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Work Shift

Job Summary:

Functioning under the leadership of the Manager of Behavioral Health or designee, the Behavioral Health Assessor-Licensed performs comprehensive, face to face and tele-mental health based assessments, psycho-education and interventions with patients who are receiving services for various psychological, behavioral or substance related disturbances. The Behavioral Health Assessor works in conjunction with the physician and other care team members to assess and plan for safe care delivery and transition planning to the appropriate level of care.
Specific responsibilities of the behavioral health assessor include the following:
Providing individual assessment of patients in the emergency department and/or acute care floor to assist in determining the most appropriate next level of care
Collaborating with physicians, social workers, and other specialty providers to ensure optimal, individualized, and integrated treatment for behavioral health patients
Working with patient's family members and identified supports to determine a safe discharge plan
Assessing, referring, and coordinating care for patients with unique and complex psychiatric conditions, including assisting with legal holds and referrals to the identified level of care
Participating in service line functions and initiatives, as directed by Behavioral Health leadership

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

Patient Assessment
- Conduct and interpret comprehensive clinical assessments in-person or via tele-mental health for the Emergency Departments and acute care units
- Complete Suicide Risk Assessment.
- Collaborate with collateral/support contacts.
- Provide a level of care recommendation appropriate for the clinical, medical and biopsychosocial presentation and resource needs of the patient.
- Consult with Physicians, On-Call Psychiatrists, Nursing staff and other appropriate team members to establish the behavioral health plan of care.
- Review the behavioral health plan of care with the patient/guardian to ensure comprehension of program services available and provide recommendations.
- Reassess patients every shift, or more often as patient status and acuity changes.

Discharge Planning/Patient Placements
- Coordinate with the Assessment and Resource Center to facilitate age-appropriate referrals to the recommended level of care following evaluation and in conjunction with the provider.
- Identifies and documents barriers to timely disposition.
- Obtains collateral from patients family/identified supports to plan for continued care.
- Provides education/counseling to patient/family to assist in understanding, accepting and following medical recommendations of his/her conditions.
- Understands eligibility processes and criteria for referrals to identified levels of service and resources.
- Develops a Safety Plan with all patients.
- Allows for any cultural or religious beliefs in providing services and continuity of care.
- Ensures the Assessment and Resource Center has all documentation necessary to facilitate referral to the recommended level of care. Documentation
- Documents initial psychosocial/functional assessment in the electronic medical record.
- Documents suicide risk assessment in the electronic medical record.
- Documents ongoing reassessments, and safety plan in the electronic medical record.
- Documents each patient contact.
- Assists with legal documentation as needed for patient placement, i.e., 1013, 1014, 1015.
- Documents all contact with collateral contacts, support systems and resource referrals in a timely and accurate manner. Professional Development and Initiative
- Adheres to ethical business practices by striving to perform in a manner that conforms to the highest standards of ethical behavior, integrity and honesty.
- Maintains confidentiality of all patient information.
- Maintains attendance/punctuality in accordance with system policy and procedure.
- Attends and participates in staff meetings, required in-services, process improvement activities, and other meetings as requested.
- Completes all initial and ongoing professional competency assessments, required mandatory education and population specific education.

Required Minimum Education:

Master's Degree MSW from an Accredited School of Social Work Required or
Master's Degree in professional counseling from a CACREP accredited program Required

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s):
All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.

• Basic Life Support or BLS - Instructor
• Lic Associate Pro Counselor or Lic Master Social Worker GA or Lic Clinical Social Worker GA-Preferred or Lic Professional Counselor-Preferred
• Workplace Violence Prention Training within 30 Days

Additional License(s) and Certification(s):



Required Minimum Experience:

Minimum 3 years experience working with adult/child populations Required and
candidates have experience working with behavioral health patients (internships and volunteer experiences may apply) Preferred

Required Minimum Skills:

Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
capacity to think abstractly and develop innovative services that can better meet organizational and patient needs.
specific interest in behavioral health and willingness to work at various WellStar sites depending upon need.
knowledge of behavioral health best practices.
basic technological capabilities in Word, and Excel, as well as the ability to utilize a Telemedicine cart for remote assessments.

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