HMHR Liaison (SSP)

King County•Seattle, WA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is seeking a Hospital Placement and Diversion Liaison for the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD). This role is crucial for ensuring the appropriate use of King County Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization's (KCBH-ASO) resources by providing comprehensive and timely discharge and placement planning services. The position will review and authorize Level of Care assessments for individuals referred to the BH-ASO's mental health residential continuum of care. It is a member of a team responsible for diversion and discharge planning efforts at State hospitals, HCA Long Term Civil Commitment (HCA LTCC) facilities, local psychiatric hospitals, and County-funded mental health residential treatment and supported housing resources. This is a hybrid position involving teleworking, weekly time at King County's Chinook office, and occasional meetings at various hospitals and mental health residential treatment facilities. DCHS values diverse perspectives and encourages applications from all backgrounds. King County is committed to workforce equity and creating a welcoming community where every person can thrive.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Behavioral Services, or related field.
Ability to obtain registration as a Certified Agency Affiliated Counselor with DOH within 90 days of employment.
A minimum of five years' supervised experience.
Experience working with publicly funded behavioral health service systems.
Experience with psychiatric hospital discharge planning services.
Experience in forming clinical rapport with individuals with behavioral health disorders utilizing best practice methods, such as Motivational Interviewing.
Ability to provide functional assessments, clinical formulations consistent with the DSM diagnostic manual, and develop comprehensive community-based discharge plans justified by individuals' unique needs based upon principles of recovery.
Ability to work with a variety of individuals representing allied systems, such as Peer Bridgers, hospital personnel, behavioral health providers, courts and judicial staff, and systems of care such as Developmental Disabilities Administration, Aging and Disability Services, Department of Corrections, and other entities.
Knowledge of utilization management strategies and quality management practices.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Experience gathering and utilizing data, and generating reports for management staff and others.
Computer skills: knowledge of MS products, including Teams, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Valid Washington State Driver's License, or the ability to travel around the County and to other required ad hoc meeting locations in a timely manner.
Must be able to pass a criminal background check on a post-offer/pre-employment basis.

Nice To Haves

Experience with the behavioral health services system in Washington State and King County.
Master's Degree in a related field.
Licensed AAC with DOH, or other independent WA State Licensure with Mental Health Professional (MHP) Designation

Responsibilities

Work within a multidisciplinary team to determine an individual's readiness for discharge from Community, State, and Long-Term Civil Commitment hospitals.
In collaboration with hospital treatment teams and external partners such as DSHS, develop a comprehensive and timely plan for discharge to include facilitating referrals to the appropriate treatment resources in the King County Integrated Care Network (KCICN) as well as to locations outside of King County as needed.
Demonstrate and maintain excellent diagnostic and assessment skills for all adults in hospital and carceral systems, as well as those in outpatient settings seeking a higher level of care.
Support individuals in their efforts towards recovery, providing services that promote recovery principles.
Develop, maintain and share knowledge of a variety of behavioral health, social services, and housing resources within King County and creatively develop community discharge plans utilizing that knowledge.
Coordinate and track referrals to the mental health residential treatment continuum of care.
Conduct assessment interviews and make determinations of medical necessity to determine the service needs of individuals.
Adhere to UM guidelines, including timeliness and documentation requirements, as set forth by the BHRD UM Quality Team and other entities.
Monitor openings in the mental health residential treatment continuum of care, as well as in other programs such as PACT and forensic teams, and provide appropriate referrals to all programs in a timely manner.
Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with providers and colleagues working in allied systems, have excellent and current knowledge of the system of resources available to those with behavioral health disorders, and have excellent communication with a variety of individuals.
Remain current on best practice research and philosophy related to behavioral health disorders, hospital discharge planning, forensic mental health, and diversion strategies from institutional settings.
Attend and participate in assigned meetings, treatment conferences, and committees relevant to the performance of job functions.
Ensure documentation meets and follows King County BH-ASO policies and procedures.
Maintain King County BH-ASO and individuals' records in accordance with County, State, and Federal guidelines.
Maintain a system of tracking relevant clinical, financial, legal, and behavioral aspects to each individual's case and utilize that information to effectively advocate for that individual's needs.
Track admissions and discharges, daily census, system trends, and relevant data, as required by King County, Managed Care Organizations, WSH, and HCA.
Maintain adherence to King County BH-ASO's Policies and Procedures, the WSH/BH-ASO Working Agreement, and WSH and other Hospital procedures.
Demonstrate and maintain excellent knowledge of processes, programs, and resources for individuals with behavioral health disorders encountering the carceral and forensic mental health systems.
Perform other duties as assigned.