Boston Medical Center (BMC) is more than a hospital. It's a network of support and care that touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in need each year. It is the largest and busiest provider of trauma and emergency services in New England. Emphasizing community-based care, BMC is committed to providing consistently excellent and accessible health services to all and is the largest safety-net hospital in New England. The hospital is also the primary teaching affiliate of the nationally ranked Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and a founding partner of Boston HealthNet - an integrated health care delivery system that includes many community health centers. Join BMC today and help us achieve our Vision 2030 which is a long-term goal to make Boston the healthiest urban population in the world.
Position: Behavioral Health Counselor
Department: Brockton Site
Schedule: Part Time, Per Diem
POSITION SUMMARY:
Clinical Stabilization Services (CSS) for Substance Use Disorders Level III.5 consist of 24-hour, clinically managed detoxification services that are provided in a non-medical setting. These services, which usually follow Acute Treatment Services (ATS) for Substance Use Disorders Level III.7, include supervision, observation, support, intensive education, and counseling regarding the nature of addiction and its consequences, relapse prevention, outreach to families and significant others, and aftercare planning for individuals beginning to engage in recovery. CSS provides multi-disciplinary treatment interventions and emphasizes individual, group, family, and other forms of therapy. Linkage to aftercare, relapse prevention services, and peer support and recovery-oriented services, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, are integrated into treatment and discharge planning.
Under supervision, the behavioral health counselor will provide specialized therapeutic groups to address gender-specific treatment issues, poly-substance use, co-occurring disorders, trauma, medications, life skills, housing, and other relevant topics. The behavioral health counselor is a key member of a holistic care model through providing non-judgmental, person-centered support across multiple systems and frameworks of care. This position will maintain ongoing patient support regardless of relapse and will serve as a motivator, ally, role model, problem-solver, and advocate for patients. The behavioral health counselor should possess a thorough understanding of optimizing safety for people who use drugs, better tailor health messages to vulnerable populations, and provide links to community resources and treatment options. This position requires good organizational skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:
- Conduct individual counseling sessions, under supervision, as scheduled and documents as required;
- Conduct group and/or family sessions, under supervision, as scheduled and documents as required;
- May co-facilitate assigned group or family sessions;
- Responsible for initial assessments, as well as follow-up assessments, for patients;
- Prepare individual treatment plans for each assigned patient;
- Ensure all documentation regarding patient care, treatment, and incidents is completed timely and in a clear, concise manner;
- May act as a liaison between referral sources and patients;
- Provide crisis intervention to patients, as needed;
- May plan for aftercare for assigned patients;
- May act as a liaison with insurance carriers, as requested;
- May provide case management duties for patients, ensuring individualized quality care;
- Evaluate patient needs and determine if referrals to other programs or facilities are needed;
- Assist with milieu management;
- Support and encourage patients to take prescribed medication for substance use disorders, mental health conditions, or medical issues;
- Develop and implement recovery plans with patients in collaboration with colleagues, clinicians, and patients;
- Use language that conveys caring and is non-judgmental and utilize motivational enhancement techniques and motivational interviewing that helps encourage patients to identify and prioritize their personal needs;
- Conform to hospital standards of performance and conduct, including those pertaining to patient rights and privacy;
- Utilize hospital policies and standards as the basis for decision making and to support the hospital’s mission and goals;
- Perform other duties assigned or as necessary;
- Must adhere to all of BMC’s RESPECT behavioral standards.
(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).
JOB DESCRIPTION CHARACTERISTICS
EDUCATION:
- Bachelor's degree in social or health services field, with 2+ years of experience in the counseling field; or bachelor's degree in another field with 4+ years in the counseling field.
- Master's degree in social or health services field, with 1 year of professional work experience; degree must be from an accredited college or university.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:
EXPERIENCE:
- At least 2+ years of experience working in a health care/substance use treatment setting required; preferably with individuals with substance use disorders.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, e-mail, and the internet. Requires the ability to research community resources independently.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
- Knowledge of community, social, and health resources, particularly substance use-related resources.
- Understanding of drug and alcohol use and ways to optimize safe use; lived experience preferred.
- Empathic understanding of patients and skilled in performing multicultural needs assessments and developing concrete service plans.
- Expertise in establishing working relationships with patients, their families, professionals, and the community, including the ability to collaborate with a multidisciplinary health care team.
- Computer competency, inclusive of the ability to access and enter data.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, inclusive of organizational skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
- Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills to facilitate interactions with various members of the health care team, patients, and their families.
- Bilingual or multi-lingual skills (beyond that of English) appropriate to the patient population served is preferred.
- Demonstrated flexibility with clients’ priorities, evolving needs, and goals.
- Sensitivity to ethnic, cultural, gender, and sexual orientation diversity; values; beliefs; and behaviors.
- Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving ability.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans
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