About Job

Overview of First Care Medical Clinic

First Care Medical Clinic provides primary care services to patients in North Carolina and South Carolina. Operating for over thirty years, we have a longstanding commitment to patient-centered care. We have seven clinics, offer telehealth services, and are open Monday to Saturday to ensure accessibility and convenience for our patients. Our services range from internal medicine and pediatric care to psychiatric counseling and on-site diagnostic evaluations. Our goal is to close gaps in healthcare by providing comprehensive, coordinated care.

Historically First Care Medical Clinic has focused on physical health, but we expanded services to include behavioral health given the significant need that was observed within our patient population and the broader community. First Care Medical Clinic aims to provide the best-in-class behavioral healthcare for our patients. The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) serves as the foundation of First Care Medical Clinic’s behavioral health program.

Position highlights

First Care Medical Clinic is seeking a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) to join the behavioral health team that currently includes 2 psychiatrists, 1 psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and 2 behavioral health care managers. This is a full-time role located in Charlotte, NC. The professional will handle day-to-day tasks such as conducting patient assessments, developing treatment plans, providing therapeutic interventions, case management, and coordinating with other healthcare providers. This role also involves addressing mental and behavioral health concerns, ensuring patients receive comprehensive and holistic care.

100% outpatient
5 day work week, 40 hours per week
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9 AM – 6 PM

Responsibilities

Conduct Comprehensive Biopsychosocial Assessments and Diagnoses: Perform thorough evaluations of patients' mental health, substance use, social, and environmental factors to identify strengths, challenges, and relevant diagnoses. This includes screening for common mental health and substance use disorders within the primary care setting.

Provide Evidence-Based Brief Interventions and Psychotherapy: Deliver targeted, brief therapeutic interventions utilizing modalities appropriate for primary care to address a wide range of mental health and behavioral concerns.

Develop and Implement Integrated Treatment Plans: Collaborate with patients, primary care providers, and other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team to create individualized, holistic, and recovery-oriented treatment plans that address identified behavioral health needs and integrate with the patient's overall medical care.

Care Coordination and Case Management: Act as a central point of contact for patients, facilitating access to and coordination of internal and external resources, including specialty mental health services, substance abuse treatment, social services, and community support programs. Track patient follow-up and clinical outcomes using a registry.

Support Psychotropic Medication Management: Work in conjunction with primary care providers (PCPs) and psychiatric consultants to support psychotropic medication management, focusing on patient adherence, monitoring for side effects/complications, and assessing treatment effectiveness.

Crisis Intervention and Risk Management: Provide immediate support and intervention during mental health crises, including assessing for safety concerns (e.g., suicidal ideation, self-harm) and developing immediate action plans and referrals as clinically indicated.

Patient Education and Empowerment: Educate patients and their families about common mental health and substance abuse disorders, available treatment options, coping strategies, and relapse prevention plans. Empower patients to actively participate in their care and problem-solve.

Consultation and Collaboration with Primary Care Team: Serve as a behavioral health expert and consultant for primary care providers and other healthcare staff, offering insights into the psychosocial aspects of patient care, assisting with screening and identification of behavioral health issues, and providing training as needed.

Documentation and Compliance: Maintain accurate, timely, and legally defensible electronic health records (EHR) of all patient encounters, assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and referrals, adhering to departmental, organizational, and regulatory guidelines (e.g., HIPAA, state licensing board requirements).

Continuous Quality Improvement and Professional Development: Participate in ongoing assessment and quality improvement initiatives for integrated primary care/behavioral health strategies. Engage in continuous education to maintain licensure, enhance professional competence, and stay current with evidence-based practices and relevant medical/legal issues.

Qualifications