Psychological Assistant-Pediatrics (Behavioral Medicine)

Job Summary

Under the supervision of a licensed Psychologist or board certified Psychiatrist, provides mental health assessment, diagnosis, treatment and crisis intervention services for adult and/or child members who present themselves for psychiatric evaluation with a broad range of mental health needs. Under supervision, may collaborate with treating primary care providers and with psychiatric and allied health professional team members to plan and direct each individual patients treatment program.

Essential Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or board certified psychiatrist, develops, implements, coordinates, and evaluates clinical treatment programs for the diagnosis, treatment, and/or referral of Health Plan members with acute or chronic mental illness. Participates in staff conferences to select, plan, and evaluate treatment programs. Provides outpatient psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families and groups. Instructs and counsels patients and their families regarding compliance with prescribed therapeutic regimens and adherence to prescribed medication regimens, within the scope of practice. May administer specialized therapeutic procedures, as appropriate. Provides appropriate support to members family. May develop and conducts psychoeducational classes and groups.
• May conduct psychological assessments, including test administration, interpretation, and recommendations. Prepares intake summaries, treatment plans, and case summaries and maintains ongoing confidential records. Charts members treatment and progress in accord with state and NCQA regulations and in keeping with accepted community standards.
• Collaborates with physicians in screening and evaluating patients for psychotropic medications, within the scope of practice. Utilizes resources of public and private agencies and community organizations to meet the needs of the members treatment. May develop, implements, and evaluates behavioral medicine and health psychology programs in a variety of settings, including primary care. Provides consultation to other care providers and health educators on matters relating to mental health, health psychology and behavioral medicine. Provides clinical supervision to psychology doctoral interns, psychology postdoctoral residents, and other mental health trainees/fellows as necessary.
• Confers and consults with supervisor regarding members progress and treatment and may consult with psychiatrist as well, if both are involved in members care.
• May provide appropriate support to members family, including explanation of treatment, instructions in how to support treatment and interventions to increase acceptance of and adherence to treatment, at members request.
• Utilizes resources of public and private agencies and community organizations to meet the needs of the members treatment to include referral of the member and/or members family to external resources, as appropriate. Participates in departmental program development, implementation and evaluation.
• Reports safety concerns to mandated reporting agencies.