Behavioral Health Associate

Summary

This is a Behavioral Health and Social Work position in a hospital setting.  The person in this position will conduct evidence-based screening for substance use (alcohol, nicotine, and other substances) in hospitalized adolescent patients at bedside, provide brief, motivational interviewing-based interventions to patients screening positive for risky use or a use disorder, make referrals to substance use disorder treatment services for patients needing and wanting treatment, and communicate to the healthcare team the screening results and any interventions and/or referrals provided.

Job Duties

• Utilizes the Electronic Health Record (EHR) to identify patients for substance use screening and use evidence-based screening tools to screen identified patients for risky substance use (alcohol, nicotine, and other substances) at bedside.  
• Provides screening results to all patients.  
• For patients screening negative for substance misuse, the SBIRT specialist will deliver a reinforcing prevention message.  
• For patients screening positive for risky use, the specialist will engage those patients in a 15 to 30 minute motivational interviewing conversation around their use, helping the patient connect their use to current health challenges when applicable and contextualize their use in terms of their current and future life goals.  
• For patients screening positive for a substance use disorder, the specialist will engage the patients in a motivational interviewing conversation around their readiness for treatment, making a treatment referral for patients needing and wanting those services.  
• Shares screening results and any interventions and referrals made with the rest of the patient's healthcare team via documentation in the EHR.
• Coordinates SBIRT service delivery with the two other SBIRT specialists at this clinical location to ensure appropriate patients receive SBIRT services.  
• Documents services provided in the EHR and in a tracking log for the location.   
• Participates in staff trainings and meetings.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Two years of relevant experience.
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor (LCSW-S), and  Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor (LPC-S).

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior training and experience in motivational interviewing, working in a healthcare setting, and/or working with persons with substance use disorders.

 

 

Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.

 

 

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