Behavioral Health Clinician - Brownstone Intermediate School, Portland

Job Description

Summary:

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.

The clinician 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, may include supervision of unlicensed staff and/or students, and follows a school‑based calendar of 195 days per year.

• Complete initial behavioral health evaluations and provide individual, group, and family psychotherapy with children and/or adults in an outpatient clinic.
• Run at least five (5) groups per week of direct clinical work.
• Practice 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 identify patients in need of Behavioral Health services as flagged by the BH clinical dashboard.
• Consult with providers within and outside the agency regarding the treatment plan and progress of the patients.
• Coordinate with psychiatric consultants for diagnostic and consultative needs; refer as necessary for medication management.
• Attend clinical team meetings and component meetings as assigned.
• Meet productivity standards as outlined annually during performance appraisal review, focusing on quality clinical care.
• Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
• Perform crisis interventions with clients.
• Assess for immediate safety concerns, including high‑risk patients at risk for homicide, suicide, and domestic violence.
• Guide clients in developing skills or strategies for addressing identified goals.
• Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge in accordance with state regulatory and Joint Commission standards.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing treatment and client progress toward defined objectives.
• Modify treatment activities or approaches as needed to respond to changes in client status.
• Discuss with individual patients plans for life after leaving therapy.
• Work with and support family members to help them understand, cope with, or support clients or patients.
• Maintain awareness within the discipline of new developments in the field.
• Gather 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 licensure; unlicensed clinicians are actively working toward obtaining license.

• Complete all documentation required by state regulations, Joint Commission standards, and CHC Behavioral Health department bylaws in a timely manner, including intake, prior authorization requests, progress notes, treatment plan documentation, and discharge.
• Complete and lock all treatment notes no later than the end of the next business day.
• Complete reports as required for outside agencies such as DCF, Family Relations, probation, and others with appropriate releases signed by clients.
• Participate 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 the ability to obtain full clinical licensure within 3 years of hire. Professional clinical licensure (LCSW, LPC, LMFT) preferred.
• Minimum of two years of experience with outpatients, including experience with children and/or adults.
• Theoretical orientation consistent with brief, problem‑focused therapy.
• Reliable access to reliable transportation to outside agency consults, meetings,…