Behavioral Health Clinician
Salem, OR, US
Care Management
Per Diem
Job ID: #17328
Location: Salem Hospital, 890 Oak Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97301
Department: Psychiatric Patient Care
Position Type: Unscheduled, Per diem, Non-Exempt
Schedule: Schedules will vary based on departmental needs
Your role with us
The behavioral health clinician serves as a critical member of the Emergency Department team, providing comprehensive behavioral health assessments, crisis intervention, suicide and violence risk evaluations, safety planning and diagnostic formulation to support timely clinical decision-making. Leveraging advanced mental health assessment, therapy and care coordination skills, the clinician collaborates with providers, patients, families, and community partners to ensure appropriate levels of care, facilitate access to behavioral health resources and support safe, patient-centered discharge or admission planning. In a fast-paced, high-acuity environment, the clinician delivers compassionate advocacy, mandatory reporting, interdisciplinary consultation and culturally responsive care across the lifespan.
What you'll do
- Conduct comprehensive behavioral health assessments in the Emergency Department, including mental status examinations, suicide and homicide risk evaluations, substance use assessments, psychosocial history and DSM diagnostic formulation.
- Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, emotional support, and stabilization services for patients and families experiencing acute behavioral health emergencies.
- Evaluate patients for appropriate levels of care, including voluntary and involuntary psychiatric hospitalization, and coordinate referrals to inpatient, outpatient and community-based treatment resources.
- Collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, community agencies, and interdisciplinary team members to support clinical decision-making and ensure safe patient disposition.
- Utilize advanced clinical interviewing, assessment, and therapeutic intervention skills to work effectively with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness, substance use disorders and behavioral health crises.
- Ensure compliance with Oregon and federal regulations through mandatory reporting, thorough documentation, and adherence to behavioral health and patient safety standards.
- Thrive in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment by demonstrating strong communication, critical thinking, cultural responsiveness, time management, and the ability to prioritize multiple urgent patient needs simultaneously.
Required qualifications
- Master's Degree in psychology, counseling, education, social work or marriage and family therapy or related Master's degree that meets state requirements for pursuit of licensure.
Additional information
- Six months to a year of adult assessment experience is preferred.
- Crisis assessment experience is strongly preferred.
- An active Oregon license in behavioral health is preferred.
- Registered intern with behavioral health board is preferred.
Why Salem Health?
Salem Health is a Top Workplace in Oregon, known for fostering a supportive culture where your contributions truly matter. As an award-winning, independent health care system, we serve our region through Salem Hospital, multiple community clinics and West Valley Hospital, ensuring broad access to high-quality care.
We believe in empowering our teams. Through Lean principles, staff help drive innovation and solve real problems. We also invest in your growth with professional development, tuition assistance, and clear career pathways. At Salem Health, you’ll find more than a job, you’ll find purpose, connection, and room to thrive.
Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by law.
Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact my.recruiter@salemhealth.org.
Location: Salem Hospital, 890 Oak Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97301
Department: Psychiatric Patient Care
Position Type: Unscheduled, Per diem, Non-Exempt
Schedule: Schedules will vary based on departmental needs
Your role with us
The behavioral health clinician serves as a critical member of the Emergency Department team, providing comprehensive behavioral health assessments, crisis intervention, suicide and violence risk evaluations, safety planning and diagnostic formulation to support timely clinical decision-making. Leveraging advanced mental health assessment, therapy and care coordination skills, the clinician collaborates with providers, patients, families, and community partners to ensure appropriate levels of care, facilitate access to behavioral health resources and support safe, patient-centered discharge or admission planning. In a fast-paced, high-acuity environment, the clinician delivers compassionate advocacy, mandatory reporting, interdisciplinary consultation and culturally responsive care across the lifespan.
What you'll do
- Conduct comprehensive behavioral health assessments in the Emergency Department, including mental status examinations, suicide and homicide risk evaluations, substance use assessments, psychosocial history and DSM diagnostic formulation.
- Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, emotional support, and stabilization services for patients and families experiencing acute behavioral health emergencies.
- Evaluate patients for appropriate levels of care, including voluntary and involuntary psychiatric hospitalization, and coordinate referrals to inpatient, outpatient and community-based treatment resources.
- Collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, community agencies, and interdisciplinary team members to support clinical decision-making and ensure safe patient disposition.
- Utilize advanced clinical interviewing, assessment, and therapeutic intervention skills to work effectively with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness, substance use disorders and behavioral health crises.
- Ensure compliance with Oregon and federal regulations through mandatory reporting, thorough documentation, and adherence to behavioral health and patient safety standards.
- Thrive in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment by demonstrating strong communication, critical thinking, cultural responsiveness, time management, and the ability to prioritize multiple urgent patient needs simultaneously.
Required qualifications
- Master's Degree in psychology, counseling, education, social work or marriage and family therapy or related Master's degree that meets state requirements for pursuit of licensure.
Additional information
- Six months to a year of adult assessment experience is preferred.
- Crisis assessment experience is strongly preferred.
- An active Oregon license in behavioral health is preferred.
- Registered intern with behavioral health board is preferred.
Why Salem Health?
Salem Health is a Top Workplace in Oregon, known for fostering a supportive culture where your contributions truly matter. As an award-winning, independent health care system, we serve our region through Salem Hospital, multiple community clinics and West Valley Hospital, ensuring broad access to high-quality care.
We believe in empowering our teams. Through Lean principles, staff help drive innovation and solve real problems. We also invest in your growth with professional development, tuition assistance, and clear career pathways. At Salem Health, you’ll find more than a job, you’ll find purpose, connection, and room to thrive.
Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by law.
Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact my.recruiter@salemhealth.org.
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Career exploration program
Whatever your background or career aspirations, there’s a place for you at Salem Health. And our Career Exploration Program can help you identify the ideal opportunity to pursue. The Program allows you to work alongside a healthcare professional as you gain insight into a fulfilling hospital career.
Nursing
Since 2010, Salem Hospital has continuously achieved Magnet™-designation – the gold standard for nursing excellence. Only eight percent of all hospitals achieve this prestigious distinction.
We’ve been able to do this by maintaining a nursing culture that is defined by:
- Consistent teamwork and collaboration
- Exemplary resources to support clinical nurses
- Engaged and inspiring leadership
- A focus on well-being, resilience, diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Strong professional development opportunities
- Pride in delivering quality-of-care that exceeds national norms
- An empowering professional governance structure and professional practice model
- New grad residency support, preceptorship, and mentoring
- Open and transparent strategy alignment
- Feedback is encouraged, valued and incorporated from the staff at all levels.
- Partnerships with community organizations that support improved patient outcomes
If you’re looking for a setting where you can achieve your highest potential as a nurse, we invite you to join us. We welcome all nurses, including those from outside of the United States. At Salem Health, you can experience an inclusive culture that values and rewards your unique qualities and background.
RN residency program
Begin your journey from student nurse to confident practitioner with our RN Residency Program. The program features a combination of didactic lessons, simulation, and track-specific class options. It begins with orientation and training and proceeds to preceptorship and mentorship. Through the program, you will gain clinical expertise as well as valuable professional skills such as communication and critical thinking.
Certified nursing assistants
As a certified nursing assistant (CNA), your contributions are absolutely crucial. You will provide compassionate reassurance and vital patient support in order to ensure our patients receive the highest quality care possible. You will receive competitive compensation as you provide patients with physical care and emotional support. We seek empathetic, and non-judgmental individuals with a sincere passion for elevating others’ lives.
Postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency program
The Salem Health Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY1) Residency Program enhances your PharmD education as you develop your clinical expertise in the medication-related care of patients with a wide range of conditions. The program will be eligible for board certification, and eligible for postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) pharmacy residency training. Upon completion of the Salem Health PGY1 residency, we believe you will be a confident and highly capable general practitioner, and well-prepared for the next step in your career.
We will meet you wherever you are on your career journey, and walk with you to your destination
There are over 900 unique positions to choose from at Salem Health. Whatever your background or your professional and personal aspirations, we offer an inclusive learning environment where you can achieve your highest potential in a career that grows with you. And, we’ll help you along the way with perks like tuition reimbursement and certification bonuses.
With so many options, why work anywhere else?
