School Based Behavioral Health Clinician - Bethel Elementary Schools

Job Description Summary Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC), with offices in Connecticut, Colorado and California, is one of the country's most creative and dynamic providers of primary medical, dental and behavioral health services, and a leader in practice‑based research, health professionals training and use of innovative technologies to advance health and healthcare. CHC is designated as a federally qualified health center and a patient‑centered medical home by HRSA, the Joint Commission and NCQA.

We deliver more than 600,000 patient visits per year from primary care hubs and community clinics across the state of CT, all connected by technology and common standards for quality. We employ several hundred medical, dental and behavioral health providers who are engaged in practice, teaching and research. Our Weitzman Institute is devoted to research and practice transformation and is recognized around the country as one of the premier research institutes focused on improving health care and health outcomes for special and vulnerable populations.

In addition, the organization has developed three wholly owned subsidiaries from the original pilot developments within the Weitzman Institute: the National Nurse Practitioner Residency and Fellowship Training Consortium (NNPRFTC), the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) and Confer Med.

Job Description The Behavioral Health Clinician II is a licensed independent provider who performs diagnostic psychosocial evaluations, develops care plans with clients and their families, offers individual, family or group therapy as appropriate, collaborates with psychiatric and/or medical providers who are part of the client's care team and documents all clinical interventions in accordance with CHC policy, Joint Commission standards and state regulatory expectations.

The position is primarily focused on direct client care but may include supervision of unlicensed staff and/or students.

• Completes initial behavioral health evaluations; individual, group and family psychotherapy with children and/or adults in an outpatient clinic. Will be expected to run at least five (5) groups for each week of direct clinical work.
• Practices as part of an interdisciplinary, inter‑professional team, accepting “warm hand offs” from primary care providers and other health care team members as well as reaching in to the patient population to identify patients potentially in need of behavioral health services as flagged by the BH clinical dashboard.
• Consults with providers within and outside the agency regarding the treatment plan and progress of the patients.
• Shares in the Behavioral Health On‑Call for after‑hours coverage and daily clinic call.
• Coordinates as needed with psychiatric consultants for diagnostic and consultative needs; refers as necessary for medication management.
• Attends Clinical Team Meetings as assigned and Component Meetings.
• Clinically supervises unlicensed Behavioral Health staff as assigned.
• Meets productivity standards as outlined annually during employees performance appraisal review with a focus on quality clinical care.
• Encourages clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
• Performs crisis interventions with clients.
• Assesses for immediate safety concerns, including high‑risk patients/clients who may be at risk for homicide, suicide and domestic violence.
• Guides clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with identified goals.
• Develops and implements treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge according to state regulatory and joint commission standards.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of ongoing treatment on clients’ progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives.
• Modifies treatment activities or approaches, as needed, to comply with changes in clients’ status.
• Discusses with individual patients their plans for life after leaving therapy.
• Works with and supports family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting clients or…