Associate Behavioral Health Specialist

Camino Health Center•San Clemente, CA

14d•$74,000 - $80,000

About The Position

The Associate Behavioral Health Specialist works under the direct supervision and training of the Behavioral Health Director, providing behavioral health services in a fast-paced clinic environment alongside medical teams to support comprehensive, whole-person care. Services include brief, focused biopsychosocial assessments; evidence-based brief therapy; same-day mental health consultations; psychosocial assessments; crisis intervention; psychotherapy; alcohol and drug screening using SBIRT; education and support groups; and resource information. The specialist serves as a bridge between Camino Health Center, the community, and local agencies. Camino provides direct weekly clinical supervision toward LCSW licensure requirements, and loan reimbursement opportunities are available. The role delivers primary behavioral health services in alignment with Camino Health Center's core values of dignity, excellence, service, and justice. It involves collaboration with medical and other care teams, timely consultation and referrals, participation in integrated care and quality programs, leadership in improving patient access and experience, and accurate clinical documentation. The position may involve coverage at various health center locations and outreach sites, including evening and weekend schedules.

Requirements

Master's degree in Social Work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation.
1–2 years of experience providing direct behavioral health services to patients of all ages.
Ability to manage brief patient contacts and make quick, accurate clinical assessments of mental and behavioral conditions.
Comfort working at the pace of primary care and with an interdisciplinary team.
Strong communication skills.
Valid Associate Social Worker (ASW) license issued by the California Board of Behavioral Health Sciences; the license must be maintained to continue recording experience hours until licensed as an LCSW.
Current BLS certification.
Ability to work collaboratively with people of all ages and social and ethnic backgrounds.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Excellent time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent oral and written communication skills and basic math skills.
Proficiency using computers and office equipment.
Ability to convey confidence and trust to patients.
Ability to relate well to health professionals and support staff.
Ability to carry out administrative, patient-support, and consultative responsibilities.
Ability to maintain patient confidentiality.
Ability to meet the age-related needs of the population served.
Ability to handle information and data with appropriate confidentiality and security.
Cooperate fully in risk-management activities and investigations.
Knowledge of and compliance with clinic safety policies and emergency procedures.
Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
Ability to work at various health center locations and outreach sites.

Responsibilities

Provide high-quality, patient-centered, values-based primary behavioral health services.
Use strengths-based, wellness, resilience, and recovery models when conceptualizing behavioral health and care.
Use huddles and integrated care practices to meet treatment and preventive care measures.
Provide psychoeducation about mental health and substance use disorders.
Advocate for, teach, and support illness and whole-health self-management and recovery approaches.
Make timely, clinically indicated referrals to community providers for patients with severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorders.
Make appropriate and complete referrals to specialty mental health and substance use disorder services as needed.
Collaborate with medical, dental, psychiatry, optometry, and other health care team members on integration, consultation, referrals, and follow-up.
Assist the Medical Director and Behavioral Health Director with program development, implementation, and evaluation as needed.
Participate in the health center's quality assurance and peer-review programs.
Cooperate with investigations, patient grievances, and payer requests.
Participate in Behavioral Health Integration services, including huddles, warm handoffs, providing resources to patients and staff, and treatment planning.
Comply with California mandated reporting requirements under the Welfare and Institutions Code sections cited in the posting.
Provide care in keeping with the health center's core values, communicate empathically with patients, and encourage empathic care among team members.
Deliver services to patient satisfaction as measured by the Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey.
Lead efforts to increase completion of patient satisfaction surveys.
Collaborate with the Behavioral Health Director and medical management team to investigate and respond to grievances and improve related processes.
Collaborate with the medical management team and Behavioral Health Director to improve workflows, cycle times, and the patient experience.
Respond promptly, if possible, to consultation or intervention requests from other providers.
Provide primary behavioral health care in accordance with health center policies, NASW professional standards, and board-approved privileging.
Provide coverage for evening and weekend schedules.
Lead problem solving for late-arriving patients, difficult patient calls, and patients with high-risk acuity needs.
Collaborate with the Behavioral Health case manager and care team to maximize same-day behavioral health access.
Work under licensed clinical social worker supervision in patient assessment and treatment as necessary and, when appropriate, assume responsibility for the clinical situation.
Take a leadership role with the care team, promote positive interactions, and engage team members in achieving quality, patient experience, and access goals.
Participate in department and clinic-wide meetings and trainings.
Attend in-services and conferences for professional growth and development.
Complete clear and defensible documentation of patient visits and telephone encounters.
Code encounters appropriately and accurately.
Take reasonable steps to ensure EHR documentation is accurate and reflects services provided.
Close encounters according to health center protocols.
Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.