Behavioral Health Consultant (Clinical Social Worker)

**RECRUITMENT OR RELOCATION INCENTIVE UP TO 25% OF NEGOTIATED SALARY MAY BE OFFERED**

Behavioral Health Consultant (Clinical Social Worker) Tacoma, WA

Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest on the Puget Sound, in Washington State, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) is near the city of Lakewood, 10 minutes from Tacoma and 20 minutes from Olympia, the state capitol. JBLM is situated in a key location along Interstate 5, allowing easy access to Sea-Tac Airport and to the deep-water ports of Tacoma and Seattle. Although the Army and Air Force missions have changed over the years, one thing has not changed—the natural setting of the base. Majestic Mount Rainier looms on the horizon, towering over the other peaks of the Cascade Range. From the mountains to the deep waters of Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean, the local areas abound in natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. Camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, boating and snow sports are a way of life in Washington State.

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/

DUTIES

1. Function as a full-time integrated team member in the primary care clinic using the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model of service delivery.
2. Screen and assess patients, and perform PCBH model appropriate biopsychosocial evaluations using expert knowledge of general and specific concepts, principles, procedures, and practices relating to clinical, clinical health, and primary care psychology.
3. Conduct brief assessments and formulate evidence-based interventions appropriate to a primary care setting for a wide range of Behavioral Health conditions, chronic medical conditions, and health behaviors affecting medical conditions.
4. Provide evaluation, intervention and relapse prevention services in appointments lasting no more than 30 minutes for initial and follow-up visits
5. Assist with implementation and monitoring of treatment plans with Primary Care Managers (PCMs) and other primary care team members
6. Provide timely and succinct feedback to PCMs regarding consultation findings and recommendations
7. Provides concise documentation of care and recommendations in patient’s medical record 
8. Triage and refer patients to Specialty Behavioral Health Care when services required exceed the BHC scope of practice
9. Actively work with PCMH team to identify patients who are appropriate for BHC services and facilitates processes to increase same-day “warm handoff” of patients
10. Work to increase overall penetration into the enrolled clinic population by targeting common conditions with behavioral components that are amenable to BHC intervention.
11. Develop, teach, and provide oversight for classes that promote education and skill-building to enhance psychological and physical health, and promote behavioral change related to improved health status

Performs other duties asassigned

Basic Requirements:

US Citizenship required

Qualifications

1. Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from a program accredited by the American Social Work Association. The incumbent is expected to have a minimum of 1 years’ experience as a licensed Clinical Social Worker. Current LCSW license is mandatory.
2. Coursework, training and experience applying principles of cognitive behavioral therapy to psychological and/or bavioral medicine conditions.
3. Understanding of the relationship between medical and psychological aspects of health and disease, with application of bio-psychosocial principles, and a basic knowledge of pharmacotherapy.
4. Ability to identify, adapt, and apply empirically supported, evidence-based interventions to a broad range of problems presenting in primary care, along with identifying functional outcomes. Skill in counseling to facilitate life changes (motivational enhancement techniques) is highly valued.
5. Possess specialized knowledge of evidence-based treatment for general Behavioral Health problems (e.g., depression and anxiety). Possesses knowledge of evidence-based treatment for areas of behavioral medicine (e.g., chronic pain, obesity and sleep problems) or willingness to quickly develop this knowledge set.
6. Must participate in mandatory 3-week PCBH Orientation Training and be able to demonstrate adequate PCBH clinical competencies during mandatory PCBH Phase I training prior to seeing patients in primary care.