Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC)

Scope-Purpose

A Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) provides consultation to patients whose problems are related to behavior. This includes patients whose physical health is affected by their behavior as well as patients whose primary problem is mental health. Thus, one visit may be spent working on diabetes adherence, headaches, or insomnia while the next may be focusing on anxiety or depression.

Integrated care is not only beneficial for our patients, but for our treatment team as well.

As a consultant, the BHC will not be doing traditional “therapy” with patients. Initial and follow-up visits will typically be only 10-30 minutes long. When a primary care provider identifies a problem they believe the BHC can assist in treating, the BHC will see the patient briefly to help develop and start a plan for treatment. The BHC will follow the patient until they begin to improve or begins more intense services, if needed (i.e., traditional therapy).

The goal is to teach the patient self-management techniques, which the PCP can support and monitor. If the patient is not improving, the BHC will consider referring them to specialty mental health care. The BHC must be currently licensed to practice in the state of Missouri. 

Education/Experience

One of the following: 

• Master’s degree in social work, or related field, with a minimum of two years’ experience as a therapist and a current license to practice in Missouri as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (or currently in supervision working towards licensure).
• Licensed Professional Counselor, with a minimum of two years’ experience as a counselor, preferably with an emphasis in substance use disorder and a current license to practice in Missouri as a Licensed Professional Counselor (or currently in supervision working towards licensure)
  
• Clinical Psychologist

Work hours: Full-time, hourly position. At least 30 hours per week on average are required to maintain full-time benefit eligibility, although 30 - 40 hours per week will be typical for this position. Clinic hours are 8:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday and Saturdays 8:00am to 4:00pm. Hours are subject to change. 

Benefits:

• Health Insurance – Fordland Clinic pays 90% of an individual employee’s monthly premium costs, and a significant portion of alternate plans for employee only, employee + spouse, employee+ child(ren), or family coverage.
• Dental Insurance – Fordland Clinic offers affordable dental insurance, as well as a buy up option for those anticipating higher expected dental expenses.
• Vision Insurance – that includes coverage options for eye exams, glasses as well as contact lenses.
• Life Insurance – Fordland Clinic Provides $15,000 of life insurance to its employees at no cost to the employee. Additional life insurance coverage for employees, their spouse and children are also available at group pricing.
• Aflac Products – Employees have the option of purchasing additional products such as long-term disability, short term disability, accident, and other insurance products at group rates through our Aflac representative.
• Generous PTO
• Bereavement Leave and Extended Sick Bank time
• Retirement – 403(b) retirement option with employer matching 
• Continuing Education Reimbursement – Fordland Clinic supports employees’ efforts to remain up to date on required certifications and skills. Reimbursement for job related certifications and continuing education is available based on Fordland Clinic guidelines.
  
• Fitness Benefit – Fordland Clinic encourages health and wellbeing and will contribute up to $100 per year for a fitness facility membership, or other approved fitness expenses.
• “Thank You” recognition program through Motivosity, redeemable for gifts and gift cards.