Behavioral Health Assessor Weekend

Wellstar Health System

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Assessor-Licensed performs comprehensive in-person and tele-mental health assessments, psychoeducation, and interventions for patients receiving care for psychological, behavioral, or substance-related disturbances. Working under the leadership of the Manager of Behavioral Health or designee, the assessor collaborates with physicians and other care team members to plan safe care delivery and transitions to appropriate levels of care. The role involves assessing patients in emergency departments and acute care units, recommending care levels, coordinating referrals and placements, supporting safe discharge planning, and participating in service-line functions and initiatives. The schedule is Saturday and Sunday from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., plus one weekday from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work or Professional Counseling.
At least 3 years of experience working with adult and/or child populations.
Required license or certification upon hire: BLS, ARC-BLS, or BLS-I.
Required license: LAPC, LMSW (Georgia), LCSW (Georgia, preferred), or LPC (preferred).
Wellstar AVADE de-escalation certification, or provisional AVADE-P certification within 30 days.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Ability to think abstractly and develop innovative services responsive to organizational and patient needs.
Interest in behavioral health and willingness to work at various Wellstar sites depending on need.
Knowledge of behavioral health best practices.
Basic ability to use Word and Excel and a telemedicine cart for remote assessments.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with behavioral health patients; internships and volunteer experience may apply.
LCSW (Georgia) or LPC licensure is preferred.

Responsibilities

Conduct and interpret comprehensive in-person or tele-mental health clinical assessments in emergency departments and acute care units.
Complete suicide risk assessments and reassess patients each shift or more frequently as their status or acuity changes.
Collaborate with patients’ collateral contacts and support systems.
Recommend an appropriate level of care based on the patient’s clinical, medical, biopsychosocial presentation, and resource needs.
Consult with physicians, on-call psychiatrists, nursing staff, and other appropriate team members to establish behavioral health plans of care.
Review the plan of care with patients or guardians and explain available program services and recommendations.
Coordinate age-appropriate referrals with the Assessment and Resource Center following evaluation and in conjunction with the provider.
Identify and document barriers to timely disposition and obtain collateral information to support continued-care planning.
Educate and counsel patients and families to support understanding and following medical recommendations.
Understand eligibility processes and criteria for referrals to levels of service and resources.
Develop a safety plan with every patient and account for cultural or religious beliefs in service delivery and continuity of care.
Ensure the Assessment and Resource Center receives documentation needed to facilitate referrals.
Document initial psychosocial and functional assessments, suicide risk assessments, reassessments, safety plans, patient contacts, collateral contacts, support systems, and resource referrals in the electronic medical record accurately and promptly.
Assist with legal documentation needed for patient placement, including forms 1013, 1014, and 1015.
Maintain ethical conduct, integrity, honesty, and confidentiality of patient information.
Maintain attendance and punctuality in accordance with system policy.
Attend staff meetings, required in-services, process-improvement activities, and other requested meetings.
Complete initial and ongoing competency assessments, mandatory education, and population-specific education.
Perform other duties as assigned and comply with Wellstar policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.