Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC)- Bilingual

Friend Family Health Center•Chicago, IL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) operates within an Integrated Care Team, delivering integrated behavioral health services in primary care and school-based settings. This role reports to the Behavioral Health Manager and is responsible for providing clinical services to a diverse patient population including children, adolescents, adults, and families. The position may require evening and/or weekend shifts. The BHC conducts individual, group, and family therapy, focusing on improving patients' quality of life. Key functions include providing direct support, advocacy, enhancing patient development, problem-solving, coping skills, and connecting patients and families with necessary resources. Fluency in both English and Spanish is essential for providing services in both languages. A significant portion of the role involves providing onsite behavioral health services at Beethoven School three days a week, specifically for children and adolescents. Workdays and locations may shift based on referral volume, patient needs, and organizational demands, with potential for evening hours at some locations.

Requirements

Master’s or doctoral degree in counseling, psychology, or social work required.
Licensed in the State of Illinois as an LCSW, LCPC, or Licensed Clinical Psychologist is required.
Bilingual English/Spanish required.
Experience providing behavioral health services to children and adolescents required.
Experience with clinical psychosocial diagnosis, direct patient care, consultation, and evaluation.
Experience working with underserved and diverse populations.
Experience working with patients with co-occurring mental health, substance use, social, and physical health challenges.
Strong documentation, data entry, case management, and care coordination skills.
Ability to exercise sound clinical judgment and work independently.

Nice To Haves

Two to four years of behavioral health or related clinical experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Screen and assess patients, including children, adolescents, and adults, and provide brief, evidence-based therapeutic interventions, completing at least 12 clinical consultations per day.
Provide walk-in and scheduled consultations, including individual and family counseling, screening, assessment, brief treatment, patient engagement, outreach, advocacy, and resource linkage.
Provide onsite behavioral health services at Beethoven School three (3) days per week, including assessment and therapeutic support for children and adolescents.
Provide behavioral health services to English- and Spanish-speaking patients and families using culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate interventions.
Provide referrals, care coordination, crisis assessment/triage, and appropriate interventions in collaboration with physicians, psychologists, social workers, school personnel, and other professional staff.
Participate in case consultations, supervision, and continuing professional development to maintain clinical competency and knowledge of evidence-based practices.
Develop and maintain knowledge of community and behavioral health referral resources.
Maintain patient privacy, safety, confidentiality, dignity, and rights while adhering to ethical, legal, regulatory, and accreditation standards.
Collaborate with the care team to coordinate services and support patient recovery and continuity of care.
Maintain working knowledge of psychopharmacology.
Work efficiently with multiple software systems, Word, Excel, Centricity and EPIC.
Provide brief and efficient documentation and scheduling in electronic health record, in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures.
Maintain up to date knowledge of billing codes and other third-party reimbursement sources.
Maintain personal provider desktop referrals, including scanning, faxing, and responding to messages.
Participate in daily huddles, care team meetings, and patient care conferences to support team-based care.
Monitor and report abnormal refrigerator temperatures for vaccine and specimen storage.
Provide exceptional patient-centered care, always maintaining a professional and respectful demeanor.
Communicate with pharmacies, providers, and patients regarding prescriptions, refills, and medication education.
Ensure adherence to HIPAA policies by always maintaining patient confidentiality.
Assist patients and families in understanding discharge instructions, referrals, and follow-up care plans.
Adhere to all department/Friend Health- HRDI clinic policies/procedures and Professional Code of Ethics.
Participate in staff training, in-services, and continuing education to maintain competency.
Maintain compliance with infection control protocols and designated isolation procedures.
Support emergency response efforts, including basic life support and first aid as required.
Perform other duties as required or assigned within the scope of responsibilities.