Counselor for Children & Families

Unity Care NW; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision insurance

401(K) with employer match

Paid holidays

Paid Time Off (160-208 hours)

Continuing Education

Loan repayment opportunities

Job summary

Unity Care NW in Bellingham, WA seeks a Child & Family Counselor to provide outpatient behavioral health assessment and counseling to children and youth aged 5-17 (and transition-age youth 18-26 in school year). Role includes DSM-5 diagnoses, treatment planning, coordination with PCP teams, and collaboration with school staff.

The position offers a salary range of $82,056–$99,715 per year, with potential to earn up to $117,395 over time.

Qualifications

• Must be independently licensed as LICSW, LMHC, LMFT or Psychologist in WA state (or eligible).
• 2 years of direct clinical experience, preferably in community health.
• Must possess WA Driver's License.
• BLS certification (can be obtained on hire).
• Able to be fingerprinted and pass FBI background check prior to unsupervised work with children in Bellingham schools.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose patients using DSM-5 criteria.
• Treat patients and coordinate treatment plans with other providers.
• Provide consultation and education to patients, parents, caregivers, teachers and other stakeholders.
• Maintain a full caseload with appropriate scheduling, session length and frequency.

Skills

Communication skills

Empathy

Crisis intervention

Counseling

Team collaboration

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Telehealth software

Electronic Health Record system

Job description

Description

Compensation:

• Salaried, Exempt
• The standard wage range for this role is $82,056-$99,715 per year
• It may be possible to earn more over time up to $117,395 per year

Work Schedule:

• Monday-Friday
• Full-time - 40 hours per week
• Year-round

Who We Are

Unity Care NW is a private, non-profit, federally qualified health center (FQHC) that has been proudly and successfully serving the greater Whatcom County area since 1982. With clinics located in Bellingham & Ferndale, we offer comprehensive primary medical, behavioral health and dental care, as well as pharmacy services to a diverse and often underserved patient population of all ages. Employing almost 300 caring and compassionate employees, our mission is to increase the years of healthy life in the people & communities we serve.

What We Value

• Respect
• Integrity
• Accountability
• Collaboration
• Innovation

We have an inclusive culture and stride to demonstrate our Values in Action in all that we do. We value each individual on our team and aim to onboard a diverse workforce of the very best talent, whose ambitions and values align with ours.

Job Summary

We believe mental & emotional health is an important part of overall health and wellness. Our behavioral health providers work closely with patients and their Primary Care Providers to help them meet their health care goals. As a Child & Family Counselor, you would provide outpatient, comprehensive Behavioral Health (BH) assessment and counseling services to children and families at UCNW clinics and at a select school in the Bellingham School District. This position will focus on children and youth from ages 5 to 17, as well as transition-age youth, ages 18-26 during the school year, and patients of all ages during the summer months. Duties are listed below:

1. Diagnoses patients:

a. Assesses patients referred to the Child and Family program to determine the patient’s mental health diagnosis, utilizing Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria.

2. Treats patients:

a. Assesses patients for disorders found within the DSM-5 as referred by the Primary Care Providers, PCBH/SBH therapists, Psychiatric team, Case Managers, and at schools, school personnel.

b. Coordinates treatment plans related to management of behavioral health disorders with other treatment providers.

c. Directs patients to appropriate additional services, including psychiatry and case management.

d. Communicates and coordinates the transfer or cessation of care with other internal stakeholders.

e. Works within the clinic and in designated school environments (if applicable).

3. Provides consultation and education to patients and necessary stakeholders:

a. Provides consultation and input related to the ongoing care to: other internal providers, external providers, parents and caregivers, teachers, other necessary stakeholders.

4. Maintains a caseload of patients:

a. Collaborates around and completes appropriate scheduling, session length, and session frequency for a full caseload of patients based on clinical assessment and need.

b. Utilizes treatment goals and timely discharges to manage cases and maintains flow of referrals to serve the needs of the primary care patient population at UCNW.

c. Maintains awareness and tracks patient engagement, providing appropriate outreach and encouraging full participation in clinical treatment.

d. Meets productivity requirement.

What We Offer

• A friendly team-based environment
• Clinical supervision for all therapists
• Opportunities for group collaboration
• A competitive compensation package
• A salaried position without the overhead and cost of running a private practice
• Outpatient only with no call schedule
• In-house case management
• Malpractice insurance with tail coverage through the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)

Loan Repayment Application Opportunities

• Employment at UCNW counts towards eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness – details can be viewed at Federal Student Aid.
• Eligible providers may apply for loan repayment through the following programs: the National Health Service Corps (NHSC Loan Repayment Program | NHSC (hrsa.gov)) and/or the Washington Student Achievement Council (Washington Health Corps | WSAC).

While employees at UCNW are eligible to apply for these loan repayment awards, receipt is not guaranteed.

Benefits Include:

• Medical, dental & vision insurance
• 401(K) retirement plan with employer match after 1 year of eligibility
• 6 paid holidays
• Paid Time Off (160 hours Year 1, 208 hours Year 2 & increasing again at Year 5 & Year 10)
• Continuing Education
• Reimbursement of license renewal fees
• Other paid leaves including: Bereavement, Jury Duty & Bone Marrow & Organ Transplant
• Life/Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Optional insurances including: Supplementary Life/AD&D, Short Term and Long Term Disability, Critical Illness, Accident, Travel & Identity Theft Protection
• Flexible spending accounts
• Self-funded Health Savings Account on Base Medical Insurance Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Alternative Transportation Incentives
• Healthy Living reimbursements
• Unique programs including Medical Hardship Payroll Loans, Employee Referral Bonuses & Will preparation services

Requirements

• Independently licensed as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) or Licensed Psychologist in Washington State (or be eligible to obtain an independent license in Washington)
• Meets the definition of a Children's Mental Health Specialist (CMHS) in Washington State RCW 71.34.020
• Possesses a Washington State Driver's License
• Has a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (can get certified upon hire)
• Has 2 years of direct clinical experience, preferably in community health or community mental health
• Able to be fingerprinted & pass an FBI background check as required by WA State Law (RCW 28A.400.303) prior to unsupervised work with children in Bellingham schools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of state mental health system functions, requirements, and changes, or proven ability to gain this knowledge.
• Knowledge of the assessment and treatment of the full range of behavioral health disorders and familiarity with use of psychotropic medications.
• Knowledge of the local community and private behavioral health and human services resources.
• Knowledge of how chronic medical issues and behavioral health interplay.
• Able to perform behavioral health assessments, clinical documentation and report writing.
• Skilled in counseling techniques including short term treatment and crisis intervention for specific populations.
• Knowledgeable, experienced &, where applicable, certified in a variety of treatment modalities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word & Excel as well as telehealth software.
• Ability to learn and use our Electronic Health Record system, payroll system, instant messaging software & online training systems.

About Bellingham

Live in a community consistently rated as one of the most desirable in the USA! Nestled on Bellingham Bay at the foot of the Cascade Mountains just a short distance from Seattle, Vancouver BC, and the San Juan Islands, Bellingham is home to over 90,000 people and surrounded by several charming small towns. Enjoy all the area has to offer:

• Recreational & Outdoor Activities (Hiking, Biking, Skiing, Snow Boarding, Fishing, Sailing, Kayaking, & Camping)
• Excellent Schools (University, Community College, Technical School, & Outstanding K-12 Educational System)
• Small Town or City Living (Unique Shops, Local Festivals, Farmers Markets, Berry Picking, & Community Events)
• Cultural Activities (Theater, Music, Independent Films, Museums, Art Studios, & Diverse Local Restaurants)

Unity Care NW has an Employee Health Program for the safety of our patients and staff. The program requires all new employees to have up to date vaccines for influenza and strongly encourages up to date vaccines for COVID-19. More information about this program is provided throughout the recruitment process.