Job Summary:

The Behavioral Health Liaison (BHL) within the acute care hospital is a critical member of a multi-disciplinary team of behavioral health providers comprised of psychiatrists, advanced practice psychiatric nurses, and clinical health psychologists. BHLs work collaboratively with a Consultation-Liaison Behavioral (CLB) team to ensure that patients with psychiatric and substance use disorders receive the right care from the right provider at the right time. The CLB team is an innovative care model implemented in 2018 that involves a transition from a traditional psychiatric consultation-liaison service to a multi-disciplinary and proactive, outcomes-driven model.
BHLs provide services through the CLB team and are integral to ensuring behavioral health patient safety, managing length of stay, and reducing psychiatric hospital readmissions through effective coordination of care. To assist with these quality indicators, the Behavioral Health Liaison works with a high level of autonomy, communicating with medical staff members, other healthcare providers, as well as patients and their support network. He/She manages the care pathways for patients with behavioral health/psychiatric care coordination needs who have been admitted to hospital medical floors. For patients with immediate clinical needs, the BHL works with other CLB team members and delivers interventions that fall within the scope of their respective licensure as a mental health provider. The liaison may provide a variety of direct patient interventions to meet each individual's needs, including comprehensive face-to-face behavioral health assessments, psycho-education, individual or family counseling, behavior management, and referrals to inpatient, residential, and outpatient services. The liaison may be responsible for the direct supervision of graduate students, and may assist in the orientation of new hires.
The Behavioral Health Liaison is a member of the WellStar Psychological Services practice/Behavioral Health Liaison Team, collaborating with medical and other healthcare providers and serving as a resource for hospital staff to ensure good care for patients with behavioral health needs. The liaison develops relationships with hospital leadership and team members to establish and attain departmental, hospital-level, and system goals. The BHL works collaboratively with other members of the CLB to provide trainings and education to hospital departments, team members, and medical staff members regarding the care of the behavioral health patient.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

Clinical Functions for Patients with Behavioral Health Needs
* Function as an integral clinical member of the Consultation-Liaison Behavioral (CLB) team.
* Attend and present concise case conceptualizations during daily treatment team meetings.
* Conduct safety plans for patients at risk for self-directed violence or harm to others.
* Conduct screening for psychiatric and substance use disorders.
* Provide brief bedside counseling to patients with behavioral health needs in the hospital.
* Provide evidence-based interventions (ex. cognitive behavioral, motivational interviewing, etc.).
* Render psychiatric diagnoses based on clinical observations.
* Document clinical observations in the electronic medical record.
* Utilize the range of clinical skills appropriate within the scope of ones professional licensure.
* Consult with other behavioral health team members as necessary to benefit patient outcomes.

Clinical Management of Patients with Behavioral Health Needs
* Coordinate daily rounding and discharge planning for medical patients with behavioral health needs.
* Monitor status of all behavioral health legal holds in the hospital.
* Review plan of care with the consultation liaison behavioral team, as well as other members of the medical staff, nursing, care coordination, etc.
* Participate in multidisciplinary bedside rounding as appropriate.
* Ensure thorough and accurate medical record documentation.
* Coordinate care and placement of behavioral health patients in the hospital, in coordination with other internal and external behavioral health resources
* Make recommendations for aftercare services, including referral for inpatient admission and submission of precertification/authorization for admission for inpatient stay.

Education and Training for Hospital Staff
* Facilitates bimonthly behavioral health sitter training courses as part of orientation for hospital sitters, CCPs, Techs, nurse externs, etc.
* Provides on-site guidance for the use of available behavioral health resources and supports (where and when staff can obtain assistance, legal and transfer forms, resources to enhance patient care, etc.)
* Assist staff in managing medical patients with behavioral health needs.
* Facilitate staff trainings as requested to ensure appropriate treatment of patients with behavioral health needs. Trainings may include care of the behavioral health patient on the medical floor, use of de-escalation techniques, etc.

Monitors Safety for Behavioral Health Patients on Medical Units
* Observe for appropriate sitter and mental health Associates care.
* Report safety issues to medical units and personnel managers.
* Provide on-site education when observe practices deviate from policy and/or best practice.
* Make recommendations to staff and management regarding improved practice.

Fulfill Vision of Behavioral Health Service Line and the Consultation-Liaison Behavioral Team.
* Keep product strong by attending all required meetings.
* Hold open lines of communication with CLB team and leadership.
* Promote excellent communication and conflict resolution.
* Maintain strong personal education and skills.

Performs other duties as assigned

Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Required Minimum Education:

Master's Degree Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Required or
Marriage & Family Therapy Required and
crisis prevention training Required

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s):

All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.

• Lic Clinical Social Worker GA or Lic Professional Counselor
• Basic Life Support or BLS - Instructor

Additional License(s) and Certification(s):

Required Minimum Experience:

Minimum 2 years healthcare setting and experience with medical hospitals and the crossover with BH patient needs
Required

Required Minimum Skills:

The BHL must possess excellent customer service and communication skills (including the ability to communicate effectively across multi-disciplinary teams), excellent time management skills, flexibility, and a positive attitude.
Team-orientation to care and basic computer literacy is necessary.
The BHL must have the ability to make independent clinical judgments and to document appropriately in the electronic medical record in accordance with institutional standards and professional ethical guidelines.
Professional skills must be maintained through formal education and/or attendance at professional workshops and in-services.