CBHC ESP Clinician, Athol - Clinical Support

CSO is looking for Clinicians to work in our CBHC Emergency Services Program in Athol.

Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) are responsible for providing a full range of client-centered and family-centered services and interventions for mental health, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders. CBHCs serve as an entry point for timely, flexible, person-centered, high-quality mental health and addiction treatment on an urgent and ongoing basis.

Our Emergency Service Programs (ESPs) offer clients behavioral health assessments, intervention and stabilization (for youth, families and adults,) 24-hour availability, and are a preferred alternative to hospital emergency departments. We offer these services to all individuals regardless of insurance or ability to pay. We provide daily assessment and brief counseling, case management, nursing support and peer support. We have recovery and wellness focused groups, psychiatric consultation when needed and also provide discharge planning. 

As a CBHC ESP Clinician you will provide clinical assessments and interventions to individuals experiencing a mental health emergency and clients in the agency's CBHC/Respite/CCS programs. Services may be provided at various locations including the client's home, school, treatment setting, the CBHC community-based site, or, when necessary, a hospital emergency department. 

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychiatric assessment of individuals experiencing a mental health emergency and provide appropriate disposition. Consult to medical personnel, police and other providers as indicated. Assessments will address diagnostic questions, risk assessment, risk management, behavioral concerns and questions of disposition and placement. 
• Organize clinical evaluations, including completion of a written report and finalizing a disposition efficiently and in a timely manner; utilize external information and specialized expertise as needed.  This includes contacting providers, family, friends and significant supports of the individual being evaluated. 
• Seek consultation when this will facilitate a more expert evaluation including contacting supervisors, psychiatrists, or CSO staff who are available for specialized consultation. Examples include presentations requiring help with language, culture, gender or age. 
• Respond to clients at the most natural setting that is safe and feasible following the risk guidelines of the CBHC Program.  This includes homes, schools, residential programs, group homes, nursing facilities, and other settings including hospitals as needed. For the Medicaid-under-21 population, implement procedures for Mobile Crisis Intervention reaching out to youth and families in the most natural setting possible and using a team model, wrap-around principles, and 72-hour stabilization interventions and planning. 
• Provide clinical services to residents of the CCS/Respite program including risk assessment for unplanned discharges and screening interviews for inpatient step-down admissions. Additional clinical services to CCS/Respite clients as directed including treatment planning, clinical interviews, case management, acquiring insurance prior authorization and remaining familiar with insurance requirements, and discharge planning.
• Conduct intake assessments and telephone referrals for the Respite/CCS program from other agency programs, inpatient units, and other providers as directed; present to a supervisor as appropriate.  Give input regarding clinical appropriateness or refusals.
• Monitor Respite clients, including hourly bed checks and documentation, and provide closer observation as needed.
• Consult with Supervisor on concerns as needed, including: (a) All dispositions (new staff) until cleared by Director to manage these responsibilities independently; (b) CCS admissions; (c) Discharges to the community when there is a risk issue or a Section 12 involved; (d) All clients age 21 and younger; (e) workflow concerning multiple evaluation requests. 
• Consult with a Psychiatrist on: (a) Any patient brought to the hospital on a Section 12 who will be discharged back to the community; (b) Any hospital patient for whom medical staff have requested a consult; (c) Other concerns as needed.
• Maintain positive professional relations with other agencies and community partner/hospitals; represent CBHC services professionally and act as a liaison with community agencies.
• As a designated critical employee of CSO, must come to work when scheduled regardless of adverse weather conditions, and when other CSO offices are closed, including holidays. In the event there are extenuating circumstances, employee must make prior arrangements with Program Director in order to maintain adequate staffing in the program. 
• Contact insurance providers as directed to ensure reimbursement for services; complete all required documentation including contacts within timeframes established by program. 
• Triage clients according to urgency and clinical need.  Consult with on-call supervisor as directed.
• Use the least restrictive services possible when intervening in an emergency.
• Comply with CSO, DMH, DPH and other licensing authorities, Hospital, and third-party payor regulations regarding record keeping, reimbursement and pre-authorization requirements.
• Complete all initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for those hospitals where employee will be providing services including obtaining required vaccinations, tox screens, and safety/health education competencies. (Necessary vaccinations/x-rays are responsibility of employee.) 
• Attend in-service trainings on evidence-based best practices and other topics as appropriate, and participate in quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure record keeping and service delivery standards meet CBHC quality metric requirements, as determined by the CBHC contract.
• Attend regular supervision meetings and monthly staff meeting with the Program Managers.
• Provide overnight and on-call coverage on an occasional basis as needed or as part of a staff rotation for open shifts.

Qualifications

Clinical Master's degree required, with two years' or more experience treating individuals with mental illness in outpatient, residential, crisis intervention, or psychiatric inpatient setting required; post Master's Degree work expertise preferred.  Must be experienced in assessing individuals and managing appropriate dispositions.  Must be able to triage and direct workflow efficiently, be familiar with community resources and possess strong organizational, interpersonal, communication, and phone counseling skills. Ability to remain calm and use de-escalation skills under challenging circumstances. Ability to complete more than one clinical evaluation per shift. Must be able to work flexible schedule, including night and weekends as needed. Computer proficiency required including ability to work with email, electronic health record and word processing software. Must be eligible for or hold highest level of Massachusetts' licensure in appropriate discipline, LICSW or LMHC preferred. Valid driver's license and reliable transportation is required to support outreach and home and community-based activities.

Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply, (English/Spanish speaking.)

Benefits

We provide our employees with competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, including full coverage health and dental insurance and ample paid time off (vacation, personal, sick, and holidays). Additionally, we offer a 403B retirement savings plan, an employee referral bonus program, regular in-house training and professional development opportunities with free CEUs, and voluntary supplemental insurances at group rates, including short and long-term disability, cancer, accident and life. We also offer a premier employee assistance program (EAP) and personal cell phone plan discounts. Our work environment is flexible and supportive, with ample opportunities for collaboration within and across departments, programs and locations. 

Our Agency

Clinical & Support Options, Inc. is a behavioral health organization serving individuals and families across Western Massachusetts. From our early days as a child guidance clinic, we have expanded into a full service behavioral health agency, committed internally to excellence while we collaborate externally with community partners to participate in a comprehensive system of assistance and resources for the residents of our communities. We employ over 650 multi-disciplinary staff, helping thousands of families over the past 50 years. We have community based office locations throughout Western Massachusetts, including Springfield, Northampton, Greenfield, Orange, Athol, Gardner and Pittsfield.

Our expertise, in a nutshell, is to support people in their progress towards self-sufficiency, no matter what challenges they face on that journey. EOE/AA