BH Associate Provider - Associate Clinical Social Worker

At Unicare, we strive to provide high quality health care to the community we serve. Our goal is to provide easily accessible, comprehensive, and affordable health care to every family member, while reducing visits to emergency rooms and urgent care facilities. Our mission is to be a community health care organization that treats everyone with dignity and, respect and cultural sensitivity to help create an environment in which all can prosper.

Job Summary

This associate clinical social worker will provide mental health and related services in a manner that upholds Unicare Community Health Center’s mission to improve the health status and well-being of underserved segments of the population in the communities we serve through the direct provision or coordination of health care, health education, and services. This includes interviewing, treating, coordinating, planning and linkage to a full range of resources that meet practical, social and emotional needs, in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team and community and community-based programs. As a result, patient outcomes and satisfactions are improved, along with organizational fiscal capacity.

Duties / Responsibilities :

▪ Conducts clinical interviews to gather information, assess patient needs, determine the appropriate need, and develop diagnostic information.

▪ Maintains accuracy, completeness and timeliness with medical charts. All medical charts must be closed with 48 hours of the encounter In order to ensure high standards of care and compliance with regulatory requirements.

▪ Provide short-term, structured, evidence-based psychotherapy and counseling as part of a treatment plan.

▪ Provides Clinical therapeutic services to patients across the lifespan, including individual and group therapy and coordination of treatment for participants with co-occurring disorders.

▪ Provide crisis intervention as needed in different clinics.

▪ Participate in the development of patients' individualized care plans, in a timely and thorough manner.

▪ Provide treatment to assigned patients within the scope of practice, meeting program / department productivity and quality standards.

▪ Coordinates and collaborate with Primary Care Providers, Behavioral Health Coordinator, Case managers, Substance Abuse Counselor, Medical Director of Behavioral Health, Chief Medical Officer and other Staff to improve health outcomes.

▪ Facilitates referrals to other services and allied agencies as needed.

▪ Works closely with Unicare’s Psychiatrists and other Clinicians when needed.

▪ Meets patient needs effectively and resolve individual barriers through follow-up, advocacy, and collaboration with other staff and community service providers.

▪ Serves as a mandated Child Protective Services (CPS) and Adult / Elder Abuse reporter.

▪ Maintains accurate and timely records of activities, case management notes, and services provided to each patient.

▪ Facilitates and participates in chart reviews and audits of behavioral health clinicians.

▪ Completes paperwork to support mental health billing in a timely manner.

▪ Attends and participates in a variety of internal and external meetings.

▪ Performs related duties as assigned.

▪ Is engaged and facilitates outreach initiatives

▪ Proactively utilize clinical supervision and / or peer consultation

▪ Provide direct behavioral health and medical social work services to Latino individuals, families, groups and communities, under the supervision of the Director of Behavioral Health.

▪ Provide crisis counseling as needed and outreach counseling to community settings such as schools, home visits, and other settings as assigned by the Director of Behavioral Health.

▪ Participate in weekly case review meetings.

▪ Supply court psycho-social evaluations, give reports of attendance and make court appearances when necessary.

▪ The clinician will refer clients to supportive community services and in-house medical services or support programs to supplement office treatment and counseling.

▪ Adheres to accreditation and compliance standards / guidelines and gets yearly cultural supportive training.

▪ Periodically provide community mental health presentations and power point presentations on pain management, childhood mental health issues, or stress management workshops to the community or Unicare staff.

Non-Essential Functions

▪ As directed by the Director of Behavioral Health, performs other related and / or necessary tasks to achieve organizational and programmatic goals and objectives

Professional Requirements

▪ Adhere to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.

▪ Maintain current license, registrations and / or certifications.

▪ Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.

▪ Report to work on time and as scheduled.

▪ Maintain regulatory requirements, including all state, federal and local regulations.

▪ Represent the organization in a positive and professional manner at all times.

▪ Comply with all organizational policies and standards regarding ethical business practices. Initials

• Communicate the mission, ethics and goals of the organization.
• Participate in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities.

Qualifications

▪ Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW) registration and number issued by the California Board of Behavioral Health

▪ Master’s degree in Social work required.

▪ Two years of experience in medical social workpreferred.

▪ Knowledge of social work professional code of ethics and values

▪ Bilingual English / Spanish strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

▪ Requires a comprehensive knowledge of behavioral health in outpatient settings.

▪ General knowledge of behavioral health counseling skills, including the ability to perform biopsychosocial assessments, crisis prevention, supportive therapy, and coping skills development.

▪ Knowledge and ability to find resources for patients and the ability to link and refer patients as needed.

▪ General understanding of the most recent diagnostic manual.

▪ Excellent people skills, with an ability to partner with a dynamic leadership team.

▪ Knowledge of providing culturally competent services to a variety of diverse patients.

▪ Possess personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to corporate mission.

▪ Flexible and able to multitask; can work within an ambiguous, fast-moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions; demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities.

▪ Maintain current knowledge of policies and procedures as they relate to safe work practices.

▪ Follow all safety procedures and report unsafe conditions.

▪ Ability to work with a diverse population.

▪ Willing to work flexible hours, including evening and / or weekends.

▪ Must have reliable transportation.

▪ Must be self-directed and work productively with minimal supervision.

▪ Ability to work effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary team

▪ Demonstrated proficiency in using Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, Access, Outlook

▪ Knowledge of Electronic Health Records

Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions

▪ Prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer.

▪ Pushing and pulling objects up to 25 lbs.

▪ Frequent wrist, hand, and finger dexterity to perform fine motor function.

▪ Position requires light to moderate work with 25 lb. maximum weight to lift and carry.

▪ Full range of body motion requires twisting body, pushing, pulling, reaching, bending, stooping, and handling objects with hands and / or fingers, listening, talking, and / or hearing, and seeing.

Working Conditions

▪ Non-Ionizing Radiation (microwaves)

WORK SCHEDULE

▪ Monday – Friday : with starting times each day varying between 8 : 00 am and 9 : 00am and ending at 5 : 00 pm and 6 : 00pm.

▪ May travel to all Unicare Community Health Center clinics to work or attend meetings as needed.

Let Unicare Community Health Center be your choice that meaningful work that makes a difference in the community we serve.