Behavioral Health Care Manager (Social Worker)

Oregon Health & Science University • Portland, OR

18h

About The Position

The behavioral health care manager (BHM) position is a social worker and behavioral health provider who operates in a collaborative role within the Center for Women’s Health Primary Care clinic. The behavioral health care manager is a core member of the collaborative care team, including the patient’s primary care medical provider and psychiatric consultant, as well as the larger primary care team. The Collaborative Care BHM is responsible for supporting and coordinating the mental and physical health care of primary care patients on an assigned patient caseload with the patient’s primary care provider and, when appropriate, other mental health providers. This position involves a high degree of clinical complexity and advanced level skill in delivering evidence-based interventions targeted to improve well-being and health for a large variety of patients with emotional and behavioral problems commonly seen in a primary care setting. The work includes screening and assessing patients for common mental health and substance use disorders, providing education about these conditions, discussing available treatment options and facilitating patient engagement and follow-up care. The BHM also is responsible for systematically tracking treatment response (via a registry) and for monitoring patients (either in person, by phone or virtual visit) for changes in clinical status and treatment side effects or complications. The BHM supports psychotropic medication management, focusing on treatment adherence monitoring, side effects and effectiveness of treatment. Additionally, the BHM provides brief behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, problem-solving therapy, motivational interviewing and other treatments as appropriate. The role also involves participation in regular (weekly) caseload consultation with the psychiatric consultant and communication of resulting treatment recommendations to the primary care provider. The BHM will work within established practices with opportunities to participate in the planning, design and implementation of the collaborative care model at Center for Women’s Health. The BHM performs duties with minimal supervision. Work is reviewed for adherence to procedures, regulations, standards and for overall effectiveness. The BHM position is expected to serve as an advocate for collaborative behavioral health within the primary care setting.

Requirements

• Masters of Social Work (MSW)
• Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required for employees who practice clinical social work.
• Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies): Ability to utilize assessment information and collateral information to conceptualize patient psychopathology.
• Skill and expertise in conducting group and individual psycho-educational classes and brief, short-term therapy strategies that will help strengthen the patient's overall physical and mental health.
• Incorporation of self-management, home-based practice in care planning.
• Skill in efficiently organizing time so that unscheduled, same day services are routinely available to care team members.
• The ability to exercise sound judgment in appraising situations and making decisions regarding complex physical and behavioral health treatment issues in consultation with the primary care teams.
• Skill in developing effective working relationships with peers, supervisors and professionals in related disciplines.
• Ability to manage complex personal interactions.
• Demonstrated ability to act with minimal supervision on personal initiative using sound clinical judgment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in regard to patient care information and chart contents as use of patient record and privacy of individuals must be protected to the fullest.
• Ability to maintain documentation in compliance with State, Federal, Professional and Ethical guidelines.

Nice To Haves

• Training in Primary Care Behavioral Health
• Health care experience
• Experience in behavioral health counseling and brief short-term therapy strategies and case management in an ambulatory setting.
• Experience and/or interest in the Collaborative Care Model.
• Experience in a Primary Care Ambulatory Clinic setting.
• Experience with program development and evaluation.
• 3 years’ experience in similar position
• Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies): Knowledge of the principles and practices of behavioral health consultation, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, cognitive-behavioral counseling strategies and their application to population-based care for preventive and chronic care issues.
• Working knowledge of evidence-based psychosocial treatments and brief behavioral interventions for common mental health disorders, when appropriate (e.g., motivational interviewing, problem-solving treatment, behavioral activation).
• Comprehensive understanding of the interrelationship between medical and psychological systems and their impact on health.
• Experience in documenting clinical activities in a comprehensive, clear, concise fashion on a same day basis.
• Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology for common mental health disorders

Responsibilities

• Screening and assessment of patients for common mental health and substance use disorders.
• Provide patient education about disorders and treatment options.
• Systematically track treatment response and monitor patients (in person or by telephone or virtual visit) for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications.
• Manage collaborative care registry.
• Provide brief behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing, or other treatments as appropriate.
• Participate in regularly scheduled (usually weekly) caseload consultation with the psychiatric consultant and communicate resulting treatment recommendations to the patient’s medical provider.
• Facilitate treatment plan changes for patients who are not improving as expected, facilitate referrals for clinically-indicated services outside of the organization.
• Develop and complete relapse prevention self-management plans with patients who have achieved treatment goals.

Benefits

• Healthcare Options - Covered 100% for full-time employees and 88% for dependents, and $25K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from
• Vacation- up to 200 hours per year depending on length of service
• Sick Leave- up to 96 hours per year
• 8 paid holidays per year
• Substantial Tri-met and C-Tran discounts
• Additional Programs including: Tuition Reimbursement and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level