Clinical Access Specialist

Overview

CLINICAL ACCESS SPECIALIST

JOIN OUR AMAZING NORTHEND TACOMA TEAM!

OUR CLINICAL TEAMS WORK IN THE HOMES OF FAMILIES AND IN THE COMMUNITY; PLUS, IN AN OFFICE SITE

CCSWW's Family Behavioral Health Team Awarded WSU's  Employer of the Year!

Catholic Community Services, Family Behavioral Health is looking for a Clinical Access Specialist who wants to join our team of innovators who continually "push the envelope" and challenges traditional thinking in Behavioral Health. 

WHO ARE WE:

We are a values-driven organization, providing family oriented mental health care for children, youth and families in their own home and community. Our enthusiastic clinical teams provide whatever is needed to help children and youth remain safely in their own home with their family, restoring hope, providing intense mental health services and supports, and helping to strengthen the family unity. With sites located in Tukwila, Tacoma, Olympia, Shelton, Bremerton, Aberdeen, Yelm, Vancouver, and Portland Oregon, we offer comprehensive intensive, Wrap-around mental health services to a diverse population for youth and families. We employ nearly 800 caring and compassionate employees.  

WHAT WE VALUE: Compassion Diversity Strength-Based-Approach Social-Justice & Our Staff!

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Starting Pay Range: $36.79 - $40.93 per hour
• Collaborative Supervision

BENEFITS:

• 12 paid holidays; plus 1 personal holiday each year
• 3 weeks' vacation (to start)
• 12 sick-days per year
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance (1 times annual salary)
• Retirement Plans: 403-B Employee Savings Plan and an Employer Contribution Pension 

Training and Supervision:

• Extensive training in multiple clinical approaches as well as trainings in related areas
• Weekly supervision with your Clinical Supervisor
• Daily supervision and support, as needed
• Immediate assistance and clinical supervision/consultation available at any time

We strive to help children and families live together safely and securely with hope and promise. We serve as a catalyst for change when appropriate, challenging long-standing service traditions in community behavioral health. We behave with Humility, Passion for our Mission, and Compassion and Respectful Interactions. We value learning and offer alternatives and we stand strong to help child-serving systems understand our alternative paradigm while strengthening partnerships. We do not compromise our values. 

Responsibilities

This position is the first clinical contact for children, youth and families seeking referral and access to intensive level behavioral health services. The Clinical Access Specialist is responsible for determining eligibility and facilitating access to behavioral health services by using clinical and diagnostic assessment tools to gather child and family medical and behavioral health information, complete initial clinical assessment tool i.e. Child Adolescent Needs and Strengths and verify and determine eligibility for intensive behavioral health treatment services. The Clinical Access Specialist will continue to engage with the family, providing support and referrals as needed throughout the clinical assignment process. The Clinical Access Specialist will track all referrals, utilization and response timeframes and enter data into an Electronic Health record as appropriate.  

This position will be based out of FBH Northend, Tacoma office. This position requires scheduling flexibility to meet the needs of youth and families served. The services we offer will be provided in community-based settings and in family homes. Work is performed under the supervision of the Clinical Supervisor or Clinical Manager.

JOB SUMMARY

Clinical

• Utilize Clinical assessment and engagement skills to meet with child, youth and family in the home, hospital or other community settings to gather demographic, clinical/situation information and assess for service need and intensity.
• Complete behavioral health clinical assessment tools including the CANS Assessment.
• Demonstrate familiarity with DSM criteria for clinical mental health diagnoses and formulate a clinical diagnosis based on client background and presenting behavioral health issues and concerns.
• Engage the child and family during the referral session, assessing for immediate safety needs and concerns and ensuring clinical support for the safety of the child throughout the referral determination process.
• Gather information from medical, behavioral health and other community providers for children/youth referred to support assessment for and access to services.
• Using an Electronic Health Record, Provider One, verify Medicaid eligibility for services.
• For referrals meeting access to care criteria, assess acuity level for response and coordinate referral assignment with identified clinical manager/supervisor.
• Communicate referral dispositions to Medicaid and BHO funders and obtain pre-authorization for those meeting service criteria. For those referrals not meeting criteria, report disposition information to funder in monthly reports.
• For referrals not meeting criteria for services, assist referent in resolving presenting concern, e.g. makes referrals to community resources, utilizing motivational interviewing and solution focused principles to resolve issue(s).

Manage access to services

• Support and facilitate referral access in the community: represent Family Behavioral Health Services in the community by community outreach and collaboration. Develop and maintain strong and active relationships with funders, Behavioral health and Medical providers, Children’s Administration, Juvenile Justice, community organizations, and other referral sources.
• Maintain on-going clinical contact with children/youth meeting access criteria for services pending clinical assignment, ensure appropriate and timely coordination, collaboration and support for behavioral health supports.
• Maintain contact with referents (community medical and behavioral health professionals) so that if youth is not immediately assigned, they are informed of the clinical intake process and authorization and approval for services. .
• Demonstrate flexibility and organization to respond to urgent referral requests in the home and community as needed, including flexibility to meet family and community needs after 5pm and on weekends. 
• Maintain knowledge of community behavioral health and other support services to ensure all referents are linked to helping resources in their local communities from service referral to eligibility determination and disposition.
• Complete clinical assessment/referral documentation as required by funders and Medicaid, tracking client enrollment and referral documentation in clinical dashboard as needed for system wide behavioral health outcome reports.

Utilization tracking

• Track and record Verification of Medicaid eligibility for all children/youth referred.
• Maintain tracking list of process steps for completion of required referral and intake activities, such as clinical assessment completion, referral dispositions, schedule and completed behavioral health intakes, initial treatment planning sessions with families, Medicaid authorizations and re-authorizations.

Quality Improvement

• Participate in audit preparation and review of clinical records to ensure content, format, timeliness and quality standards of referral and initial documentation are Medicaid compliant for all children and youth.

HIPAA:

• Responsible for upholding a culture of privacy and security in highly confidential work environment (HIPAA covered entity service area).
• Complies with all CCSWW policies and procedures that involve access to and safe guarding of client Protected Health Information (all forms). 

Qualifications

WHAT WE ARE SEEKING IN A CANDIDATE:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, behavioral sciences or equivalent field.
• 2 or more years of clinical experience working with children and families including knowledge of behavioral health and child welfare service systems.
• Clinical knowledge of DSM diagnostic and clinical criteria.
• Demonstrated clinical engagement skills which may include Motivational Interviewing or Collaborative Problem Solving.
• Eligibility for Agency Affiliated License and application within one month of employment
• Computer proficiency in Excel and Word and knowledge of Behavioral Health (EHR) electronic health record systems.
• Certification and competency in clinical assessment process including eligibility for certification in the CANS-Child/Adolescent Needs/Strengths Assessment, CALOCUS and knowledge in functional family clinical assessments.
• Energetic, innovative style with the ability to engage children, youth and family members in services.
• Enthusiastic and optimistic approach, encouraging ongoing participation of all involved.
• Natural ability to work with others through a genuine strengths-based approach, appreciating unique qualities and assets of all involved.
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.
• Ability to meet with clients and colleagues in homes and community locations.
• Demonstrated strength in community capacity building and collaboration.
• Ability to prioritize and effectively handle competing demands.
• Applicant must successfully pass required background clearances prior to an offer of employment.
• Valid driver’s license & current automobile insurance, reliable transportation with an acceptable driving record per CCS policy.
• Support and uphold the mission, beliefs and values of Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to engage children and families in crisis and in a variety of settings and circumstances.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Highly organized and a self-starter.
• Demonstrated ability to work in the context of a team.
• Computer proficiency in Psych Consult.
• Training and experience in CANS Assessment.

ABOUT TACOMA:

Urbanites are drawn to downtown Tacoma for its competitively priced living spaces with sweeping views of Mt. Rainier, city and water views, while families gravitate toward Tacoma’s charming, affordable neighborhoods with big city amenities. Tacoma, conveniently located on the I-5 corridor, easily accessible to Seattle. Enjoy all the area has to offer:

• A haven for hikers, runners and cyclists. Tacoma is alive with activities from students attending the Universities and Trade, Technical and Community Colleges.
• Tacoma’s gourmands and culinary connoisseurs have cultivated a scene that’s made national press, with top-notch meeting and convention spaces, and huge headliner concerts have drawn visitors from across the globe.
• Birthplace of world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly, displaying at the Glass Museum, Tacoma is home to vibrant, creative community writers, artists and musicians, photographers, filmmakers, passionate entrepreneurs and business owners.

If you are passionate about providing strength-based mental health services for children, youth and their family, we would love to hear from you! 

If you are on our careers page and you are interested in being considered for this opening: please click on "Apply” to upload your resume and answer a few questions for consideration. 

If you are not on our Careers, copy and paste this link: https://fbh-ccsww.icims.com/jobs/intro?hashed=-435738801  to view and apply for this opportunity.

For additional information: Text Christina at 253-691-5446. 

Note for Internal Candidates: HR reviews internal compensation and determines any increase based on their experience and also agency internal equity factors. INTERNAL APPLICANTS: PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR UPDATED RESUME AND A COVER LETTER. 

Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services is and Equal Opportunity Employer. Please let us know if you need special accommodations to apply or interview for this position. 

Compensation: 36.79 to N/A (USD)