Bhi Psychotherapist

**Position Description**

The Behavioral Health Integration Psychotherapist ("BHI Social Worker") will assist primary care and dental patients with actively engaging in behavioral health care. Working on-site at Healthcare Services in both the Article 28 and Article 31 sites will be responsible for screening for mental health and substance use problems and implementing and monitoring systems to ensure that patients engage and remain in mental health and/or substance use care, and work collaboratively with the appropriate HU departments and external agencies. Additionally, the BHI Psychotherapist will provide therapy to a small caseload.

**Essential Job Functions**

The following duties are mandatory requirements of the job:

- The BHI Psychotherapist will implement the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program. The BHI Psychotherapist will administer standardized screening tools to identify clients with mental health and substance abuse and the Patient health Questionaire-9 (PHQ-9) to screen for depression.
- The BHI Psychotherapist will provide brief treatment or intervention to clients with substance use issues, where appropriate.
- Based upon screening, brief intervention, and assessment of client service needs, the BHI Psychotherapist worker will coordinate behavioral health care and/or substance use treatment as appropriate.
- The BHI Psychotherapist will refer and coordinate cadre for clients with mental health and/or substance use problems to an appropriate specialty provider.
- The individual hired to fill this position will be an integral part of the primary care team and will contribute to the clients' treatment planning, participate in team huddles, and monitor and communicate clients' needs and progress to both the primary medical providers and behavioral healthcare providers.
- The BHI Psychotherapist will communicate and collaborate with a clients’ "care manager" to support long-term relation in behavioral health treatment.
- The individual should have a deep understanding of behavioral health care services including behavioral interventions, readiness assessment and other evidence-based practice tools utilized to improve access to mental health and substance use treatment.
- Facilitate communication between the primary care team and specialty behavioral health providers and ensure that all members of the team are up to date of the client's behavioral health status including diagnoses, medication list, treatment compliance, and social functioning.
- Have an understanding of primary care and the need to integrate behavioral health and primary care in the primary care setting.
- Participate in case conferencing, regular treatment meetings, and shared systems.
- Promote linkage development.
- Monitor the effectiveness of linkages with other service providers.
- Maintain relationships with service providers and referral sources.
- Ensure community follow-up to engage the client in care.
- Promote adherence to medical and mental health appointments.
- Encourage client self-sufficiency and empowerment.
- Make phone calls to appropriate agencies to advocate for services.
- Obtain all necessary records from other agencies that are involved with clients.
- Participate in case conferences with other providers.
- Assist with the development of intakes, assessments, reassessments, joint service plans, service plans, child assessments and collateral assessments.
- Develop Mental Health and/or Substance Use service plan goals.
- Document all activities as appropriate in electronic medical records and logs.
- Adhere to all client confidentiality requirements and standards.
- Other duties as required by Managing Director.

**Other Responsibilities**

The following duties are to be performed as assigned by the supervisor:

- Perform CQI activities.
- Participate in CQI activities.
- Provide staff training and supervision of mental health issues.
- Actively participate in internal and external training programs and committees.
- Perform other duties as assigned.

**Education and Certification**

MSW, LMSW, MHC, LMHC. At least one year of post-graduate experience working with individuals or families with have a history of substance use, mental illness, chronic homelessness and/or HIV/AIDS. Bilingual Spanish is strongly desired.