School Based Behavioral Health Clinician - East Haven High School

Moses/Weitzman Health System • East Haven, CT

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The School Based Behavioral Health Clinician is a licensed independent behavioral health provider employed by CHC and based in a school-based clinic. The clinician supports students and their families by conducting diagnostic psychosocial evaluations, developing care plans, providing individual, family, or group therapy, and collaborating with psychiatric and medical providers involved in clients’ care. The position primarily focuses on direct client care and may include supervising unlicensed staff or students. It is a full-time salaried role following a school-based calendar of 195 days per year.

The clinician works as part of an interdisciplinary team, receives warm handoffs from primary care and other providers, and identifies patients who may need behavioral health services. The role includes clinical assessment, treatment planning, crisis intervention, therapy, consultation, referrals, and evaluation of treatment progress. The clinician is also responsible for timely clinical documentation and other administrative duties in accordance with CHC policy, Joint Commission standards, and state regulations.

Requirements

• Current Connecticut licensure as an LCSW, LMFT, LPC, or clinical psychologist, or eligibility for licensure with a current associate license (LMSW, LPCA, or LMFTA) and ability to obtain full clinical licensure within three years of hire.
• At least two years of outpatient experience, including experience with children and/or adults.
• Theoretical orientation consistent with brief, problem-focused therapy.
• Reliable access to an automobile or other transportation for outside-agency consultations, meetings, and home visits.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to interface with patients, family members, community agencies, and other providers within the organization.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of behavioral health, patient, and business information.

Nice To Haves

• Professional clinical licensure as an LCSW, LPC, or LMFT is preferred.
• Written and oral bilingual fluency in a language spoken by the patient population, such as English and Spanish, is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Complete initial behavioral health evaluations and provide individual, group, and family psychotherapy to children and/or adults in an outpatient clinic.
• Run at least five groups each week of direct clinical work.
• Work as part of an interdisciplinary, inter-professional team, accepting warm handoffs and identifying patients who may need behavioral health services.
• Consult with providers within and outside the agency about patient treatment plans and progress.
• Coordinate with psychiatric consultants for diagnostic and consultative needs and refer patients for medication management when needed.
• Attend assigned clinical team and component meetings.
• Meet productivity standards while focusing on quality clinical care.
• Encourage clients to discuss their feelings and life circumstances and help them develop insight into themselves and their relationships.
• Perform crisis interventions and assess immediate safety concerns, including risk of homicide, suicide, and domestic violence.
• Guide clients in developing skills and strategies to address identified goals.
• Develop and implement treatment plans in accordance with clinical experience, state regulations, and Joint Commission standards.
• Evaluate treatment effectiveness and modify treatment approaches as clients’ status changes.
• Discuss plans for life after therapy with individual patients.
• Support family members in understanding, dealing with, or supporting clients or patients.
• Maintain awareness of developments in the behavioral health field and gather information about community mental health needs and resources.
• Supervise student interns or other staff working toward licensure, when applicable to licensed clinicians.
• Complete required documentation, including intake, prior authorization requests, progress notes, treatment plans, and discharge documentation, in a timely manner.
• Complete and lock treatment notes no later than the end of the next business day.
• Complete reports for outside agencies, such as DCF, Family Relations, and probation, when appropriate releases are signed by clients.
• Participate in agency-wide committees as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient and business information and comply with CHC confidentiality policies.
• Enter client data and access medical system information and patient records as required.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• Health and wellness benefits.
• Retirement savings opportunities.
• Paid time off.
• Professional development and tuition assistance programs.
• Employee assistance resources.
• Flexible work arrangements where applicable.
• Other company-sponsored benefits, subject to position, work location, scheduled hours, and plan eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed