Behavioral Health Clinician

Health Works for Northern Virginia is a non‑profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving the medically underserved and uninsured populations of Northern Virginia. We provide quality medical, dental, and behavioral health care to all ages who might not otherwise be able to afford it. For more information about who we are and what we do, please visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Behavioral Health Clinician provides patient care through comprehensive behavioral health assessment, case management, consultation, and individual and group support for a wide range of behavioral health issues in a community health center setting. This position provides integrated care as a core member of a collaborative care team that involves the patient's primary care provider, consulting psychiatrists, nursing staff, other behavioral health providers and/or center staff.

• Conduct patient intakes, assessments, diagnoses, psychotherapy, case management and treatment plans, utilizing the designated HW screening tools and processes.
• Deliver brief intervention and brief therapy for medical patients including, but not limited to, utilizing motivational interviewing, behavioral, cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and expressive arts therapies.
• Ensure all patient records, charts and all related documentation is current and is maintained consistent with HW requirements.
• For the SBIRT program, provide screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment in accordance with SBIRT protocols for medical patients age 18 and older. As appropriate, collaborate with other HW medical and behavioral health professionals to develop, implement, audit, and modify SBIRT procedures for screening, assessment, brief intervention, and referral to treatment.
• Conduct substance abuse assessments and ensure enrollment into appropriate substance abuse treatment program.
• Provide patients with self‑management tools and education to help them cope with behavioral health and primary care stresses.
• Help patients identify healthier lifestyle choices and plans for implementation to avoid development or worsening of chronic disease and illness.
• Assist patients in complying with medical treatment including psychotropic medication prescription such as offering strategies to cope with medical side effects.

• Assess appropriate level of care and coordinate with Behavioral Health Care Coordinator (BHCC) to facilitate appropriate referral.
• Work with community partners to identify resources for patients and participate in community meetings as available.
• Provide the primary care team with timely feedback about the patient's status, treatment recommendations and treatment, and progress, via all required documentation in the electronic health record system; work with the primary care team to formulate and revise treatment plans.
• Assist in the detection of 'at risk' patients and in the development of plans to prevent worsening of their condition.
• Provide consultation and training to the primary care providers, and other team members, to enhance their skill and effectiveness in treating mental health issues.
• Work with other members of the behavioral health team, and larger primary care team as appropriate, to evaluate behavioral health program processes and revise as appropriate.
• Assist in compilation of statistical data and patient outcomes as requested.

• Successful Master’s level education in a field such as social work or professional counseling.
• Current Commonwealth of Virginia behavioral health licensure required to include LCSW-Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LPC-Licensed Professional Counselor, LMFT, or Licensed Psychologist.
• Two (2) years of experience working with clients in a community-based setting preferred.

• Demonstrates significant knowledge of models of behavioral and primary integrated care.
• Prior academic or practical training in motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
• Demonstrates excellent working knowledge of behavioral health medicine and evidence-based treatment for mental health conditions.
• Demonstrates strengths of personal integrity and self-confidence.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary medical setting preferred.
• Experience working with electronic health records preferred.
• Experience in some level of program administration.
• Experience in providing training preferred.
• Demonstrates ability to be flexible and highly reliable.
• Demonstrates strong administrative and customer service skills to include prioritizing and executing a variety of tasks simultaneously; being self‑motivated; ability to maintain cooperative relationships with patients, families, providers, staff and other customers/vendors.
• Comfortable with the primary care setting, working with an interdisciplinary team.