Behavioral Health Substance Use Disorder Specialist

Company: Fenway Health
Location: Boston
Posted on: June 1, 2025

Job Description:

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Job Type
Full-time

Description
Function:Under the general supervision of the Manager of Low-Barrier Behavioral Health Services, the Behavioral Health Specialist with specialty in evaluating and treating substance use disorder provides and coordinates support, counseling, advocacy and referrals to community resource services to primary care patients diagnosed with substance use disorder. This position provides staffing support for Fenway's Addiction Recovery and Wellness Program and collaborates across departments. This position is central in helping achieve compliance accountable Care organization (ACO) quality goals and measures. As of this writing, clinical time will be allocated at 50% to support the Medication-Assisted Treatment team.
Representative Duties:Provides substance use disorder (SUD) services in integrated primary care and outpatient behavioral health settings

• Provide specialty integrated behavioral health clinical care with a focus on evaluating and treating SUD
• Provide teaching and consultation to medical and BH colleagues on effective interventions for treating SUD
• Embrace harm reduction and the spectrum of modalities to effectively address SUD
• Support primary care providers in managing SUD in their patient panels
• Work as member of the Addiction Recovery and Wellness Program by completing program assessments and facilitating groups
• Support patients with initiating and engaging in SUD services
• Support Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) prescribers and function as a members of that team
• Ensure accessibility of services by offering six hours per week outside of traditional business hoursProvides direct case management services to medical patients
  • Upon referral of patients, reviews medical and psychosocial history, assesses problems and refers patients as appropriate in a timely, courteous manner
  • Provides care coordination services to medical department patients as indicated
  • Provides information to patients about available community resources and assists patients to determine eligibility and obtain services by giving resource list and/or contacting services directly
  • Provides on-going supportive maintenance to patients as appropriate and conducts outreach to encourage clients to utilize further needed servicesProvides direct behavioral health services to primary care patients
    • Provides psychosocial assessments and behavioral health and substance abuse diagnostic evaluations for medical patients
    • Provides direct behavioral health treatment to medical patients with an emphasis on short-term, evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatment within the primary care setting
    • Identifies high-risk psychosocial factors that impact health status; engages patients by phone and in person to monitor progress, builds therapeutic alliance, provides education, encourages treatment adherence, mitigates risk factors, reviews goals and expectations of treatment in order to stabilize functioning
    • Develops and provides group therapeutic interventions for medical patients
    • Assumes essential role in coordination of care
    • Participates in the Patient Centered Medical Home model of care
    • Adheres to NASW Code of Ethics.Ensures access to care:
      • Effectively manages caseload, including bringing new clients into BH care and ending episodes of care as appropriate
      • Maintains required caseload and meets productivity expectations, according to department standardsProvides coverage for assigned open access paging days:
        • Covers open access pager shifts in the morning, afternoon, and evening
        • Responds to requests from medical staff for routine and crisis interventions and warm handoffs
        • Handles periods of multiple, simultaneous requests for patient care
        • Actively interacts with and solicits referrals from medical providersCollaborates with other agencies and services:
          • Develops and maintains resource listings appropriate for Fenway Health patients
          • Works with Medicaid, Medicare, Welfare, Social Security, housing, educational, day care and other institutions to assist patients
          • Consults with a variety of health center and community staff (Nutritionists, Home Health Aides, P.H. Nurse, and Medical staff) about specific clients and general approaches to patient treatmentPerforms and Completes Administrative Tasks in a timely and efficient manner
            • Writes case notes for each client interaction
            • Completes treatment plans, treatment plan updates, session notes, assessments, and discharge summaries according to department standards and in accordance with Fenway policy
            • Participates in staff and team meetings and conferences
            • Participates in regularly scheduled supervisionMeets Agency Participatory Expectation
              • Suggests and participates in continuing quality improvement efforts
              • Adheres to all agency and departmental policies and procedures
              • Participates in quality assessment and improvement activities as requested
              • Adheres to the highest principles of patient and client confidentiality
              • Adheres to established safety policies, procedures and precautions; identifies potential or actual unsafe situations in the environment and takes measures to rectify the situation
              • Attends all required meetings, in-services and professional trainings
              • Attends all regularly scheduled meetings, trainings, forums and pertinent FCH staff meetings
              • Maintains professional competence necessary to perform job responsibilities; maintains and provides agency with records of continuing education activities
              • Serves on agency committees and in professional organizations when requestedPerforms related duties as required
                Requirements
                
                • Requires a Master's Degree in Social Work or related mental health field
                • LCSW licensure will be considered with relevant experience
                • Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) certification or, upon hire, obtain certification
                • Experience with CBT, short-term interventions and mental health and substance abuse assessment and evaluation
                • Ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
                • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to be an effective team member
                • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability to multitask required
                • Ability to work harmoniously and effectively with colleagues, patients, clients and vendors across the spectrum of diversity, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, national origin and immigrant status, religious or spiritual identity, disability (physical, mental, emotional and developmental), veteran status, and/or limited English proficiency.
                • Willingness to contribute towards Fenway's efforts in becoming an anti-racist organization and promoting a culture dedicated to ongoing development in service of humility, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, where differences are acknowledged and valued. Preferred Qualifications:
                  • LICSW or equivalent independent licensure preferred
                  • Additional licensure as LADC-I highly desired
                  • Preferred experience with LGBT issues
                  • Preferred experience with Peer Recovery Services Physical Requirements:
                    • Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodations:
                    • Sit at a computer station for extended periods of time
                    • Ability to keyboard for extended periods of time
                    • Ability to move around the medical care areas and see patients in non-traditional settings, such as an exam roomWe offer competitive salaries, and for those who qualify, an excellent benefits package; including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans, and a retirement plan with employer match. We also provide 11 paid holidays, paid vacation, and more.LGBTQIA+ identified persons, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), and individuals from other historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
                      
                      Salary Description
                      60,000-72,000

Keywords: Fenway Health, Portland , Behavioral Health Substance Use Disorder Specialist, Healthcare , Boston, Maine