Integrated Behavioral Health Specialist

Position Summary

/ Career Interest : The Integrated Behavioral Health Specialist under the direction of the Chronic Care Management Manager, has responsibility to provide care / service safely and efficiently for a full range of services to patients of all ages and their families. Primary role is to collaborate, communicate and facilitate coordination of services using a multi-disciplinary treatment approach that is aimed at identifying and treating behavioral health issues. The Integrated Behavioral Health Specialist will provide an integrated clinical and psychosocial approach to ensure patients receive the behavioral support, short term counseling and crisis intervention in the primary care setting.

The Integrated Behavioral Health Specialist will provide direct social work / case management services to patients and / or families and the Care Team to ensure patients receive needed assessments, interventions, support and referrals. This person will work directly with providers and clinic care managers to ensure patients receive appropriate and successful referrals to behavioral health specialists and other community resources. Excellent organizational skills, the ability to work independently and communicate well with others are critical aspects of this position. Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions

• Accepts responsibility and accountability for achievement of optimal patient outcomes within their scope of practice.
• Adheres to all the University of Kansas Health system policies, procedures, and standards and complies with the Corporate Compliance program. Assumes responsibility for risk and safety issues associated with the position.
• Accepts calls as required by position and department expectations.
• Performs job specific responsibilities and demonstrates accountability for own actions and decisions.
• Acquires and maintains knowledge and competence related to the expectations of their position and practices within their scope.
• Brings ideas and concerns to supervisor and participates in department decision making.
• Completes psychosocial assessments of patient / family situations as needed including social, psychological, emotional, financial, and other socioeconomic factors.
• Identifies and utilizes all relevant information related to patient’s current condition(s) (medical / nursing needs, social work knowledge base, disease process, knowledge of community resources) to assess the patient’s psychosocial situation accurately and thoroughly.
• Responsible for crisis intervention, problem solving, brief solution-focused interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy, and self-management support for referred patients.
• Participates in team huddles and meetings among the care team and clinic(s).
• Works collaboratively, cooperatively, and independently as a member of the clinical care team.
• Provides strategic and goal-orientated sessions with patients focusing on brief solution-focused interventions.
• Assists patients and / or their families in obtaining community behavioral health referrals.
• Follows-up on patient referrals to ensure the patient has received the needed services.
• Responsible for telephone call follow-up for high-risk patients on caseload, especially depressed patients.
• Recognizes the importance of cultural diversity, age / developmental level, and respects individual preferences.
• Responsible for development of exemplary working relationships with patients, their families, and representatives.
• Facilitates patient and family education and promotes continuity of care to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
• Advocates for patient’s rights to self-determination unless a patient’s action or goals pose a serious, foreseeable, and imminent risk to themselves or others.
• Monitors cognitive functioning of patients.
• Reviews the patient plan of care with the multi-disciplinary team.
• Documents in the medical record (EMR) and verbally communicates with the care team to coordinate interventions and facilitate continuity of care.
• Demonstrates knowledge of community-based social services and resources in the metropolitan and other key areas of the patient population.
• Identifies key social and environmental factors in patient’s lives including resource needs, stressors, and interpersonal problems.
• Responsible for follow-up on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) for patient’s needs such as (but not limited to) : transportation, social isolation, prescription assistance, health care costs, housing cost.
• Maintains a safe, comfortable, and therapeutic environment for patients and families in accordance with The University of Kansas Health System standards.
• Maintains clinical Social Work licensure and CEU’s.
• Must be able to perform the professional, clinical and or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.
• These statements are intended to describe the essential functions of the job and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Skills and duties may vary dependent upon your department or unit. Other duties may be assigned as required.

Required Education and Experience

Preferred Education and Experience

Required Licensure and Certification

Time Type : Full time

Job Requisition ID : R-44729