Behavioral Health Consult Coord

Job Summary:

Responsible for the psychosocial assessment and planning, implementation, monitoring and support of patients who have a psychiatric consult through the continuum of care. Also responsible for treatment (in collaboration with the consulting psychiatrist or APN) of patients who have had a psychiatric consultation requested; gathering history from collateral resources to help guide the treatment; interfacing with family, outpatient treatment providers and others to facilitate ongoing treatment if necessary. Will use resources appropriately, maintain compliance and achieve cost effective and positive patient outcomes. Utilizes independent critical thinking and collaborates with multidisciplinary team to address patient’s ongoing psychiatric needs while in the hospital; and participates in addressing patient’s needs for psychiatric treatment after discharge, so that provision of these needs does not interfere with patients’ timely discharge and ongoing treatment of non-psychiatric medical needs.

Position Responsibilities:

Interfaces with psychiatric APN or Physician consultant and treatment team to ensure ongoing psychiatric treatment needs are met while patient is hospitalized. Includes individual therapy and developing/implementing behavioral treatment plans when indicated. In collaboration with the psychiatric APN or Physician, consult coordinator maintains appropriate and complete documentation of psychiatric follow-up, behavioral health treatment interventions, and transitional planning for behavioral health needs.

Provides education on available psychiatric resources and processes, as well as strategies for utilizing or gaining access to psychiatric resources with treatment team (including Outcomes Management).

Serves as patient advocate for care and resources.  Knowledgeable of public and private welfare and health agencies available to serve the community from a behavioral health/psychiatric perspective. Acts as a liaison with behavioral/psychiatric community hospital, health and social service agencies.

Works to identify opportunities to treat Behavioral Health patients more effectively:

Participates in hospital wide Safety Huddles, Behavioral Huddles, Golden Ticket Meetings, Route Cause Analysis and other collaborative communication with both nursing staff, nurse leaders, physicians and other health care providers. Work within the system, under direct management, to identify opportunities to develop guidelines and protocols; work on developing proactive approaches to patient care.

Position Qualifications Required:

Required Experience:

A preferred minimum of three years’ experience treating psychiatric patients in either outpatient or inpatient setting (LCSW preferred); and at least one year medical social work experience (inpatient) OR a BSN in Nursing with at least one year experience working in a general hospital setting and preferred three years of working with behavioral health patients.

(Applicants with three years’ clinical/nursing experience outside of psychiatry are encouraged to apply and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.)

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, problem solving, organization and conflict resolution. Demonstrates competence in providing psychosocial counseling with individuals and families. Ability to understand medical terminology and communicate effectively with persons of diverse backgrounds. Familiarity with common presentations of psychiatric syndromes in a general medical setting (e.g. depression, psychosis, substance abuse, delirium).

Required Education:

Minimum education of Bachelor in Nursing Degree and/or Master’s Degree in Social Work.

Training / Certification / Licensure:

Current State of New Jersey Social Worker License. Licensed Clinical Social Worker preferred. Licensed Clinical Social Worker required within 2 years of hire.

Current State of New Jersey Nursing License.