Behavioral Health Consultant (LCSW, Psychologist, LPCC, LMFT)

Neighborhood Healthcare•Poway, CA

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) supports Neighborhood Healthcare’s mission and vision by providing direct behavioral health care. Working within a hybrid integrated-care model, the BHC meets with individuals and families to provide brief behavioral psychotherapy and consults with primary care providers. The role includes assessing patients, developing care plans, addressing psychosocial factors and co-occurring disorders, providing crisis support and psychoeducation, and coordinating care through warm handoffs and established referral and follow-up protocols. The BHC also supports primary care teams and organizational quality improvement, participates in case conferences and trainings, maintains professional relationships, and follows clinical, regulatory, credentialing, documentation, and safety requirements. The position requires an eligible California professional license, current AHA-approved BLS certification, and two years of pre- or post-licensure psychotherapy experience with children, adults, and/or adolescents, including child/adolescent experience.

Requirements

Doctorate in Psychology and a valid California Psychologist License; or a master’s degree in Social Work and a valid California LCSW License; or a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a valid California LMFT License; or a master’s degree in Counseling and a valid California LPCC License.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from an American Heart Association-approved source upon hire, maintained as a condition of employment. The course must include an in-person, hands-on skills check with a certified instructor; online-only courses without a live skills check do not qualify.
Two years of pre- or post-licensure psychotherapy experience with children, adults, and/or adolescents; child/adolescent experience is required.
Ability to understand normal signs of human development and assess and provide age-appropriate care.
Ability to work effectively on an interdisciplinary medical care team.
Ability to operate one or more word-processing, spreadsheet, and/or electronic medical record systems.
Ability to chart simultaneously during sessions.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including composition, typing, legible handwriting, and proofreading.
Ability to interpret instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Strong planning and organizational ability.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Ability to handle highly confidential information professionally and ethically.
Ability to lift or carry 10 pounds and stand for long periods.
Follow applicable safety, infection-control, privacy, and HIPAA-related requirements.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in English and Spanish or English and Arabic.
Experience providing health psychotherapy services, such as smoking cessation, weight management, stress management, or work with chronically medically ill patients.

Responsibilities

Provide short-term, targeted psychotherapy for problems identified by primary care providers.
Perform initial and ongoing behavioral health assessments and develop patient care plans.
Evaluate social, emotional, and economic factors that may interfere with patients receiving maximum benefit from medical care.
Provide brief psychotherapy to patients and families.
Address co-occurring disorders and incorporate them into patient care plans.
Respond promptly and compassionately to patients and employees.
Provide crisis management and psychoeducation for patients and families.
Conduct warm handoffs at the request of medical providers.
Acknowledge and honor patients’ psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural beliefs.
Use BHC staff protocols for referral, follow-up, and quality assurance.
Consult with primary care providers about behavioral aspects of patients’ medical treatment.
Participate in quality improvement activities.
Maintain professional working relationships with staff, clients, and the public.
Cooperate in accomplishing department goals and objectives.
Participate in case conferences, trainings, and departmental or agency meetings as directed.
Follow BHC protocols, policies, and procedures.
Provide personal information and participate in credentialing with managed care companies.
Attend continuing education programs to upgrade professional skills and maintain licensing requirements.
Follow safety procedures, report injuries and unsafe conditions, use appropriate body mechanics, and follow infection-control procedures.
Protect confidential patient, employee, and volunteer information and access it only as needed for business purposes.
Comply with corporate integrity and security regulations and report unethical, fraudulent, or unlawful behavior or activity.