Psychiatric ED Clinician - Per Diem

Berkshire Health Systems • Pittsfield, MA

3d

About The Position

The Psychiatric ED Clinician is an independently licensed behavioral health professional who provides comprehensive behavioral health assessment, crisis stabilization, diagnostic formulation, suicide and violence risk assessment, interdisciplinary consultation, treatment planning, and disposition for patients experiencing psychiatric, behavioral, cognitive, and substance-related emergencies across the lifespan. Working in the Emergency Department, the clinician functions autonomously as part of the interdisciplinary emergency medicine team and applies advanced clinical judgment, evidence-based assessment, trauma-informed care, and collaborative decision-making to support safe, timely, patient-centered care.

The clinician serves as a behavioral health consultant to Emergency Medicine physicians, Psychiatry, Nursing, EMS, Security, law enforcement, community providers, patients, and families regarding psychiatric assessment, behavioral management, crisis intervention, and planning.

Requirements

• At least one year of experience administering emergency psychiatric assessments in behavioral health care or a similar setting.
• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or psychology.
• Independent licensure as a licensed independent social worker (LICSW) or licensed mental health counselor (LMHC); Massachusetts LICSW or LMHC licensure is required within six months of hire.
• Hospital-approved de-escalation training; crisis intervention (MOAB) training is required within one month of hire.
• Ability to develop biopsychosocial case formulations and demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning, independent decision-making, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Experience conducting suicide and violence risk assessments.
• Knowledge of evidence-based practice and trauma-informed care.
• Evidence of clinical and personal growth.
• Ability to work from a remote, unsupervised location.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive behavioral health and emergency psychiatric assessments.
• Provide crisis stabilization and crisis intervention.
• Develop diagnostic formulations and biopsychosocial case formulations.
• Assess suicide and violence risk.
• Consult and collaborate with the interdisciplinary emergency medicine team and other partners.
• Develop treatment plans and support patient disposition.
• Advise patients, families, clinical teams, EMS, Security, law enforcement, and community providers on psychiatric assessment, behavioral management, crisis intervention, and planning.
• Use evidence-based assessment, trauma-informed care, and collaborative decision-making to promote safe, timely, patient-centered care.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level