Behavioral Health Integration – LCSW

• Direct Service: Provides behavioral health assessment and brief targeted treatment, psychosocial support, telephone screening, and referral services.
• Conducts assessment of patient’s mental status, psychosocial stressors, level of functioning, support systems, strengths and needs through the use of clinical interview and the consulting of collateral contacts to understand the BH symptom impact on other chronic conditions. Formulates and documents plan of intervention in a timely fashion.
• Provides brief targeted therapy live or virtually for patients identified by PCP to be suffering from a BH issue that is impacting a chronic medical condition.
• Assists patients with linkages to BH apps as appropriate.
• Assists behavioral health coordinator and care manager with linkages to resources when indicated including screening and linkage for social determinants of health related issues.
• Identifies and develops resources and services designed to improve and enhance hospital discharge plan for patients when appropriate.
• Demonstrates ability to utilize and teach appropriate behavior management techniques.
• Leads weekly case review meetings with the consulting psychiatrist, and reports treatment recommendations from the psychiatrist back to the PCP and care team.
• Communicates with PCP team and care management staff to obtain all relevant patient information. Refers patients and consults with other staff regarding patient progress.
• Understands the use of virtual therapy techniques and is comfortable delivering this level of care.
• Refers patients onto specialty BH care when care needed is beyond the brief therapy framework provided in the PCP environment.
• Recordkeeping: Completes various clinical assessments in accordance with team policies and procedures. Records reflect quality clinical care and adhere to Accrediting Organization standards.
• Maintains concise comprehensive evaluations, monitoring for symptomology changes, improvements in medical treatment, self-management activities, and clinical results within the PCP EHR.
• Contacts insurance companies and provides required information to obtain authorization when necessary.
• Participates in quality assurance initiatives.
• Records all screenings, symptomology tracking, and treatment within the PCP EHR.
• Serves as liaison for the patient between BH provider and PCP in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.
• Records in the PCP EHR treatment recommendations from weekly case review meetings with consulting psychiatrist and ensures that PCP and care team are aware of psychiatrist treatment recommendations.
• Clinical and Professional Practice.
• Stays abreast of all relevant policies and procedures. Adheres to relevant state and federal guidelines governing patient care and treatment of sensitive information, particularly the Illinois Developmental Disability and Mental Health Code, the Illinois Confidentiality Code, HIPPA and EMTALA. Familiar with and abides by the Illinois Clinical Social Worker Code of Ethics or the Illinois Licensed Clinical Counselor Code of Ethics, and the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics or the National Association of Counselors Code of Ethics.
• Provides brief targeted BH treatment in the PCP clinic and stays abreast of new evidence based screening and treatment models that can most effectively treat the patient population. Competent in providing virtual treatment through video platform, ensuring appearance and nonverbal behaviors are conducive to a therapeutic environment and relationship.
• Team and Training Activities: Actively participates in team activities in the department, larger hospital and in the community in ways that make a positive contribution to team operations.
• Demonstrates constructive involvement with professionals in the healthcare system and the community. Develops and maintains professional relationships with human services agencies and private organization to enhance service delivery and department image. Interprets program services to the social service community and occasionally represents the department in public, civic and private groups.
• Participates in quality assurance, accreditation, and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities and other special projects. Identifies professional goals and enhances job-related skills through staff development activities. Remains current on trends in clinical theory and evidence-based practice. Participation in weekly treatment review meetings with consulting psychiatrist with follow up recommendations to the treating primary care physician. Maintains a strong professional collegial relationship with PCP at all times, ensuring PCP stays abreast of treatment adherence and recommendations. Provides the PCP and the team with education related to evidence based BH treatment protocols as appropriate.

Licensure:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Education/Experience Required:

• MSW
• Two years experience working in healthcare/clinic environment. Knowledge of evidence based brief therapy models. Experienced and comfortable in regular interaction and professional dialogue with primary care physicians. Knowledge of Illinois State law regarding confidentiality, mental health code and federal substance abuse codes. Knowledge of behavioral health resources. Knowledge of DSM-5 diagnostic categories. This position will need to recognize the needs and behaviors of a variety of age groups of patients treated, i.e., normal patterns of adolescent behavior and look for signs or normal aging, prior experience with various age groups is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Competent computer skills. Organization, time management, communication, and documentation skills. Ability to deal with conflict. Effective interpersonal skills and ability to remain calm under stressful situations and exercise appropriate intervention. Ability to provide virtual care.
• Current licensure in the State of Illinois as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• •Resiliency and flexibility to deal with a changing environment. •Ability to work under stressful conditions and in difficult situations. •May be exposed to patients that potentially could be violent; has knowledge of techniques to de-escalate aggressive behavior. •Occasional travel to assigned clinics •High tolerance for emotionally stressful situations sometimes encountered daily with psychiatric and substance abuse patients.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.