Job Overview
TEAM UP Early Childhood Behavioral Health Clinician
BROCKTON NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CENTER
In order to prevent a direct threat to the safety and health of our patients and staff, effective August 1, 2021, new hires are required to have had at least the first dose of a COVID vaccine prior to their start, with the exception of those who have documented medical or religious exemptions. New hires who are not yet vaccinated can arrange to have the vaccine on site.
Title: TEAM UP Early Childhood Behavioral Health Clinician
Supervisor: Pedi/OB Behavioral Health Program Manager
POSITION SUMMARY:
The TEAM UP Early Childhood Behavioral Health Clinician (BHC) functions as a core member of a collaborative care team that involves the patient and his/her family (when appropriate), the patients’ primary care provider, nursing, and community health workers. The BHC provides consultation/assessment and bio-psychosocial evaluations on an urgent basis, support and linkage services, advocacy, education, brief interventions, counseling, and information in order to ensure adequacy of health care, increase access of services, enhance physical and psychological well-being and facilitate patient self-care. Patients are referred (optimally via warm hand-off) by BNHC medical providers who are at high risk due to medical diagnoses, who are frequent users of the hospital emergency rooms; and/or who have behavioral health/mental health, social or environmental concerns that impede their overall health. The Early Childhood BHC will have a strong background in early childhood mental health and serve as a consultant for the team around this topic. He/She will provide age appropriate evidenced based interventions for this age group and be able to assist other team members in this as well. This team member will also be a part of a collaborative team which facilitates referrals for developmental assessments of young children
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide culturally sensitive assessment, consultation and brief intervention for psychological/psychiatric problems and/or disorders and diagnostic clarification utilizing DSM-5
- Evaluate crisis situations and apply appropriate interventions and treatment planning (Suicidal/Homicidal Risk Assessment)
- Assist the primary care team in developing care-management processes such as guidelines, disease management techniques, case-management and patient education to improve self-management of chronic diseases
- Provide an array of clinical services for pediatric and OB/GYN behavioral health problems and areas of behavioral medicine (treatment planning/provision) to assist patients with meeting goals including, but not limited to:
Behavior and Mood Management
- Anxiety Management
- Support with patient advocacy related to BH issues in school context
- Substance Use Screening & referral to treatment
- Interim Check of Psychotropic Medication Response (when appropriate)
- Stress & Anger Management (particularly for parents)
- Health Behavior and Disease Management
- Medication Adherence
- Weight Management
- Sleep Hygiene and counseling
- Psychosocial & Behavioral Aspects of prevention of Chronic Disease
- Support around specific challenges of early childhood development and mental health
Some Interventions that may be used include
- Psychoeducation
- Advocacy
- Positive Parenting interventions
- Relaxation Training and Skill Building
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- Child based mindfulness Strategies
- Behavioral Structure/Behavioral Scheduling
- Goal Setting
- Problem Solving
- Exercise
- Solution Focused Strategies
- BRANCH (once trained)
- Facilitate consultation between PCP and Social Services staff for co-management of patients
- Facilitate initial connection between internal and/or community-based social service agencies (Mental Health), community based benefits agencies, school etc. for management of patients
- Participation in Clinical Treatment Team to assist with treatment planning to provide comprehensive care for clients and families
- Participation in Administrative Treatment Team meetings to identify problems related to patient services and make recommendations for improvement
- Assistance with outcome measures and data collection (when requested)
- Documentation of Services to include behavioral health services and documentation in EHR as appropriate
- May provide consultation to other Behavioral Health staff with regards to specialization in Early Childhood Mental Health(when appropriate)
- Attend all TEAM UP trainings, events and meetings
- Perform other duties as assigned
Additional Requirements
- Excellent working knowledge of pediatric behavioral health and evidence based treatment for medical and mental health conditions (particularly for Early Childhood)
- Ability to work through brief patient contacts as well as to make quick and accurate clinical assessment of mental and behavioral conditions.
- Should be comfortable with pace of primary care, working with interdisciplinary team and have strong communication skills.
- Good knowledge of child psychopathology and psychopharmacology
- Ability to design and implement clinical pathways and protocols for treatment of selected chronic conditions.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Must be licensed or currently seeking licensure, in Social Work (LCSW, LICSW), Mental Health Counseling (LMHC), Psychology (PhD, PsyD). Language and cultural diversity (Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, French, and Spanish) preferred.
Must be licensed or currently seeking licensure, in Social Work (LCSW, LICSW), Mental Health Counseling (LMHC), Psychology (PhD, PsyD). Language and cultural diversity (Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, French, and Spanish) preferred.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
A busy community health center located in a downtown business district. Occasional long hours may be required.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Physical demands requiring lifting of small pieces of equipment and/or boxes not to exceed 20 pounds. Mostly sedentary, with interoffice walking required. Visual acuity sufficient for frequent reading. Hearing acuity sufficient for holding conversations with or without audio devices.
At Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, we are dedicated to providing high quality health care that is delivered by Committed, Competent, Compassionate staff who respects the dignity, privacy, and equality of each patient and colleagues. Our team believes that Teamwork, Diversity, Respect, Customer service and Collaboration are essential for everyone to be successful in their role.
