Behavioral Health Specialist

Whitman-Walker Health – Washington, DC

The Behavioral Health Specialist serves as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team. This team member provides behavioral health screening, assessment, treatment and referral to medica I patients. S/he will also provide short term, solution focused psychotherapy and/or crisis intervention to individuals presenting with acute behavioral health needs. The individual will serve as liaison between medical and behavioral health ensuring expedient access and intervention to address the behavioral health and psychosocial needs of patients.

For nearly four decades, Whitman-Walker Health has provided health care services for the LGBT community. In the 1980s, we became a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. And, in the 21st Century, we have evolved into a full-service community health center.

Behavioral Health Specialist

• Primary Essential DutiesTriage/Liaison Services- Conducts initial screening visits, usually of 30 minutes or less, to determine appropriate level of need for mental health/addiction care or crisis intervention. May use screening or assessment tools such as the PHQ and Beck Depression inventory.
• Behavioral Health Consultation – Conducts intake visits of usually 15 to 30 minutes for clients referred for general evaluation. The focus is typically on diagnostic and functional evaluation, problem-solving, and recommendations for treatment and forming limited behavioral change goals. The visit may involve assessing patients at risk because of some life stress event, educating patients about community and/or clinic resources, or referring them to more appropriate treatment resources. In all cases, the visits will result in consultative feedback given to the patients’ primary care provider.
• Behavioral Health Follow-up- Conducts secondary visits with a patient to support a behavioral change plan or treatment started by a primary care provider on the basis of earlier consultation.
• Specialty Consultation – Provides consultative services over time to patients whose situation requires ongoing monitoring and follow-up; applicable to patients with chronic psychosocial issues and/or physical problems requiring longer term management. While the visits are structured like regular behavioral health consultations, they occur less frequently and are spread out over a longer period of time. The goal of these visits is to restore adaptive functioning rather than eliminate an acute mental disorder.
• Psycho-educational Classes- Conducts brief group treatment designed to promote education and skill-building that either replaces or supplements individual consultative treatment.
• Buprenorphine/Suboxone- provides coordination of care for clients engaged in the co-occurring disorders services of behavioral health- including, but not limited to, facilitating prescription authorizations, monitoring induction, and ensuring compliance with the appropriate standards of care for buprenorphine treatment. Serves as liaison between psychiatry, behavioral health providers and medical staff.

Knowledge, Skills and Talents Required

• Ability to conduct sensitive, empathetic interviews that respect the dignity and diversity of clients.
• Ability to maintain client records and information in an accurate, timely and confidential manner.
• Strong working knowledge of mental health, addiction, HIV/AIDS and LGBT issues.
• Strong working knowledge of buprenorphine treatment
• Strong clinical skills, with proven ability to engage, assess, provide interventions and terminate appropriately with diverse populations.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships within the organization and with external providers.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and competence with issues related to racial, cultural and sexual minority status.
• Good working knowledge of the health care delivery system, social services and community based resources.
• Ability to provide a full range of services with minimal supervision.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  

Education and Experience Required

• Master of Social Work or related degree required.
• Current licensure in the District of Columbia at the LGSW or higher level preferred.
• Experience working with an ethnically, culturally and racially diverse work staff preferred; ability to work harmoniously with diverse groups of individuals required.

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