LMFT (Spanish Fluency Required)

Position Summary: 

Under the direction of the Chief Behavioral Health Officer, the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist is responsible for performing psychological assessments and providing brief evidenced-based treatment using the primary care behavioral health model to adults, older adults, children and their families in a primary care setting. This licensed clinician works closely with primary care providers to develop and implement sound treatment plans. Responds to and provides crisis intervention services when needed; Ensures behavioral health services are delivered in a culturally appropriate fashion and is consistent with State of California laws and regulations, professional standards of care, agency guidelines, and professional ethical guidelines. 

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Evaluates, triages and provides evidence-based, brief psychological/behavioral health interventions to patients with physical health, mental health, and/or substance abuse diagnoses.
• Provides consultation to clinical staff and primary care providers (PCPs) as needed regarding the patient’s care, treatment recommendations and progress via documentation in the client’s record, face to face or telephonic consultation.
• Performs brief assessments of patient needs and, with patient and PCP, develops a negotiated care plan. Evaluates and/or revises care plan as indicated with appropriate documentation in progress notes and communicates this to relevant multi-disciplinary team members.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation in the electronic medical record of all patients seen, completes forms and documents as required by the department, company, state, and federal agencies, and produces reports of evaluation and/or treatment, as required.
• Performs crisis interventions as needed including but not limited to conducting suicide assessments and makes recommendations to medical providers and patients determines if crisis response services are appropriate for patient safety.
• Works in coordination with the Chief Behavioral Health Officer and Director of Behavioral Health Operations to provide information to healthcare providers about mental illness, behavioral health services, and other topics as requested.
• Participates in meetings and committees, including but not limited to case conferences, treatment team meetings, peer review, multidisciplinary team meetings, etc. Participates in committees and work groups as directed.
• Actively participates in quality assurance activities of the department, including regular peer review and development and revision of policies and procedures.
• Maintains productivity expectations in accordance with clinic and program guidelines.
• Works closely with all providers to establish full integration of services and team-based approach to care.
• Establishes and maintains contact with community resources to ensure continuity of care (e.g. case managers, rehabilitation and detoxification centers, psychiatric units.)
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with clients, family members, other professional staff and the public.
• Performs any other job-related duties as needed, assigned, or requested.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Complies with established departmental and health center wide policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
• Demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills in collaboration with teams to achieve quality, excellence, harmony, and problem-solving to obtain stated goals and objectives.
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational program, current literature, in-service meetings and workshops.
• Assists in providing supervision of interns and/or unlicensed staff under specification of license as requested.
• Coordinates with other behavioral health providers for on-site planned and unplanned time off coverage as needed to ensure continuity of patient care.
• Promotes and fosters respect for patient privacy by maintaining confidentiality on all patient EHR data and abides by both the HIPAA Privacy and Security rules.

Job Requirements

Education Required:

• Successful completion of terminal graduate training program in a psychotherapy-related field: master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy or an equivalent program at an accredited University or College. 

Experience Required:

• Combination of education and years of experience as specified above. Sensitivity to multi-cultural concerns and the psychotherapeutic process required. Experience with community mental health preferred.

Certifications Required:

• LMFT issued by the state of California and a valid California driver’s license.

Verbal and Written Skills Required to Perform the Job:

• Bilingual in English/Spanish or English/Arabic required
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Technical Knowledge and Skills Required to Perform the Job:

• Knowledge of integrated treatment and care for individuals with co-occurring disorders.
• Demonstrate ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate in working with minority and underserved communities.
• Demonstrate respect for diversity.
• Knowledge of behavioral medicine, health psychology, substance use interventions including IMPACT and/or SBIRT model strongly recommended.
• Exercise tact, objectivity, sensitivity, strategy and judgement in dealing with a variety of people with mental illness.
• Organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgement within areas of responsibility.

Equipment Used:

• Computers, Software systems, Scanner, Telephones, Copy and fax machines.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting.
• Provide leadership coverage at assigned SYHealth clinics as needed.
• May be required to work evenings and weekends and attend meetings.

Universal Requirements:

Pre-employment requirements include I-9, physical, positive background and reference check results, complete application, new hire orientation, pre-employment PPDs. Compliance with all mandated vaccinations and all boosters is a term and condition of employment.