Job Description:

About the Role:

Behavioral health services and care programming are available to all Cityblock members. The Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) is part of a dedicated behavioral health care team, and will be available for care team referrals to triage member needs, provide short-term therapeutic interventions, address the needs of members presenting with serious mental illness (SMI) or substance use disorder (SUD), manage behavioral health escalations and help facilitate transitions of care as needed.

Responsibilities:

Case Review and Care Planning

• Participate in case conferences

• Partner with BH CHP and Psych APC to develop members’ care plans

• Support care team in developing members’ care plans when behavioral health interventions apply

Follow-Up

• Provide clinical education to members on preventative care topics, including behavioral health and mental wellness

• Support members’ behavioral health needs virtually or in-person (community, home, hub) as needed (e.g., short-term interventions such as collaborative care management)

• Encourage access to evidenced-based treatments, including long-acting injectable antipsychotics, clozapine, medication assisted treatments (MAT), and contingency management

• Facilitate behavioral health and SUD referrals with internal and external providers and develop strong relationships with community and external providers

• Make referrals to care team if medical or social resources are needed

• Collaborate with the Member Navigator and/or RN Care Manager to determine need for member escalation or placement in a different program (e.g., lower or higher intensity program)

• Address and respond to member needs and delegate tasks in timely fashion

• Actively outreach and maintain engagement (e.g., provide behavioral health education) with high-acuity members

• Support members in achieving their behavioral health care plan goals

• Assist with behavioral health transitions of care

Operations and Reporting

• Utilize our care facilitation, electronic health record and scheduling platforms as needed to collect data, document member interactions, organize information, track tasks, and communicate with your team, members, and community resources

• Accessible to manage behavioral health crises and to be part of an “on-call” pool during business hours

Requirements for the Role:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work or Mental Health Counseling
• Specialty in Behavioral Health conditions (e.g.,substance use disorders and serious mental illness)
• Requires associate level clinical license. Active LMSW, LCSW, LSW, MHC-A or equivalent in the State(s) practicing and working towards independent licensure.
• 1-year of Experience post-Master’s Degree
• May require credentialing
• Comfortable using technology to support members without in-person contact (telephone and text etiquette, virtual visit platforms, etc.)
• Understanding of how to use scheduling platforms to ensure accurate appointment scheduling and management
• Understanding of how to use electronic health record systems and/or care facilitation platforms to ensure accurate documentation
• Proficient in collecting member clinical and demographic data and documenting appropriately in a timely manner under supervision
• Versed in Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma informed Care principles
• Versed in and able to apply Behavioral Activation Therapy and/or problem solving treatment in practice
• Comfortable providing short-term therapy
• Strong problem solving skills - can make difficult decisions and knows when to collaborate with other team members
• Able to provide creative solutions to challenges within the healthcare system that are impeding optimization of members’ care and health
• Growth and learning mentality, ability to think outside the box, go outside the bounds of “traditional” responsibilities
• Adaptable to change and prepared for frequent, fast-paced changes and shifting priorities

Cityblock values diversity as a core tenet of the work we do and the populations we serve. We are an equal opportunity employer, indiscriminate of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.

Covid 19 Update - Please Read:

Cityblock requires those hired into this position to provide proof that they have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Any individuals subject to this requirement may submit for consideration a request to be exempted from the requirement (based on a valid religious or medical reason) on forms to be provided by Cityblock. Such requests will be subject to review and approval by the Company, and exemptions will be granted only if the Company can provide a reasonable accommodation in relation to the requested exemption. Note that approvals for reasonable accommodations are reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis and availability of a reasonable accommodation is not guaranteed. This vaccination requirement is based, in part, on recently established government requirements. The requirement is also based on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in protecting against COVID-19, and our shared responsibility for the health and safety of members, colleagues, and community.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the health and lives of people around the world, including the vulnerable populations Cityblock serves. As a healthcare provider, Cityblock holds ourselves to the highest standards when promoting the health and safety of those who we serve. Given that the COVID-19 vaccines are one of the most powerful tools to fight this disease and save lives, Cityblock is implementing a COVID-19 booster mandate for Washington, D.C. employees under the guidance of local/state mandates.

Medical Clearance (for Member-Facing Roles):

You must complete Cityblock’s medical clearance requirements, which include, but may not be limited to, evidence of immunity to MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella, and a TB screen, or have an approved medical or religious accommodation that precludes you from being vaccinated against these diseases.

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from outside recruiters/placement agencies. Cityblock will not pay fees associated with resumes presented through unsolicited means.