Specialty Behavioral Health Counselor Lead – Unity Care NW – Bellingham, WA

Unity Care NW is a private, non-profit, federally qualified health center that has been proudly and successfully serving the greater Bellingham area since 1982. With clinics located in Bellingham and Ferndale, we offer comprehensive primary medical, behavioral health, and dental care as well as pharmacy services to a diverse and often underserved patient population of all ages. Employing almost 250 caring and compassionate employees, our goal is to increase the years of healthy life in the people & communities we serve.

We believe mental & emotional health is an important part of overall health and wellness. Our behavioral health providers work closely with patients and their Primary Care Providers to help them meet their health care goals. As a Counselor or Clinical Social Worker Lead, you would provide comprehensive, outpatient behavioral health counseling services and lead other Counselors and Case Managers. This includes supporting the Specialty BH Supervisor and providing clinical supervision and support for the SBH department; as well as individual counseling, case management, crisis stabilization, suicide risk assessment, & treatment planning. In addition, you would provide referrals and coordination with medication providers, primary care physicians, and other community agencies & also work with patients to identify health goals and to achieve behavior change which will help achieve those goals. Other duties include collaborating with patients and their families on resiliency/recovery goals that identify mental health needs, physical health care, substance abuse, risk factors, and daily activities such as housing and employment to achieve desired outcomes. Lead duties include regularly assigning, instructing, and checking the work of SBH employees on an ongoing basis, providing performance feedback to the SBH Supervisor on SBH Counselors and Case Managers, assisting the SBH Supervisor with staff scheduling and training, and developing training and supervising SBH interns.

You may be the ideal candidate if:

• You’re an independently licensed Counselor, Clinical Social Worker, Marriage & Family Therapist or Psychologist in Washington State (or eligible to obtain an independent license in Washington)
• You have experience supervising and mentoring employees
• You have 2 years’ direct clinical experience, preferably in community health or community mental health
• You have experience with the North Sound Behavioral Health Organization (NSBHO) or similar Medicaid agency
• You successfully work with and relate to individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds & socio-economic levels, treating them with sensitivity & respect
• You’re skilled in support group organization & facilitation

Highlights of this opportunity include:

• Fully implemented EMR system (GE Centricity) with one-on-one training provided
• Outpatient work only with no call
• Competitive compensation package
• Malpractice insurance with tail coverage
• Continuing Education benefit & reimbursement of state license fees
• Generous paid time off benefit
• Medical, dental, & vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match after 1 year
• Alternative transportation incentive
• Eligible to apply for loan repayment through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) which, if awarded, provides tax free funds to pay towards eligible student loans for a 2-year commitment (view the details at http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/)
• Eligible to apply for loan repayment through the Washington Student Achievement Council which, if awarded, provides funds to pay towards eligible student loans for a 2 or 3-year commitment (view the details at http://www.wsac.wa.gov/health-professionals)