Behavioral Health Consultant(Elk Ridge) - Flagstaff 4th st - Primary Care

El Rio Health•Flagstaff, AZ

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) provides assessment and intervention related to health behaviors that affect patients’ management of chronic medical illnesses. Working collaboratively with behavioral health teams, primary care providers, and interdisciplinary medical staff, the BHC supports coordinated, whole-health care for patients of all ages. Services address psychosocial concerns associated with life stressors, acute or chronic medical and mental health conditions, substance use, motivational barriers to healthy lifestyles, and other behavioral health concerns. Interventions may include brief population-based primary care consultations focused on health behaviors, crisis triage, brief solution-focused therapy, and assessment and treatment planning for patients experiencing a mental health crisis in primary care. The role supports Elk Ridge Community Health’s mission to provide comprehensive, quality, affordable, and accessible health care. The BHC provides accessible clinical services, including referral support and warm hand-offs; builds education and self-management skills; coordinates with specialty behavioral health services; and helps primary care teams manage mild behavioral health conditions. The role maintains accurate electronic health records and complies with HIPAA, confidentiality, documentation, billing, coding, and related policies and procedures. The BHC also educates primary care and behavioral health teams, attends applicable meetings and training, coordinates treatment planning and crisis navigation, and participates in the Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT), using techniques such as verbal de-escalation and therapeutic communication. The position requires maintaining a clean, safe, and hygienic work environment and complying with applicable policies, procedures, and Joint Commission Certification standards. Reliable transportation is required to accommodate operational reassignments during the workday. Employees who drive during work hours must have a valid driver’s license and comply with Arizona vehicle insurance requirements. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities. All employees must undergo pre-employment drug testing and may be subject to additional drug and alcohol testing under applicable regulations; safety-sensitive classifications apply to positions responsible for the safety and welfare of others.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field from an accredited university.
Three years of post-graduate experience working with behavioral health patients in a clinical setting, outpatient and/or inpatient.
Previous training in Crisis Intervention, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, and/or related intervention care models.
Current Arizona independent-level behavioral health license in good standing with the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health (LPC, LCSW, or Clinical Psychologist).
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for health care providers.
Current, valid Level I fingerprint clearance card in good standing, or application for the card within seven working days after beginning employment.
Reliable transportation capable of meeting organizational operational reassignments during the workday.
If driving during work hours, a valid driver’s license and compliance with Arizona vehicle insurance requirements.
All employees are required to undergo drug testing before employment and may be subject to post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in accordance with federal and state regulations.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered if directly related to the job’s functions and responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field from an accredited university.
Five years of post-graduate experience working with behavioral health patients in a clinical setting, outpatient and/or inpatient.
Three years of post-graduate experience working in an integrated medical setting.
Bilingual English/Spanish skills, including the ability to speak, read, and write in both languages.

Responsibilities

Provide focused clinical services appropriate to patients’ health and behavioral concerns, including consultation, assessment, intervention, and care coordination.
Provide accessible and interruptible services to support referrals and warm hand-offs.
Support patients with life stressors, medical conditions, mental health conditions, substance use concerns, lifestyle barriers, and other behavioral health needs; make appropriate recommendations to providers, patients, and multidisciplinary team members.
Build education and self-management skills for patients with comorbid medical and mental health conditions and other conditions affecting biopsychosocial health and functioning.
Collaborate with primary care providers and interdisciplinary medical team members to provide health behavior support and address physical health conditions and comorbidities.
Coordinate with specialty behavioral health services to staff cases, promote continuity of care, support transitions, and help primary care teams manage mild behavioral health conditions.
Maintain accurate patient charts and electronic records in accordance with HIPAA, confidentiality, documentation, billing, coding, and other applicable policies and procedures.
Complete clinical documentation clearly, thoroughly, accurately, and within required timeframes; protect confidential patient, proprietary, and personnel information.
Educate primary care and behavioral health teams on behavioral health assessment and intervention, related conditions, safety and risk assessment, and effective use of behavioral health services.
Attend applicable behavioral health and medical provider meetings and participate in ongoing training as needed.
Collaborate with primary care providers and the interdisciplinary medical team to provide health counseling and develop integrated treatment plans.
Help patients navigate crisis services, engage mobile crisis teams when needed, and support safe transitions to higher levels of behavioral health care.
Participate in the Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT), using rapid intervention techniques such as verbal de-escalation and therapeutic communication to support the safety and well-being of patients and staff.
Maintain a clean, safe, and hygienic work environment and comply with applicable Joint Commission Certification requirements.
Maintain reliable transportation for operational reassignments; when driving during work hours, maintain a valid driver’s license and comply with Arizona vehicle insurance requirements.