• To provide assessment, crisis evaluations as identified, suicide assessment and interventions, referrals, and individual, family and/or group therapy sessions to patients as they wait for transfer, reducing or eliminating idle non-therapeutic time within the ED, integrating Primary and Behavioral Healthcare. Completes Assessments fully, clearly, concisely and timely per standards.

• Provide brief interventions and support medical, behavioral health and psychosocial interventions as part of the care team. Keeping team informed of progress.

• Therapy/Counseling Sessions: Provides therapeutic intervention as needed to assist alleviation of stressors / trauma that may be associated with acute psychological- behavioral health hospitalization. Assisting patients to help them manage behaviors while the patient is waiting for the ED process to take place. Documenting interventions accordingly. Timely and Efficiently.

• Documentation: Completes clear and concise documentation noting patient and family participation, multidisciplinary involvement, and other planning information as required by the department, as well as, state and federal regulation agencies. Includes Discharge Planning activities as well.

• Casework Statistics: Completes a statistical record of each case closed, noting recorded hours, contacts made and services provided so that department documentation and statistics can be completed as requested and submits closed cases to department secretary when case closed within 24hrs post discharge.

• Regulatory & Departmental Compliance: Keeps abreast of policies and procedures, as well as, state and federal regulation guidelines, (i.e. JCAHO, DMH, DPH, to ensure compliance with standards.

• Education & Ongoing Communication:
  Provides information and education to patients and their families and or caregiver regarding the care plan as part of their specific care needs and works closely with members of the multidisciplinary team including, physicians, patients, families, hospital staff and community agencies such as insurance information, discharge planning efforts and referral sources.

• Assistance with ESP: Should the ESP provider not be able to provide a Crisis Evaluation within the 1 hour timeline, the
  BHCC may also provide ESP Crisis Evaluation for hospitalized patients obtaining prior authorization from Mass Health to conduct the Crisis evaluation.
  The focus is typically on diagnostic and functional evaluation, problem-solving, and recommendations for treatment and forming limited behavioral change goals. The visit may involve assessing clients at risk because of some life stress event and is designed to coordinate delivery of medical and/or behavioral health services through multi-disciplinary involvement. Then follow up with ESP provider for next 24hr evaluation.
• Care Transitions & Coordination
  Reports directly to the Director of Care Transitions and Indirectly reports to Unit Manager and Practice Leader. Works collaboratively with unit team and responds timely, efficiently and respectfully.

• Utilization Review: Works closely with ESP and Case Management with responsibilities with obtaining insurance authorization for admission, during hospitalization and for any discharge planning services/aftercare as needed timely and accurately.

• Participates in Clinical Supervision and and/or Peer review.
• Keeps department director abreast of any issues, trends identified and/or needs weekly and/or more frequently if needed.
• Informs patients of their rights when indicated
  (ie..discharge planning, guardianship, court commitments, admission/hospitalization, Section 12, Section 35,Advanced Directives, Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy).
• Provides assessment, therapy and intervention as needed on Watkins 1, Watkins 2, ICU, OBS upon request.
• Employee may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those explicitly described

Statement of Other Duties

• Masters Degree in Social Service, Counseling, Psychology or related field from an accredited graduate program.
• Massachusetts licensure as a LICSW or LMHC required.

Work Experience:

• Three (3) to five (5) years working with the psychiatric populations.
• Experience and/or understanding of emergency department, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health needs preferred.
• Current working knowledge of insurance providers and addiction experience is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and/or part of a team.
• Excellent verbal and written skills are required. Demonstrated ability to clearly assess and treat psychiatric problems.
• Working knowledge of community resources and how to access them; good knowledge of counseling and crisis intervention techniques.
• Ability to relate well with people.
• Ability to deal confidently with other service providers.
• Tact and courtesy.
• Integrity.
• Good judgment.
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability to change.