Crisis Specialist

The Mental Health Crisis Specialist is responsible for providing on/off site crisis intervention and stabilization, assessments and short-term case management to adults, children, and adolescents in crisis or emergency mental health situations 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. The primary goals of the Crisis Team are hospital or jail diversion, in home stabilization, member safety, and suicide prevention, and other tasks relating to this goal as required.

Primary Duties/ Responsibilities:

• Provide short-term crisis intervention services in the community or the ‘ROC” Center for adults, children, and adolescents, which include intake, outreach visits, telephone lethality monitoring, linkage, and follow-up services where applicable.
• Provide mental health evaluations and assist in the assessment for the need for involuntary transport by Law Enforcement to the local Title 36 Contracted Agency.
• Provide short term case management to include crisis planning, behavior modification, and the coordination of individualized services specific to family needs.
• Collaborate and work effectively with partner agencies to develop appropriate service provisions for identified families.
• Provide assessment to determine suicide lethality or dangerousness to others, mental status, and other behavioral, cognitive and/or affective indicators as required.
• Complete all required charting, casework, documentation, and other computer entry, on a timely basis.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the mental health, developmentally disabled, social service and wrap system in assigned County in order to provide appropriate referral and linkage for members served.
• Attend and participate in all required clinical supervisions, training, staff meetings, and case conferences, as indicated by the Director.
• Assist in providing coverage in other agency programs in emergency situations or staff shortage situations as required by agency managers.
• Engage in agency or community projects or work groups that contribute to the agency and/or program mission.
• Maintain and increase skills in the field through training in the agency and/or the community.
• Provide marketing and/or educational presentations to the community, or training to other agency staff, as assigned by the Director.
• Assist in the training of new staff and students, as assigned by a supervisor.
• Assume on call and back‑up responsibilities, consistent with program needs.
• Maintain a valid Arizona Driver’s License and have access to a usable vehicle.
• Work as a team member to provide a safe/positive work environment for members, staff and the public.
• Secure and maintain all necessary certification and professional licensing as directed by profession.
• Participate in weekly Crisis Provider Meetings and Quality Circles.
• Special assignments, projects, and other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

High school Diploma or GED required. Bachelor’s degree in behavioral health field or four years related experience or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience in behavioral health care to qualify as a behavioral health technician. Requires excellent communication skills, including ability to respond to callers/members with patience, objectivity and a nonjudgmental attitude. Demonstrated ability to problem‑solve. Knowledge of or ability to learn about community resources and agency services. Ability to work well in a team, good interpersonal skills, and positive attitude. Ability to follow clinical and office protocols and procedures. Ability to multi‑task and computer literate. Customer service, clinic or center, or social service experience preferred. Reliable transportation, clean driving record, Arizona driver’s license, and current personal automobile insurance required.

Special At‑Risk Population Competencies:

SMI– Staff conducting assessments or related crisis response services are able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the special needs of the SMI population.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the safety, risk and infection control practices pertinent to the work environment and is able to convey that knowledge to the SMI member.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of instruction/training.
• Demonstrate knowledge and/or ability to employ appropriate motivation techniques with SMI members.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the community resources typically needed by the SMI population.

Substance Abuse– Staff conducting assessments or related crisis response services for persons with substance abuse/addiction issues are able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the comprehensive psycho/social influences and effects of dependencies.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the natural history and clinical basis of dependence.
• Knowledgeable about available treatment resources and their appropriate uses.

Child/Family & Peer Support– Staff conducting assessments or related crisis response services for children, youth and families with are able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the behavioral health needs of children, youth and families.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the safety, risk, and infection control practices pertinent to the working with children.
• Demonstrate knowledge and/or ability to employ behavioral management techniques with children and youth.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the community resources to build assist with development of external support systems for families.

Cultural Competency & Skills:

Must culturally understand competency and apply cultural competency principles to all services delivered. Skills necessary to engage and work with others from diverse ethnic and cultural groups. Ability to demonstrate efforts to comprehend the needs of Bilingual; English/Spanish speaking members.

Conditions & Equipment:

Position requires work to be done independently. Policies and procedures govern all decision making required by this position. Position involves interaction with community representatives, peers, managers, coordinators, and other Administrators. Working conditions include the responsibility of company equipment including operation includes computer, copy machine, postage meter, phone, and fax.

Reasonable Accommodations:

The corporation strictly adheres to the requirements of the Americans with disabilities act (42 U.S.C. sections 12101 et seq.). While the corporation strives to appreciate the special needs of its disabled employees and provide the necessary, reasonable accommodations, it remains the responsibility of each employee subject to the provisions of the act to promptly and effectively communicate to the corporation the need for accommodation in writing.