Behavioral Health Officer - Per Diem
About The Position
The Behavioral Health Assessment Officer (BHAO) is the primary evaluator of patients referred for psychiatric assessment in the emergency department based on their behavioral health needs, as well as patients on acute inpatient units identified by hospital providers as experiencing mental health symptoms that impair functional status. The role provides psychiatric evaluations, triage, and brief crisis interventions, including suicide risk assessments, safety planning, and safe disposition related to behavioral health needs. The BHAO coordinates with hospital and community providers to support communication and facilitate patient care, including appropriate mental health, substance use, and primary care follow-up. The officer administers rating scales and collects patient-reported outcome measures for patients in the emergency department or inpatient units when clinically appropriate. The BHAO consults by phone with the assigned psychiatrist to assess patients and develop treatment plans, then relays this information to medical care teams.
Requirements
- MSW from an accredited social work graduate program.
- Licensed by New York State as an LMSW, LCSW, or LCSW-R; an LMSW may be obtained within 12 months of hire or transfer.
- Demonstrated competency providing cognitive and behavioral interventions in an emergency department or inpatient setting.
- Internship or work experience in a mental health setting providing suicide risk assessments and safety planning.
- At least 1–2 years of experience working in an emergency room setting providing mental health evaluations.
Responsibilities
- Evaluate patients referred for psychiatric assessment in the emergency department and patients on acute inpatient units experiencing mental health symptoms that impair functional status.
- Provide psychiatric evaluations, triage, and brief crisis interventions.
- Conduct suicide risk assessments and safety planning, and determine safe disposition related to behavioral health needs.
- Coordinate with hospital and community providers to support communication, patient care, and appropriate mental health, substance use, and primary care follow-up.
- Administer rating scales and collect patient-reported outcome measures when clinically appropriate.
- Consult by phone with the assigned psychiatrist to assess patients and develop treatment plans.
- Relay assessment and treatment-plan information to medical care teams.
