What are the responsibilities and job description for the Behavioral Health Support Specialist - Int position at La Clinica Del Valle?
We’re committed to compassionate care for all. Our patients. Our employees. You.
At La Clinica, we love our patients and enthusiastically treat them with the same care, respect, and dignity that we would our friends, family, and neighbors because that's who they are. If this appeals to you, La Clinica might be the right place to build your career. We’re looking for the right team members to treat our patients with this level of care.
The Behavioral Health Support Specialist - Integrated (BHSS-I) is a core member of the interdisciplinary Care Team and focuses on the coordination of behavioral health services, assisting patients in goal setting, and providing interventions to support patients in their overall health.
Performs 2 Essential Job Duties – 1. Care Coordination in accessing behavioral health care, 2. Health Coaching and Goal setting
1- Care Coordination
- Supports patient and team in identifying and advocating for referral to behavioral health specific services (internal or external.) Provides ongoing follow up support in-person or by telephone to support patient-identified goals. Identifies when patients may need more intensive case management support and refers patients to community partners when indicated (i.e. MH intensive case management support).
- Coordinates and communicates care needs effectively with patient, service delivery partners, and primary care team members to ensure holistic plan of care.
- Refers patients with behavioral health needs to BHCs for assessment and intervention and follows care plans providing supportive interventions as identified by BHC team members.
- May, on occasion, meet a patient in the community to support accessing a needed behavioral health resource or service when the patient needs additional assistance to be successful. Will work with practice manager/direct supervisor to develop a plan and ensure patient needs are met.
- Provides coaching to patients with a variety of health conditions with a targeted focus on patients who have behavioral health needs engaging them in setting and working toward goals they have set for themselves in collaboration with the health care team.
- Understands and supports patients with mild to moderate mental health and substance use needs, using the BHC for consultation, assessment and care planning when indicated.
- Assists PCPs and BHCs in delivery of group visits. Responsible for collaborating on group facilitation and curriculum development for group visits.
- Screens and provides intervention for a variety of health screenings (i.e., PHQ, SBIRT, GAD, etc.)
- Screens and provides intervention to a person at risk for suicide, or domestic violence, creates safety plans, consults, and collaborates with BHC and providers on interventions and referrals to appropriate services.
- Supports patients and care teams in navigating situations that may require de-escalation, compromise, and reconciliation (i.e., Supporting development and communication of care agreements.)
- Collaborates with patients and care teams to provide support and increase knowledge and understanding of health conditions as well as provide education regarding preventative care measures.
- Utilizes motivational interviewing to assess patient readiness to change.
- Utilizes a trauma informed care practice of engagement with patients; for example, asking a patient, “What’s happened to you?” rather than, “What’s wrong with you?”
Education and/or Experience:
Required:
- Minimum: High School Diploma
- Three to five years of experience in social services field
- Excellent interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills
- Skills to intervene and promote reconciliation, compromise, and positive outcomes in difficult interactions.
- Skilled at using electronic health records as applicable to area of work (EPIC, Wisdom)
- Registers or is working towards a Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) certification within 3 years of employment and maintains certification while employed.
- Certification in health coaching, maternal and child health, alcohol, and drug counseling, and/or other health care related certification.
- Experience and skill in working with populations with significant psychosocial needs and behavioral health conditions.
- Bachelor’s degree in health education, health promotion, psychology, or social work.
- Basic knowledge of adult learning models
Equity Statement:
At La Clinica, we commit to engage everyone in a welcoming, respectful, and loving way and to maintain the dignity and value of all people above everything else. These standards align with our organization’s vision of absolute excellence, open-hearted community, and well-being for all. For more information, please visit our website at:
https://laclinicahealth.org/patients/approach/
Applications will be reviewed by the appropriate Department for interview; those selected must be able to provide proof of legal right to work in this country. La Clinica is a drug free work environment. Equal Opportunity Employer. La Clinica complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you consider yourself disabled and desire assistance in the application process, please contact the Human Resources Department.
