Behavioral Health Support Specialist

Behavioral Health Support Specialist

9327 Investing Smart to Improve Crisis Care and Outcomes (MBH)About the Position

The Behavioral Health Support Specialist serves as a key member of the Emergency Department care team and is responsible for providing behavioral health assessments, crisis intervention, care coordination, and linkage to community resources for patients presenting with behavioral health or substance use concerns. The Behavioral Health Support Specialist supports the hospital’s ED Diversion Program by reducing unnecessary admissions, improving access to outpatient treatment, and facilitating timely follow up after discharge. This position also is part of the Behavioral Emergency Response (BERT), responding to behavioral health crises throughout the hospital and assisting staff with patient de-escalation, behavioral intervention planning, and suicide prevention activities.

This grant-funded position is authorized in one-year funding periods and is contingent upon continued grant funding, program requirements, and achievement of required outcomes. Grant funding may be renewed for additional periods; however, if funding is not renewed or otherwise becomes unavailable, employment in this position will end at the conclusion of the applicable funding period. Employment with Reid Health is at will, meaning that either the employee or Reid Health may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice and with or without cause, subject to applicable law.

Schedule: Flex schedule and travel. These positions will need cover each other in Richmond and Connersville.

• 2 positions: 9a to 7p (Richmond)
• 2 positions: 7p to 5a (Richmond)
• 1 position: 11a to 9p (Connersville)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct behavioral health screenings, psychosocial assessments, and crisis evaluations for patients presenting to the Emergency Department with mental health, substance use, or psychosocial concerns.
• Identify patients appropriate for diversion from inpatient hospitalization when clinically appropriate and coordinate alternative treatment pathways
• Provide brief solution-focused interventions, crisis stabilization, motivation interviewing, and supportive counseling
• Assist Emergency Department providers in determining the most appropriate level of care and disposition planning.
• Facilitate rapid connection to community-based behavioral health services, crisis services, addiction treatment, primary care, and social support resources.
• Collaborate with community organizations to improve transitions of care and reduce gaps in service delivery.
• Complete suicide risk assessments
• Assist patients identified as moderate to high risk for suicide with development of individualized safety plans prior to discharge or transition of care
• Facilitate safety planning interventions utilizing evidence-based suicide prevention practices
• Educate patients and families regarding warning signs, coping strategies, support resources, and crisis response options
• Coordinate follow-up and referral services for patients identified at elevated suicide risk.
• Serve as an active member of the hospital Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT)
• Respond to behavioral health emergencies and security codes throughout the facility
• Provide crisis intervention, behavioral assessment, and de-escalation support for patients exhibiting escalating behaviors
• Collaborate with nursing, physicians, Reid Police, and other interdisciplinary team members to promote patient and staff safety.
• Assist in developing behavioral intervention plans and recommendations for hospitalized patients experiencing psychiatric symptoms or behavioral disturbances
• Participate in post-even debriefings and quality improvement initiatives related to behavioral emergency responses
• Collect, enter, and maintain data necessary for grant reporting and program evaluation
• Monitor outcome measures related to Emergency Department diversion, referral completion, follow-up compliance, behavioral health utilization, and patient engagement. This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and can be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management deems necessary.

Education and Experience

• Minimum of a Master’s Degree in a social service degree (ex: MSW)

Licensure and Certification

LSW, LMFTA, LMHCA

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work collaboratively with participating hospitals, community mental health centers, social service agencies, schools, primary care providers, EMS agencies, and other regional stakeholders.
• Ability to create individualized treatment plans and safety plans
• Ability to Collect Data, Outcome Measures, and program evaluation.

Work Environment

Emergency Department, Inpatient medical/surgical floors, and Inpatient Psychiatry

This Rural Health Transformation Program is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $206,927,896.80 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

This description is intended to describe the general nature and most essential duties to be performed by individuals assigned to this job title. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Management has the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to the job at any time. All Reid Health campuses are smoke-free.