Behavioral Health Clinician – Emergency Department & Inpatient Behavioral Health

What Awaits You:

• Opportunities for Career Growth – Build a meaningful career with access to professional development, mentorship, and advancement pathways.
• Collaborative and Inclusive Environment – Work alongside a diverse team of professionals who value mutual respect, innovation, and teamwork.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package – Take advantage of a competitive and affordable benefits program that supports your health, financial security, and overall well-being.
• $5,000 sign-on bonus

General Summary

The Behavioral Health Clinician provides essential behavioral health support to patients in the Emergency Department and inpatient Psychiatry/Behavioral Health settings. This role conducts timely, high-quality psychosocial and crisis assessments for patients presenting with behavioral health concerns, collaborates closely with medical providers to determine safe and appropriate disposition, and serves as a trusted resource for patients, families, and the community.

When assigned to the inpatient behavioral health unit, the clinician delivers patient-centered care through comprehensive assessment, treatment planning, and therapeutic interventions, including individual, group, and family counseling. The clinician works as an integral member of the multidisciplinary treatment team and contributes to unit-based community relations and quality improvement efforts.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate behavioral health interventions for Emergency Department patients requiring crisis intervention services.
• Conduct behavioral health assessments using standardized tools and screening instruments in accordance with Department of Psychiatry policies and procedures.
• Communicate psychiatric crisis intake findings and clinical information to the psychiatric medical provider and assist in developing disposition recommendations for ED medical providers.
• Following review with the psychiatric medical provider, communicate the assessment results and disposition plan to the ED medical provider and inpatient behavioral health charge nurse as appropriate.
• Maintain current training in the assessment of high-risk psychiatric patients and crisis intervention techniques.
• Perform psychosocial evaluations for assigned patients in accordance with institutional and regulatory standards.
• Demonstrate strong interviewing, diagnostic, documentation, and report-writing skills.
• Provide therapeutic interventions aligned with patient diagnosis, needs, and level of supervision.
• Complete progress notes, assessments, and other required documentation accurately and timely according to program procedures.
• Assist in developing and implementing individualized treatment plans and ensure patients are informed of their plan of care.
• Facilitate individual and group counseling sessions in accordance with state and regulatory standards, demonstrating knowledge of group therapy principles and techniques.
• Ensure documentation supports appropriate care coordination, consultation, coding, and regulatory compliance.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Coordinator of Psychiatric Social Work and Director of Behavioral Health to support program goals and objectives.
• Take professional responsibility for ongoing growth and development by establishing annual learning goals and maintaining clinical expertise.
• Contribute to quality assessment and performance improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities for improvement, recommending measurement strategies, and supporting process enhancements.

Key Relationships / Contacts

• Sibley staff members
• Patients and families
• Physicians and medical staff
• Visitors
• Community members

Minimum Education and Experience

• Licensure in the District of Columbia as one of the following:
  • LICSW
  • LIGSW
  • LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor)
  • LGPC (Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor)
• Graduate degree from an accredited program in social work, counseling, or a related/equivalent field.

Salary Range: Minimum 40.35/hour - Maximum 66.54/hour. Compensation will be commensurate with equity and experience for roles of similar scope and responsibility. In cases where the range is displayed as a $0 amount, salary discussions will occur during candidate screening calls, before any subsequent compensation discussion is held between the candidate and any hiring authority.

The Hospital reserves the right to modify employee schedules as needed.

We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, where we embrace and celebrate our differences, where all employees feel valued, contribute to our mission of serving the community, and engage in equitable healthcare delivery and workforce practices.

Johns Hopkins Health System and its affiliates are drug-free workplace employers.