Mental Health Field
• 2 years experience in use of evidence based counseling techniques, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of common mental health and substance abuse disorders
• Knowledge of the relationship between medical and psychological aspects of health and disease
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – for out of state license transfers allow 60 days from hire to transfer license
• CPR – American Heart Association
• Act 34 Criminal Background Clearance Certificate
• Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance Certificate
• Act 73 FBI Fingerprinting Criminal Background Clearance Certificate