Shs-Pop Health Behavioral Health Consultant (Lmsw Social Worker)

Job Description

General Purpose of Job: As part of the Population Health Service Organization (PHSO), the Behavioral Health Consultant will participate in the practices with the Sparrow Medical Group (SMG) primary care team to support the coordination of behavioral health care.

Common Duties and Responsibilities: 

Sparrow Health System is building the Integrative Behavioral Health program. The Social Workers work as Behavioral Health Consultants or (BHC's) consistent with the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model.  The goal is to integrate behavioral health services into primary care practices to offer services that support the wellbeing of both the patient's physical and behavioral health.

BHC's receive referrals through warm hand-offs and referrals.  The BHC's may diagnose and address concerns related to an array of conditions which may include depression, anxiety, grief and loss, situational stress, sleep dysregulation, coping with the stressful effects of chronic or acute illness.   In addition, the expectation is that the clinician will implement strategies and interventions to manage multiple conditions and/or engage with specialty care for serious and persistent mental health needs. The BHC may see patient for a single intervention in the office or have the opportunity to schedule the patient for short- term focused therapy.

This position is a great opportunity to be a valuable part of a multidisciplinary team with physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Physician's Assistants, RN's, MA's, clerical staff, etc.

Essential Duties

• Provides assessments, crisis interventions, advocacy, support, care management, community referrals, and counseling at the clinic or via a telehealth encounter
• Screens and assesses patients for common mental health and substance abuse disorders, with the ability to triage high-risk patients when necessary
• Provides brief behavioral interventions using evidence-based psychological techniques such as behavioral activation, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing, or other treatments as appropriate
• Works with the patient, family, and other members of the health care team to formulate a treatment plan and goals of care
• Communicates regularly with all involved parties (patient, family, Specialists, Primary Care Physician, etc.) and updates treatment notes in Epic
• Documents in-person and telehealth encounters in Epic, which should include patient progress, treatment recommendations, adherence monitoring and side effects
• Provides information about resources and options available in the community and coordinates service delivery
• Understanding of legal and ethical issues in primary care
• Knowledge of the impact of biologic/medical factors on cognitive and affective functioning
• General understanding of the most common conditions treated in primary care, such as chronic pain, Diabetes, COPD, and obesity
• Adapts behaviors and goals, in a culturally sensitive manner based on the individual's background, social situation, experience and wishes
• Reports information generated from available sources to support operational, clinical and financial goals/outcomes

Job Requirements General Requirements Current LMSW licensure by the State of Michigan; OR LLMSW's will be considered if licensure exam is passed and the candidate is within 6 months of completing their clinical supervision. Supervision can be provided for the duration of the supervision period. Work Experience Knowledge of Michigan's Mental Health Codes Experience working in an ambulatory practice - preferred Education Minimum of a Master's Degree in social work Specialized Knowledge and Skills Demonstrated skills in diagnosing psychopathology Skills in providing individual, group, and family therapy Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Project, and Power Point Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues at different levels of the business, up through the most senior levels within the enterprise Ability to establish and maintain a high level of credibility with the patient and primary care team, to clearly articulate complex messages Ability to create an open environment where conflicts as to methods and priorities can be aired and resolved in an objective manner Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate vision, mission, goals, themes, and key priorities that guide and focus the efforts of others Able to coordinate and balance requirements between clinical outcomes and administrative activities Strong collaboration and influence capabilities Exceptional organizational ability and the ability to achieve goals in the face of multiple pressures Possesses flexibility to lead in an ever-changing work environment; ability to work with minimal direction and oversight; ability to deal with ambiguity and uncertainty Superior prioritization, organizational, and management skills Ability to work independently; resourceful and proactive Clear and confident communicator internally and with members/external partners Excellent problem-solving skills, particularly ability to react appropriately "in the moment" Unyielding attention to detail Experience working with Epic - preferred