Behavioral Health Care Coordinator-LICSW, Behavioral Health Patient Access

Heywood Hospital•Gardner, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is for a Behavioral Health Care Coordinator with LICSW credentials, focusing on Behavioral Health Patient Access. The role involves providing comprehensive care within the Emergency Department (ED) setting, integrating primary and behavioral healthcare. The goal is to reduce idle time for patients awaiting transfer by offering assessment, crisis evaluation, suicide assessment, interventions, referrals, and therapy sessions. The coordinator will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, ensuring timely and accurate documentation, and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards. This role also involves care transitions, coordination, and utilization review, working closely with various internal departments and external agencies.

Requirements

Masters Degree in Social Service, Counseling, Psychology, or related field from an accredited graduate program.
Massachusetts licensure as a LICSW or LMHC required.
Three (3) to five (5) years working with the psychiatric populations.
Experience and/or understanding of emergency department, inpatient, and outpatient behavioral health needs preferred.
Current working knowledge of insurance providers.
Ability to work independently and/or part of a team.
Excellent verbal and written skills required.
Demonstrated ability to clearly assess and treat psychiatric problems.
Working knowledge of community resources and how to access them.
Good knowledge of counseling and crisis intervention techniques.
Ability to relate well with people.
Ability to deal confidently with other service providers.
Tact and courtesy.
Integrity.
Good judgment.
Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability to change.

Nice To Haves

Addiction experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide assessment, crisis evaluations, suicide assessment and interventions, referrals, and individual, family, and/or group therapy sessions to patients awaiting transfer.
Integrate Primary and Behavioral Healthcare within the ED.
Complete assessments fully, clearly, concisely, and timely per standards.
Provide brief interventions and support medical, behavioral health, and psychosocial interventions as part of the care team.
Keep the care team informed of progress.
Provide therapeutic intervention as needed to assist in alleviating stressors/trauma associated with acute psychological-behavioral health hospitalization.
Assist patients in managing behaviors while waiting for ED processes.
Document interventions accordingly, timely and efficiently.
Complete clear and concise documentation noting patient and family participation, multidisciplinary involvement, and other planning information as required by the department, state, and federal regulation agencies, including Discharge Planning activities.
Complete a statistical record of each case closed, noting recorded hours, contacts made, and services provided.
Submit closed cases to the department secretary within 24 hours post-discharge.
Keep abreast of policies and procedures, as well as state and federal regulation guidelines (e.g., JCAHO, DMH, DPH) to ensure compliance with standards.
Provide information and education to patients, families, and/or caregivers regarding the care plan.
Work closely with members of the multidisciplinary team, including physicians, patients, families, hospital staff, and community agencies.
Assist with ESP Crisis Evaluations if the ESP provider cannot meet the 1-hour timeline, obtaining prior authorization from Mass Health.
Coordinate delivery of medical and/or behavioral health services through multi-disciplinary involvement.
Follow up with ESP provider for next 24-hour evaluation.
Report directly to the Director of Care Transitions and indirectly to the Unit Manager and Practice Leader.
Work collaboratively with the unit team and respond timely, efficiently, and respectfully.
Work closely with ESP and Case Management with responsibilities for obtaining insurance authorization for admission, during hospitalization, and for any discharge planning services/aftercare.
Participate in Clinical Supervision and/or Peer review.
Keep the department director abreast of any issues, trends identified, and/or needs weekly and/or more frequently if needed.
Inform patients of their rights when indicated (e.g., discharge planning, guardianship, court commitments, admission/hospitalization, Section 12, Section 35, Advanced Directives, Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy).
Provide assessment, therapy, and intervention as needed on Watkins 1, Watkins 2, ICU, OBS upon request.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.