In times of crisis, you are there for our patients, their family members and our practitioners. With a supportive approach, you offer short-term, urgent behavioral health services that are focused, effective and patient-driven. Through your use of evidence-based behavioral interventions, you diffuse an often tense situation to bring hope and healing. In short, you exemplify the Legacy mission of making life better for others.

Unity Center for Behavioral Health is a one-of-a-kind center for people facing a mental health crisis. Unity Center features a Psychiatric Emergency Service (PES), where patients receive care by specialists in behavioral health in a calming, non-hospital-like setting. Unity also has inpatient care for adults and teens. It is a collaboration between Adventist Health, Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health and Oregon Health & Science University.

• Provides primarily patient-centered, trauma-informed, short term, urgent and emergent behavioral health (mental health and addictions) services in adult and pediatric emergency settings across the health continuum.
• Works both independently and collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Provides behavioral health consultations by supporting or assisting practitioners, family members and patients.
• Provides focused, effective, and evidence-based behavioral interventions.
• Key services include but are not limited to:
  • brief psychosocial assessment
  • brief drug and alcohol assessment
  • crisis intervention
  • hold assessment
  • supportive counseling
  • ED diversion
  • care coordination and communication with medical team, family, referents, access workers and other community-based providers
  • transitions of care/ discharge planning.
• Incumbents in this job provide a variety of key services in guiding the patient through the continuum of care.
• This position is specific to Unity Center for Behavioral Health.

Education: 

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling or other behavioral health field as required by licensure or credential.

Experience: 

• Experience assessing and diagnosing adults experiencing a mental health crisis preferred. 

Skills:

• Broad knowledge of the principles of crisis assessments and interventions and the ability to apply them with individuals, families and/or groups integrating knowledge of normal development and the aging process, changes related to illness, and the needs of patients with acute, chronic, and terminal illness in assessment and intervention with attention to cultural and literacy implications.
• Knowledge of medical, mental health and substance use diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology.
• Strong organizational, communication and collaboration skills, including an ability to effectively triage patient and family needs, function as member of an interdisciplinary team, identification and collaboration with community stakeholders or resources and written documentation.
• Knowledge about social determinants of health, principles of diversity/equity/inclusion and culturally responsive practice with populations who have experience historical marginalization.
• Demonstrates ability to locate, utilize and advocate for patient/family access to hospital/ community resources.
• Ability to navigate electronic medical record and effectively utilize basic computer programs.
• Knowledge of legal, regulatory and compliance requirements and an ability to be a resource to all team members regarding such issues and knowledge of current health care environment.
• Implements verbal de-escalation skills, as needed.
• Clearly document the rational for discharging patients presenting some level of risk.
• Recognize potentially dangerous situations and seeks assistance from additional personnel to ensure safety.
• Describes and documents medical necessity for hospitalization.

• Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA), Professional Counselor Associate, Marriage and Family Therapist Associate or registered Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) is required at the date of hire.
• QMHP is acceptable for hire, however, employees must pursue the clinical license applicable to their degree; LCSW, LPC, or LMFT. 

To learn more about our employee benefits click here: www.legacyhealth.org/For-Health-Professionals/careers/benefiting-you