Behavioral Health Consultant

Under general supervision of the Behavioral Health Services Manager, works as part of integrated healthcare team within the Salt River Clinic to provide needed critical behavioral health services including screening, brief intervention and referral treatment. Assumes primary responsibility for providing skills training through psycho-education and development of specific behavioral change plans for patients. Assists primary health care providers in recognizing and treating mental, psychosocial and substance abuse problems, identifying "At Risk" patients and assessing the clinical status of patients referred to them.

This job class is treated as FLSA Exempt.

The Behavioral Health Consultant differs from the Behavioral Health Counselors and Senior Behavioral Health Counselors by providing more short-term counseling and “triage” intervention therapy in the primary care environment. This differs from the traditional, long-term, in-depth approach by the Behavioral Health Counselors.

• Integrated Healthcare:
  Works on an integrated healthcare team within the Salt River Clinic to provide needed critical services including behavioral healthcare.
  • Works closely with the Health Services staff, including medical and psychiatric professionals, within the primary care setting and in an integrated treatment team model.
  • Works to identify behavioral health issues in the medical setting rather than solely in the behavioral health services environment. Continues to coordinate needed behavioral health services with health services professionals.
  • May provide immediate and abbreviated, but quality, patient education related to newly diagnosed conditions, chronic diseases or behavioral issues that positively impacts the patient’s overall health.
  • Performs outreach and engagement to promote achievement of positive health outcomes.
  • Develops proficiency in identifying behavioral disorders utilizing screening tools and techniques.
  • May provide education and consultation to other primary care health providers regarding behavioral health disorders and interventions.
• Intake & Intervention:
  Provides patient intake screening and intervention in a primary care setting to provide immediate behavioral healthcare intervention service, short-term follow-up or make referrals to the Behavioral Health Services Division for needed critical and timely mental health and/or substance abuse services.
  • Provides brief, but immediate and quality, targeted intervention counseling sessions (usually not more than 15-30 minutes) designed to address critical needs and transition to longer-term care.
  • Identifies and prioritizes “At-Risk” patients and provides immediate intervention and follow-up referrals.
  • Practices evidence-based behavioral assessments and interventions relevant to behavioral and substance abuse conditions.
  • Practices the initial intervention “Stepped Model” techniques to provide immediate behavioral health remedies before moving patients on to other levels of patient care.
  • Works to obtain quality clinical outcomes with high prevalence behavioral and substance abuse disorders.
  • Makes recommendations to the primary care provider regarding follow-up behavioral treatment plans.
  • Documents patient symptomatology, progress and diagnostic information.
  • Provides on-demand support for urgent situations requiring immediate or very short-term responses.
• Screening & Referral:
  Practices the “SBIRT” method of: S e r e a l i n g, B r i e f I n t e r v e n t i o n and R e f e r r a l to T r e a t m e n t.
  • Asks all necessary questions to determine patient condition and needs for referral to treatment.
  • Identifies patients of all age groups “At-Risk” for behavioral health disorders or substance abuse including, but not limited to, alcohol and drug use, depression and suicide risk.
  • Administers brief patient contact and makes quick and accurate clinical assessments of behavioral conditions.
• Miscellaneous:
  Performs other job related duties as assigned by the Behavioral Health Services Manager or Behavioral Health Division Director.

• Knowledge of the customs, culture and traditions of…