Pediatric Behavioral Health Care Manager/ Lcsw

Purpose of Position:

The Pediatric Behavioral Health Care Manager/Licensed Clinical Social Worker will serve as a core member of the collaborative care team, including the patient’s primary care provider (PCP) and a psychiatrist consultant. In partnership with the UT Southwestern Department of Psychiatry, this position will help implement a new evidence-based care model, the AIMS collaborative care model, in supporting and coordinating the Behavioral Health Care of pediatric patients and their families. This position will specialize in helping pediatric patients and their families manage Pediatric Behavioral Health conditions and stressors. This position will provide screenings and clinical assessments, create and manage a caseload (registry) of active cases, and coordinate treatment planning and strategic interventions with the psychiatrist consultant and PCP. This position could also provide brief counseling for children, adolescents and families as part of a multi-disciplinary treatment approach.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Pediatric Behavioral Health Care Manager/Licensed Clinical Social Worker Duties:

• Support the mental and physical Health Care of pediatric patients on a referred patient caseload. Closely coordinate care with the patient’s primary care provider, other mental health providers, and other members of the primary care team.
• Screen and assess patients for common Pediatric Behavioral Health conditions. Facilitate patient engagement and follow-up care.
• Provide patient and family education about common Behavioral Health conditions and treatment options.
• Systematically track treatment response using validated tools such as the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, and monitor patients (in person or virtually) for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications.
• Utilize and maintain a caseload tracking software that is a registry for managing Behavioral Health caseloads. Document in-person and telephone encounters- including patient information, Behavioral Health visit dates and case review dates, symptom scores- in the registry and use the system to identify and re-engage patients.
• Document patient progress and treatment recommendations in EHR and other required systems so as to be shared with other members of the primary care team.
• Participate in regularly scheduled (usually weekly) caseload consultation with the psychiatrist consultant and communicate resulting treatment recommendations to the patient’s primary care provider. Consultations will focus on patients new to the caseload and those who are not improving as expected under the current treatment plan. Case reviews may be conducted by telephone, video, or in person.
• Facilitate referrals for clinically indicated services within and outside of the clinic (e.g., social services, neuropsychological testing, Behavioral Health specialty care).
• Provide brief behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing, or other treatments as appropriate.
• Provide educational information and strategies to pediatric patients for mental health management, coping, and self-care.
• Facilitate treatment plan changes for patients who are not improving as expected in consultation with the primary care provider and the psychiatrist consultant and who may need more intensive or more specialized mental Health Care.
• Support psychiatric medication management in conjunction with the psychiatrist consultant and primary care providers, focusing on treatment adherence monitoring, side effects, and effectiveness of treatment.
• Develop strong partnerships with pediatric clinicians and function as their Behavioral Health expert, providing consultation and support on Behavioral Health issues and serving as a liaison between the psychiatrist consultant and primary care providers.
• Develop and complete relapse prevention self-management plan with pediatric patients and their families who have achieved their treatment goals and are soon to be discharged from the caseload.
• Participate in evaluation of peers.
• Participate in patient case review process.
• Attend and participate in meetings and Quality Improvement activities as required.
• Participate in ongoing training activities as provided by the organization related to assigned tasks and providing patient-centered care.
•  Perform other duties as assigned, including administrative duties, critical incident stress interventions, and special projects as required. 

General Duties:

•       Fosters an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among all staff.
•       Enforces clinic policies and procedures.
•       Maintains confidentiality of all patient and employee information.
•       Attends all mandatory meetings and other meetings as requested.
•       Ability to meet physical and non-physical demands as outlined in the job description is an essential function of the job. 

Customer Service:

• ·         Participates in customer service related issues.
• ·         Provides quality care and strives to continually improve.
• ·         Treats patients and others with respect, courtesy and compassion.
• ·         Identifies problems, takes ownership, and contributes to solutions.
• ·         Promotes teamwork and cooperation to create an environment that maximizes efficiency and satisfaction.
• ·         Encourages open communication and mutual education.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Required

• Ability to read, write, understand medical terminology
• Knowledge of public health principles and practice, primarily health data privacy and security standards
• Thorough knowledge of maternal and child health, parenting issues, communication skills, family dynamics, and substance abuse
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• Ability to plan and organize work with minimal supervision
• Ability to work well with all staff, community, and volunteers, including mentoring and supervising social work students

Preferred

• Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred but not required.

Credentials and Experience

Required

• Masters in Social Work from an accredited Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) program
• Licensed to practice in the State of Texas, as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Valid Driver’s License in the State of Texas
• Certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

This job description shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, the above duties.  May temporarily perform other duties as assigned to maintain operations and services.