Licensed Clinical Social Worker

POSITION: Licensed Clinical Social Worker

STATUS: Exempt; Full Time

REPORTS TO: Medical Director

SUPERVISES: Mental Health Case coordinator

DEPARTMENT: Medical Department

OFFICIAL DUTY STATION: Los Feliz Health Center (1530 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027)

SUMMARY:

This position will work in collaboration with the mental health team, which consists of the Medical Director, lead mental health physician, Adult and Senior Services manager, and Case Coordinator, to serve as a Behavioral Health Consultant. The Behavioral Health Consultant provides assessment, brief interventions, psycho-education, teaching life skills and consultation services as part of this multidisciplinary team within a primary care setting. The LCSW will be using brief therapy techniques, value based goal setting, habit forming, and self-directed behavior modification strategies.

APHCV expects all employees to participate in APHCV's emergency response operations per our emergency policies and procedures.

APHCV requires all staff to comply with Standards of Conduct and Compliance Program related policies and procedures. Such compliance is part of this position's performance evaluation

APHCV is a tobacco free organization.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Clinical

• Identifies, triages, and manages patients with mental health and behavioral health conditions in a primary care model working with a team of primary care physicians and mid level providers.
• Provides skill training, patient education, and develop specific behavioral change plans with patients and evaluates patient care plans with primary care team.
• Assists primary health care providers in recognizing and treating mental disorders and psychosocial problems.
• Assesses the clinical status of patients referred by the primary care provider.
• Assists in the detection of "at risk" patients and prevents further psychological or physical deterioration.
• Consults with physician supervisor as necessary and refers cases to specialty providers as appropriate.
• Works with primary care team to treat and manage patients with chronic emotional and/or health problems efficiently and effectively.
• Assesses for and assists in preventing relapse or morbidity in conditions that tend to recur over time.
• Improves clinical outcomes with high prevalence mental disorders.

2. Teaching/Education

• Teaches patients, families, and staff self-management, prevention, and treatment enhancement techniques.
• Provide or coordinate necessary staff training to ensure staff competency and safety serving behavioral health clients.
• Responds to patient or co-worker complaints and work toward a positive resolution of any dispute.

3. Administrative

• Maintains productivity based on the brief intervention model.
• Accurately records patient history, exam notes, medication history, on-going care and referrals in medical record, according to established format.
• Supervise case coordinator.
• Attends and participates in meetings and Quality Assurance activities as required.
• Assess staff sensitivity and competency with behavioral health issues or in dealing with behavioral health related emergencies (domestic violence victims, suicide attempts, etc.)
• Identifies problems related to patient services and makes recommendations for improvement.
• Participates in evaluation of peers and support staff.
• Other duties assigned by the Medical Director or Chief Executive Officer.
• Must have current CA license.
• A minimum of 2 years of independent counseling experience.
• Flexible, pragmatic, and comfortable with the idea that people can change in many ways.
• Must be non-judgmental of lifestyle and/or beliefs of clients, but act as a change agent when the patient has difficulty in their lives.
• Knowledge/experience with behavior modification strategies such as motivational interviewing, condensed skill building (behavioral activation), and value based strategies preferred.
• Background/training in crisis work or solution focused therapy, brief focused interventions, or other time limited therapy preferred.
• Ability to work as a member of a team in order to solicit input from other affected departments or individuals, communicate pertinent information to other team members, and support team decisions.
• Ability to communicate effectively and exercise sound and responsible judgment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, written and verbal. Ability to establish constructive working relationships with all levels of management and employees in a staff of varied and diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to handle difficult or confrontational situations in a calm, consistent, and equitable manner.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.