Job Details
The Mental Health Counselor improves the identification and management of behavioral health challenges in real-time in an outpatient primary care program working with adults living with HIV. The Mental Health Counselor provides routine screenings for mental health and substance use in the outpatient primary medical care setting and offers targeted, immediate, brief interventions and referrals for various behavioral health concerns that present during a medical appointment. The Mental Health Counselor is expected to demonstrate competency in validated and evidence-based methods of assessment and intervention, primarily motivational interviewing and SBIRT, and align with principles of trauma-informed care and harm reduction to promote recovery and resilience. The Mental Health Counselor will also provide ongoing mental health psychotherapy services to a small caseload of patients who have been determined to be best served by therapy services within the IDC itself. The Mental Health Counselor is required to demonstrate a proactive, team-oriented work ethic, whereby they can collaborate in real-time with medical providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, medical assistants) as well as support service providers, (social work, pharmacy, and nutrition).
Responsibilities include:
- Screen patients for mental health and substance use using evidence-based assessment tools during scheduled primary care medical appointments.
- Provide targeted, immediate, brief interventions such as motivational interviewing, SBIRT, and CBT integrated into primary care medical appointments for various behavioral health and medical concerns including but not limited to depression, anxiety, smoking cessation, sleep disorder, substance use, medication/appointment adherence and HIV viral load suppression.
- Refers patients for outpatient mental health services, outpatient psychiatry services, and substance use treatment as needed.
- Refers patients to emergency or crisis mental health services and supports team in addressing mental health crises in the clinic.
- Completes documentation in both the electronic medical record and CareWare as dictated by grant requirements.
- Holds a "huddle" with primary care providers and social workers at the start of each clinic session to review the schedule and anticipate patients needing behavioral health support.
- Conducts individual outpatient psychotherapy sessions for a small caseload of patients in need of additional mental health support who are assessed to not be appropriate for a referral to outside services.
- Establish treatment plans that include practical and measurable steps for evaluating patients' progress when appropriate.
- Develops and conducts a monthly support group for patients with HIV/AIDS.
- Meet weekly with the mental health services supervisor for clinical and administrative supervision. This supervision can count towards the accrual of LCSW clinical hours.
- Promptly attends scheduled staff meetings, in-services and trainings.
- Participates in other behavioral/mental health programming based on patient needs and funding/programmatic requirements.
QualificationsMaster's in Social Work degree
- Active Pennsylvania Masters-level Social Work license (LSW)
Conditions of EmploymentCovid Vaccination is a requirement for employment at Jefferson for employees working at Jefferson's clinical entities or at the University. If you are not currently vaccinated you will be required to receive the vaccination prior to hire date if you are offered employment, unless you request and receive an approved medical or religious exemption from Jefferson.
Conditions of EmploymentSince this position will require the selected candidate to engage in regular contact with children in the form of care, guidance, supervision or training, you will be required to meet the requirements of the Child Protective Services Act, including the Pennsylvania State Police criminal background check, the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare child abuse criminal background clearance, and an FBI finger print based federal criminal records check. The selected candidate will not be allowed to commence working until all three (3) are completed satisfactorily.
Closing StatementJefferson includes Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, a dynamic university and health system with broad reach across the Delaware Valley. Jefferson is the second largest employer in Philadelphia and the largest health system in Philadelphia based on total licensed beds.
Through the merger of Thomas Jefferson University and Philadelphia University in 2017, our University includes ten colleges and four schools. We are an NCAA Division II university and an R2 national doctoral university offering undergraduate and graduate-level programs that provide students with a forward-thinking education in architecture, business, design, engineering, fashion and textiles, health, medicine and social science.
Jefferson Health, the clinical arm of Thomas Jefferson University, has grown from a three-hospital academic health center in 2015, to an 18-hospital health system through mergers and combinations that include hospitals at Abington Health, Aria Health, Kennedy Health, Magee Rehabilitation and Einstein Healthcare Network. We have over 50 outpatient and urgent care centers; ten Magnet -designated hospitals (recognized by the ANCC for nursing excellence); the NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (one of only 70 in the country and one of only two in the region); and one of the largest faculty-based telehealth networks in the country. In 2021, Jefferson Health became the sole owner of HealthPartners Plan, a not-for-profit health maintenance organization in Southeastern Pennsylvania. We are the first health system regionally to create an aligned payer-provider partnership.
Jefferson's mission, vision and values create an organization that attracts the best and the brightest students, faculty, staff, and healthcare professionals, as well as the most visionary leaders to drive exceptional results.
- OUR MISSION: We improve lives.
- OUR VISION: Reimagining health, education and discovery to create unparalleled value
- OUR VALUES: Put People First, Be Bold & Think Differently and Do the Right Thing
As an employer, Jefferson maintains a commitment to provide equal access to employment. Jefferson values diversity and encourages applications from women, members of minority groups, LGBTQ individuals, disabled individuals, and veterans.
Par Reference Code108987