Behavioral Health Clinician - Momauguin Elementary, East Haven

Job Description

The Behavioral Health Clinician – Licensed SBHC is a licensed independent behavioral health provider who supports students and their families as a CHC employee in a school‑based clinic. The clinician performs diagnostic psychosocial evaluations, develops care plans with clients and their families, offers individual, family, or group therapy as appropriate, and collaborates with psychiatric and/or medical providers who are part of the client’s care team.

Clinical interventions are documented 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.

This School Based Health Clinician is a full‑time salaried position that follows a school‑based calendar, mirroring the school schedule of 195 days per year.

• Completes initial behavioral health evaluations; individual, group and family psychotherapy with children and/or adults in an outpatient clinic.
• Runs 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 members of the health care team, and reaching out 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 treatment plans and progress of patients.
• Coordinates with psychiatric consultants for diagnostic and consultative needs; refers as necessary for medication management.
• Attends clinical team meetings and component meetings as assigned.
• Meets productivity standards as outlined annually during employee performance appraisal review with a focus on quality clinical care.
• Encourages clients to express feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them 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 toward defined objectives.
• Modifies treatment activities or approaches, as needed, to comply with changes in client status.
• Discusses plans for life after leaving therapy with individual patients.
• Works with and supports family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting clients or patients.
• Maintains awareness within the discipline about new developments in the field.
• Gathers information about community mental health needs or resources that could be used in conjunction with therapy.
• Licensed clinicians may supervise student interns or other staff working toward obtaining licensure; unlicensed clinicians are actively working toward obtaining licensure.

• Completes all documentation required by state regulations, Joint Commission standards, and CHC Behavioral Health department laws in a timely manner, including intake, prior authorization requests, progress notes, treatment plan documentation, and discharge.
• Locks all treatment notes no later than the end of the next business day.
• Completes reports as required for outside agencies such as DCF, Family Relations, probation, and others with appropriate releases signed by clients.
• Participates as a member of agency‑wide committees as assigned.

• Licensure / Certification / Registration: LCSW, LMFT, LPC, or Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the State of CT. Preferred or license‑eligible with required current associate license (MLSW, PC‑A, MFT‑A) with ability to obtain full clinical licensure within 3 years of hire. Professional clinical licensure (LCSW, LPC, LMFT) preferred.
• Minimum of…