Behavioral Health Consultant

Primary Purpose

Provides behavioral health services to patients and families who have acute chronic mental and behavioral health needs within their respective care setting. Using a Team Based Care Model, works as a core member of a multi-disciplinary integrated care team, which may include medical providers, social work, nurses, psychiatrists, and community partners among others. Typical activities may revolve around chronic health condition management, anticipatory guidance, early intervention for trauma and mental health concerns, and routine behavioral health screening. Provides mental health risk assessment and treatment, evidence-based therapy, safety planning, and medical provider and team consultation.

Major Responsibilities

• Provides care appropriate to the age and presenting concerns of the patients served.
• Meets a large variety of unique needs presenting in the clinical setting by conducting mental and behavioral health screenings, risk assessments, and evaluations to determine need for further diagnostic assessment, behavioral health services, and safety planning.
• Provides evidence-based and trauma-informed interventions and goal-directed therapy to patients and families, and consultation to providers in the clinical setting.
• Provides consultative and educational support to the care team and the multi-disciplinary partners regarding interventions, diagnoses, and treatment; participates in the creation of an integrated, individualized plan of care; increases the care team’s knowledge of the BHC’s role and services and community-based behavioral health services and programs.
• Arranges for higher levels of care when indicated; makes referrals for individual, group and family therapy when longer-term care is required. May provide group therapy and/or caregiver support groups as requested by team or leader.
• Tracks program data; maintains up to date documentation in the electronic medical record; meets department benchmarks for productivity; complies with all billing and coding practices.
• Provides culturally responsive care to a diverse population and evolves the practice to meet the changing needs of patients, families, the community, and the care setting.  May develop or update educational materials that are culturally and developmentally appropriate.
• Coordinates with schools and community partners for continuity of care.
• May lead projects or project components or have accountability for ongoing activities or objectives.
• Acts as a resource for learners and colleagues with less experience. May onboard and train new BHCs and learners.

Minimum Job Requirements

Licensure, Registration and/or Certification

Social Worker, Clinical license issued by the state of Wisconsin, OR Marriage and Family Therapist license issued by the state of Wisconsin, OR Professional Counselor license issued by the state of Wisconsin, OR Psychologist license issued by the state of Wisconsin

Education

Master’s Degree in Social Work, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage & Family Counseling or related field from an accredited program, plus 3000 hours post Master’s experience, or PhD or PsyD from an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited program.

Experience

• Requires 2 years post-licensure experience
• OR licensed providers with 2 years of supervised experience working with children and families while obtaining 3,000 hours may be considered in lieu of 2 years-post licensure requirement.
• Clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and families of diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Exhibits guiding behaviors that reflect Children’s values and support our mission and vision.
• Understands the pediatric developmental stages and the impact of trauma on development.
• Flexible to ambiguity and unpredictability of patient presentations/needs.
• Demonstrates knowledge of growth and development over the life span
• Demonstrated ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s status, and interpret the appropriate information needed to provide the care needed.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Provides services in a setting where there is potential for exposure to blood and other high risk body fluids, chemotherapy agents, communicable disease and hazardous materials, chemicals, and waste.
• Travel and coverage between Children’s Wisconsin clinics and/or locations may be required

Preferred Job Requirements

Licensure, Registration and/or Certification

Certification and/or experience in one or more evidence-based/informed therapeutic practices preferred.

Experience

Two years of experience in a pediatric mental health or medical setting, including integrated health or crisis response is strongly preferred.