Licensed Associate Behavioral Health Counselor

Job Description

The Bilingual Independent Licensed Counselor is an integral part of a multidisciplinary patient care team, providing outpatient therapeutic counseling services to patients. This role delivers direct counseling focused on general mental health and substance use to individuals, families, and groups. Work performance is evaluated for adherence to established policies, procedures, and best practices related to behavioral health service delivery. The position reports directly to the Behavioral Health Coordinator at the assigned service site.

Key Accountabilities

1. Assesses and provides appropriate therapeutic counseling services for individuals, families, and groups presenting with problems related to general mental health and substance use that are within the scope of the Counselor’s education, skills, training, licensure, and privileging.
2. Provides behavioral health-related prevention/education services to the primarily Spanish-speaking community in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
3. Provides accurate and timely documentation, billing, and program audit support.
4. Actively participates in case staffing meetings and peer review sessions.
5. Collaborate with the care team and other internal and external health care providers for shared patients to facilitate patient care and follow up, while promoting the healthcare home mission in all aspects of service delivery.
6. Supports the organization as needed. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

The following factors are essential to this position, and to minimally qualify, applicants must provide evidence in their resumes that they possess these required factors:

1. Knowledge of principles, techniques and trends in counseling, psychotherapy, clinical case management, and various treatment modalities.
2. Knowledge of principles and techniques of mental health and substance use education, prevention, and crisis intervention.
3. Ability to deliver strong clinical services to individuals, families, and/or groups.
4. Model professionalism, integrity, and ethical principles at all times.
5. Ability to accomplish the quality and quantity of work expected within set limits of cost and time.
6. Ability to plan own work and carry out assignments effectively and completely.
7. Must have strong listening, written, and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly with patients, providers, and staff.
8. Ability to establish rapport and gain the confidence of others (providers, case managers, primary care team, patients and associates).
9. Must be able to work with confidential material without betraying the trust of patients, families, or the agency- in accordance with HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 regulations, as well as agency policies.
10. Ability to assess quality of patient care and make improvements, as needed.
11. Knowledge and competence in supporting the cultural, social, and economic backgrounds of a diverse service population with traditionally underserved needs.
12. Knowledge of mental health and substance use issues of the diverse populations served.
13. Knowledge of existing social and behavioral health resources available for patient care.
14. Knowledge of and skills to provide brief intervention counseling focused on adults and/or children with general mental health and/or substance abuse challenges.
15. Enhance and promote the core values and mission of NATIVE HEALTH.
16. Always exercises the utmost discretion, diplomacy and tact in customer transactions.
17. Remains current and completes on time all assigned Relias trainings and other training related to the health promotion and disease prevention of the persons served in the program.
18. Proficient with computer-based applications such as MS Office, Adobe, and electronic health record.

Qualifications

1. Master’s degree in social work or counseling, or a related field is required.
2. Active and unrestricted AZBBHE licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and/or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
3. Bilingual in Spanish is required. Fluency test must be passed. Excellent written and spoken skills required.
4. Three years of specialized experience in mental health and/or substance abuse with diverse populations is strongly preferred.
5. Experience working with underserved populations is also highly preferred.

Standard Employment Requirements: 

• Must possess a valid and unrestricted Arizona driver’s license (within 30 days of hire if applicant is from out-of-state) with no DUI/DWI or reckless driving convictions in the last five years. No more than two at-fault accidents in the last three years. Must maintain a valid Arizona driver’s license during employment. Must be insurable under NATIVE HEALTH’s liability auto policy.
• Must pass a criminal background check and obtain a Class I Fingerprint Clearance Card within the initial ninety (90) calendar days of employment and retain a valid card while employed with NATIVE HEALTH.
• Must pass substance abuse testing upon employment and submit to random testing during employment.
• Must provide an updated immunization (IZ) record at the time of employment.
• Must have a current (within 12 months) Tuberculosis (TB) skin report upon employment and provide an annual update.
• Must obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification within (90) calendar days of employment and maintain certification during employment.

Additional Information

Native Health complies with all state and federal requirements, including EEOC requirements.