Behavioral Health Clinician

Who We Are:

Since 1985, BHCHP’s mission has been to ensure unconditionally equitable and dignified access to the highest quality health care for all individuals and families experiencing homelessness in greater Boston. Over 10,000 homeless individuals are cared for by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program each year. We are committed to ensuring that every one of these individuals has access to comprehensive health care, from preventative dental care to cancer treatment. Our clinicians, case managers, and behavioral health professionals work in more than 30 locations to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable—and most resilient—citizens.

From our earliest days as a program, we have always sought to do work that is transformational: recognizing our shared humanity; centering dignity, compassion, mutual respect and supporting the right of every individual to access the highest levels of health care and every staff member to reach their fullest potential. We continue to be committed to building bridges and breaking down barriers, including systemic racism which harms us all. We provide community-based health care services that are compassionate, dignified, and culturally appropriate, incorporating social determinants of health, with the goal of breaking down the physical and systemic barriers that our patients face.

Job Summary:

***NOW OFFERING A $4,000 SIGN ON BONUS***

Hours: Full-time: Monday - Friday, 8:30am -5:00pm; holidays

Union: No

Union Name: Non-union

Patient Facing: Yes

Would you like to work with some of Boston's most vulnerable – and most resilient residents? Are you a clinician passionate about providing individual and group therapy? Are you willing to provide expertise to providers and others regarding treatment plans in conjunction with the medical needs of patients?

At Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, you will find challenging and satisfying work every day alongside people who share the same drive and compassion as you do. Some of the priorities that draw us to this work are responding to social crisis and injustice and empowering the dis-empowered; developing long-term individual relationships; and giving life-changing interventions.

We are searching for a clinician to provide group and/or individual therapy, ongoing assessment, intakes, evaluations, and support patients with a variety of needs at BHCHP. This clinician will also collaborate with team members and the patient with making outside referrals.

Responsibilities:

• Provides initial behavioral health evaluation and ongoing support services for BHCHP patients.
• Provides leadership in assisting primary care staff with problem solving of behavioral health concerns and/or psychiatric emergencies.
• Collaborates, communicates, and meets with the BHCHP teams as needed to provide comprehensive care.
• Makes referrals to outside addiction treatment programs or other support as needed.
• Provides ongoing education and support of patients; and follow-up care in person and via telephone when needed.
• Obtains billing authorizations and completes appropriate documentation with excellent record keeping done in a timely fashion.
• Provides documentation for grants, projects, etc. as directed by supervisor.
• Undertakes projects and assignments as required.
• Participates on intra-agency committee(s); meets with senior staff for clinical supervision as needed; attends weekly treatment team meetings; and attends clinic staff meetings as scheduled.
• LICSW provides supervision to unlicensed clinicians as needed.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Massachusetts LICSW and LMHC preferred, LCSW required, or license eligible.
• Must be licensed or obtain license within 18 months (LCSW) or 42 months (for LMHC) of hire date.
• Candidates working toward LCSW licensure must have filed a license application with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers and must not have failed the licensing exam more than once.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, Haitian Creole or Portuguese is strongly preferred.
• Experience with the homeless population and addiction preferred.
• Effective verbal, written and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with providers and team members form various settings; and works well with a multidisciplinary approach.
• Knowledge of community and health resources, particularly addiction related resources and supports.
• Sensitivity to ethnic, cultural, gender, beliefs, and behaviors.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with excellent communication skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities; ability to work with patients with dual or multiple disorders who also have complex medical and social issues.
• Takes direction well and can be flexible; ability to travel to multiple sites.
• Demonstrated interest in working with an underserved population.
• Life support training certification (e.g. CPR, BLS, ACLS) from a course that includes a hands-on, in-person component. If not certified prior to the start date, applicant must submit certification within 60 days of the start date.

Compensation and Benefits:

• **NOW OFFERING A $4,000 SIGN ON BONUS***
• Salary starting at $66,000 and will increase with years of experience; additional compensation for LICSW and LMHC.
• BHCHP full time employees are eligible for our competitive time off policy of 4 weeks’ vacation, health, dental and vision insurance, 403B retirement savings plan and employer retirement contribution, and pre-tax MBTA pass program with 40% discount. In addition, eligible employees will receive yearly increases, additional compensation of seven thousand five hundred added to your base hiring rate for demonstrated bilingual proficiency added to the base rate and the opportunity to work with local hospitals and community health centers.