Behavioral Health Practitioner

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

The Behavioral Health Practitioner (BHP) is responsible to provide an array of mental health/behavioral health services within the FoundCare clinics, serving children, adolescents, adults, and elderly patients, in collaboration with Primary Care Providers (PCP). The BHP will screen, evaluate, and monitor patient mental health. The BHP will be part of the interdisciplinary team and will participate in developing individualized treatment plans.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Work in collaboration with PCP and care coordinators to assist patients in need of screening for behavioral health/mental health services.
• Provide bio-psycho social evaluation to patients who present with behavioral health/mental health problems, and complete treatment plan with patients based on presenting problems.
• Provide short-term, structured, evidence-based psychotherapy (i.e. CBT, EMDR) as part of an appropriate treatment plan and in accordance with grants and contracts.
• Provide individual, family, and group therapy based on recommendation of the treatment plan.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings as needed.
• Coordinate and collaborate with PCP and/or care coordinators to improve health outcomes, and consult with multidisciplinary team members on challenging cases.
• Collaborate with other providers in providing crisis intervention, as needed.
• Collaborate with care coordinators in coordinating care to people living with HIV/AIDS, and all other patients.
• Work to meet patient needs effectively and resolve individual barriers through follow-up, advocacy, and collaboration with FoundCare staff and other community service providers.
• Participate in department meetings as well as participate in providing solutions to departmental challenges.
• Promote behavioral health services through outreach to the community and presentation to other staff members and/or clients.
• Facilitate referrals to other services internally (within FoundCare) and externally (e.g. substance abuse treatment, specialty care, and community resources) as needed.
• Keep track of services provided and deadlines for treatment plans for reporting purposes.
• Provide regular productivity updates to the Director of Behavioral Health.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of activities, case management notes, and services provided to each client.
• Consistently work in a positive and cooperative manner in the performance of assignments.
• Demonstrate flexibility to perform duties wherever volume deems it necessary within the health center.
• Communicates issues related to services, facilities, and operations to the Director of Behavioral Health overall health center improvement.
• Participates in continuous quality improvement initiatives, as directed by Chief Medical Officer.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Maintain patient and family confidentiality.
• Prepare for upcoming patient visits by reviewing charts for next day appointments.
• Contact patients for rescheduling when there are “No shows”.
• Provide services to walk-in patients, who are established patients of FoundCare.
• Provide clinical supervision to graduate students in mental health, social work, and/or psychiatric nursing.
• Quick response/accurate data entry to present treatment plans to patients in a short timeframe.
• Other duties as assigned to support the mission.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to respect the culture, values, and opinions of clients/patients/staff.
• Outstanding customer service skills and the ability to interact and work with diverse populations.
• Ability to incorporate culturally sensitive best practices within provision of services.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills; proven ability to communicate with diverse audiences, with or without the use of an interpreter.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing in the English language, with or without the use of auxiliary aids or services.
• Ability to review, understand, and apply concepts presented in training programs, conferences, and/or professional literature.
• Ability to interpret, adapt, and apply guidelines and procedures.
• Ability to complete projects with minimal directions/instructions.
• Ability to handle various special projects on an ongoing basis while addressing daily needs of the department.
• Good computer skills and ability to learn new computer systems, including changing electronic health records (EHR) and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point).
• Ability to orally communicate effectively with others and to work as part of an integrated team.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, medical staff, coworkers, and the public.
• Ability to provide psychoeducation on different topics related to behavioral health including prevention and transmission of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, including HIV, Hepatitis diseases.
• Knowledge of common safety hazards and precautions.
• Ability to use good reasoning and judgment and to react calmly in emergency situations.
• Skill in developing and maintaining clinical quality assurance.
• Skill in identifying and resolving problems.
• Familiarity and comfort working with issues related to homelessness, substance abuse, mental health diagnoses, and history of trauma.
• Basic knowledge about the impact of chronic illnesses and illnesses in general on behavioral health.
• Knowledge of Integrated Behavioral Health in the community healthcare system.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and county regulations for FQHCs is a plus.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Physically demanding, high-stress environment.
• Ability to endure short, intermittent, or long periods of sitting and/or standing in performance of job duties.
• Full range of body motion. Position requires reaching, bending, stooping, and handling objects with hands and/or fingers, talking and/or hearing, and seeing.
• Ability to lift & carry objects weighing up to 25lbs.
• Accomplish job duties using various types of equipment/supplies, e.g., pens, pencils, calculators, computer keyboard, telephone, etc.
• Ability to travel to other FoundCare locations and perform job duties.
• Ability to travel to other locations to attend meetings, workshops, and seminars, plus travel to other FoundCare departments and FoundCare conference rooms.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, Social Work, and/or equivalent from an accredited graduate school in the US/Canada.
• Possess current and valid license in the state of Florida (LCSW/LMFT/LMHC preferred).
• Unlicensed Behavioral Health practitioner will have a limit of two (2) years to complete license or newly graduated or less depending on date of completion of graduate degree (MSW, MHC, Psy.D).
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in a clinical setting or office, or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Experience in the following areas: biopsychosocial assessment, individual therapy, group therapy, short-term, evidence-based counseling, and crisis intervention.
• PC proficiency.
• This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems.
• Bilingual (English and Haitian Creole/Spanish)