Behavioral Health Consultant (School-Based)

The Family Practice & Counseling Services Network•Philadelphia, PA

19h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) functions as part of the primary care treatment team. This individual provides behavioral health consultation, assessment and brief intervention to all patients in the primary care behavioral health setting. The BHC will administer and review screenings and assessment tools to identify psychosocial, psychological and developmental struggles. It is the role of the BHC to advocate for all patients and to connect patients and families to community resources as needed. The BHC will uphold the health center mission by assuring the delivery of high quality clinical services that result in better health outcomes, strong consumer satisfaction; and that help maintain the fiscal and operational capacity of the Behavioral Health Department. Team members are expected uphold the health center mission by assuring that patients receive health care that is competent, caring, and meets with a high degree of satisfaction. In addition, staff must support FPCSN's commitment to the creation of a trauma-informed system of care that continually recognizes and responds to the impact of traumatic stress on all those who have contact with the organization, including children, adults, families, caregivers, and staff. The BHC provides care to patients across the lifespan.

Requirements

MSW, Ph.D./Psy.D. in Psychology, or a related field.
Current Pennsylvania licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, or Licensed Professional Counselor REQUIRED.
Excellent working knowledge of behavioral medicine and evidence-based treatments for medical, behavioral, and mental health conditions.
Maintain and uphold Social Work/Psychology ethical and legal guidelines.
Ability to work with a culturally diverse population.
Minimum of one year of post-graduate clinical experience in a behavioral health or related setting.
Ability to make quick and accurate clinical assessments of mental and behavioral health conditions via brief patient contact.
High level of comfort in working with primary care medical providers using a consultative style.
Ability to complete clinical documentation with concise, clinically relevant information in a timely fashion.
Demonstrates good time management skills and follow through.
Ability to design effective psycho-education curricula and lead effective psycho-educational group visits.
Ability to work effectively as a team, interfacing with patients, primary care providers, behavioral health staff, as well as with administrative and support staff.
Ability to exercise balanced judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions, and to handle difficult or confrontational situations in a calm, consistent, and equitable manner
Ability to effectively represent health center’s interests in the community and maintain effective working relationships among co-workers, public, private, and professional groups.
Ability to create a space for staff and those we serve to feel physically and emotionally safe.
Ability to support individuals on their paths to recovery and healing and resist re-traumatization of staff and patients.
Demonstrate exemplary problem-solving, communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.
Ability to pass required background screenings and credentialing verifications.
Required Immunizations: Hep B Vaccination and TB/PPD Test.
Current valid CPR Certification required, or willingness to receive at next organizational CPR class.
Must maintain current valid applicable position credentials.
Must be willing to work on-site and hybrid

Nice To Haves

Optional Immunizations: COVID Vaccination and Flu Vaccination.

Responsibilities

Brief Consultations – Assist primary health care providers in recognizing and treating mental health disorders and psychosocial struggles within the primary care setting.
Assess the clinical status of patients referred by primary care providers.
Provide options counseling and referral to prenatal care as needed.
Collaborate/consult with Nurse Practitioners & other clinical staff regarding all patients seen by Behavioral Health Consultant.
Work closely with Providers at the site to identify at risk patients and collaboratively develop plans to prevent further psychological or physical deterioration.
Crisis Intervention – Be immediately available to the Family Practice and Counseling Network staff during working hours in the event of any psychiatric emergency.
Coordinate care of patients with medical/social work/outpatient and outreach staff to treat and manage patients’ chronic emotional and/or health struggles efficiently and effectively.
Refer patients to other levels of care or additional services as needed.
Participate in monthly clinical supervision with an IBH Director.
Participate in monthly clinical/administrative group supervision within Integrated Behavioral Health Department.
Attend and participate in team meetings, case conferences and interdisciplinary work groups/huddles as scheduled within primary care/behavioral health departments.
Ability and cooperation to provide BHC coverage at other clinic sites as needed and requested by Director.
Maintain competencies in mental health as required by all licensing and funding entities; maintain PA license to practice.
Charting - Utilize electronic medical record to document all patient interactions and complete all charting required by contracted funding sources to include assessments, progress notes and billing in a timely fashion.
Productivity – Meet productivity standards as established by the corporation
Member of Family Practice and Counseling Network’s Multi-disciplinary Team- Attend and participate in meetings and quality improvement activities as required.
Respond to patient or co-worker complaints and work toward a positive resolution of any dispute.
Serve as a member of site committees as requested.
Participate in evaluation of peers and support staff when requested.
Options Counseling- provide options counseling to students and referrals to prenatal care as needed.
Brief Consultations- Provides clinical interventions to students who present with a family planning need, behavioral health challenge, or psychosocial stressor in a school setting.
Provides care that is solution-focused to empower students to mobilize internal school supports (i.e. FSS Teams, School Counselors, etc.) and use external resources to improve coping abilities, daily functioning, and overall quality of life.
Meet regularly with members of the school-based health center in addition to school support staff as necessary, including attendance to monthly SBHC team meetings and student support meetings held by school support staff.
May receive a BHC caseload of students for monitoring and complete any necessary pre/post behavioral health screenings as required.
Completes responsibilities as generalist and pediatric BHC.
Provide in-person services at a minimum of two school-based centers and virtual support to all FPCSN school-based locations.
Support marketing, rapport-building initiatives, and school-based services awareness, including the development of brochures, flyers, tabling events, and presentations, as needed.
Supports continuity of care across FPCSN health clinics by offering clinical coverage during seasonal school breaks and professional development closures, when feasible and aligned with program needs.
Responsibilities may vary based on site program needs and scheduling considerations