Behavioral Health Associate II

Job Requirements

Job Description

JOB TITLE

Behavioral Health Clinician Associate II - Full-time

Work Schedule - Monday - Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm - occasional weekend support.

DEPARTMENT:

Behavioral Health Services

STATUS:

Nonexempt

APPROVED BY: Human Resources & Executive Director, Behavioral Health Services

JOB SUMMARY: Behavioral Health Clinician Associate II’s act as an extension of the Behavioral Health Clinician and psychiatric provider(s). Regardless of acute psychiatric treatment setting, the BHC Associate II, working in collaboration with the behavioral health team, medical team, and community stakeholders, is responsible for assisting with tasks that are program specific but center around initiating/coordinating placement in appropriate level of care and/or aftercare planning for patients in order to ensure a smooth transition back into the community once symptoms are stabilized. Familiar with community resources and able to make referrals to community organizations/ programs based on identified treatment needs. Maintains ongoing professional relationships with community organizations for ease of referrals, etc. Assists with obtaining insurance authorizations for treatment as needed, obtaining collateral information related to patient care/assessment, and help with completing psychiatric scales/measurement-based tools.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Education & Training: Associates Degree required. Education may be substituted with two (2) years of previous work experience serving persons with chronic mental illness or working in an acute care setting. Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services related field preferred.

Work Orientation & Experience : Minimum one (1) year previous experience working with acute mental illness and those impacted by trauma is required; two (2) years of experience serving persons with chronic mental illness is preferred. Must be familiar with community resources and referral processes.

Skills & Abilities: 1) Ability to effectively communicate with patients, family members, medical team members and community stakeholders in a fast-paced setting; 2) Engage with patients in a patient-centered, trauma-informed manner; and 3 ) Thorough understanding of HIPAA requirements and confidentiality as it relates to care provided.)

JOB TASK LIST

• Work in collaboration with multi-disciplinary team in order to identify and link patient with appropriate inpatient/community-based resources for care with the goal of continued progress towards recovery.
• Identify and address barriers to recovery including, but not limited to, ineffective support system, finances, housing, and lack of transportation to increase likelihood of outpatient treatment engagement.
• Communicate/collaborate with other acute psychiatric treatment facilities including faxing patient information and assisting with any follow-up questions in order to secure appropriate placement.
• Prior to patient discharge, schedule outpatient appointments, access to home medications, and develop plan to overcome identified barriers to support treatment engagement.
• Arrange transportation upon discharge utilizing various resources as utilized by the organization.
• When Behavioral Health Clinician is unavailable, review discharge plan with patient, patient’s family and/or significant other and community providers to ensure effective continuity and transfer of care at discharge as needed.
• Identify patients at risk for readmission and coordinate with Behavioral Health Case Management team for coordination of care.
• In context of care coordination, provides brief/short-term supportive counseling to patients/families transitioning through the course of care.
• Implements and utilizes evidence-based patient registries and data tracking tools. Collaborates with treating provider(s) on patient progress.
• Collaborates with referring provider(s) during entire treatment course. Reports as required on status, progress, medications, referrals, etc.
• Assist in maintaining up-to-date resource manual for relevant community supports, organizations, and providers.
• Serve as liaison between Psychiatric Inpatient Unit, medical floors, community agencies, and community providers to ensure continuity of care and discharge processes for Psychiatric Inpatient Unit patients.
• Co-facilitate group sessions, in coordination with Behavioral Health Clinician, when appropriate.
• Serve as a liaison between the Psychiatric Inpatient Unit and the Harford Crisis Center for transfers, admissions, etc. Coordinate transportation, insurance, and assure nursing warm handoff has occurred during the process.
• Attend and participate in daily rounds and individual treatment plan meetings to better understand and effectively communicate the goals, strengthens and barriers of patients in treatment.
• Document all interventions in the EMR timely and accurately.
• Effectively prioritize and manage all patient’s care needs to ensure timely discharges.
• Support and participate in additional projects, resource utilization review, and clinical improvement initiatives, as identified.
• Demonstrates self-directed learning behaviors to maintain and improve clinical competence.
• Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.

Benefits

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation

Pay Range: $17.68 - $24.76

Other Compensation (if applicable):

Review the 2025-2026 UMMS Benefits Guide

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