Mobile Youth Crisis Clinician

Job Description

Job Description

Retention Bonus: $625

Summary/objective 

Under the supervision of the Crisis Clinical Coordinator, the Crisis Clinician will provide rapid response screening and assessment and counseling intervention services to youth and families experiencing urgent psychological and emotional problems (ie. aggressive and defiant behavior due to problems with emotion regulation, suicidal/homicidal ideation, plans, or attempts, family conflicts, etc.) while maintaining safety and implementing therapeutic treatment plans in a community-based setting. The incumbent is responsible for conducting risk assessments, consulting with appropriate supervisors or DPBHS workers to make decisions about level of care needed to maintain safety, and providing short-term, therapeutic crisis intervention services for up to 30 days. In addition, the incumbent is responsible for therapeutic documentation of cases from intake through discharge.

Essential functions:

Risk Assessment

• Maintain professional, trauma-informed, and empathetic interactions during crisis interactions with families and all stakeholders
• Use critical thinking and risk management skills when assessing and making decisions about the least restrictive level of care
• Understand and utilize knowledge about warning signs and risk factors associated with suicide risk and risk of harm to others
• Develop comprehensive skills in planning for safety and providing evaluations, diagnosis and therapeutic crisis intervention services to children, adolescents and their families.

Case Management

• Provide therapeutic recommendation and referrals for children, adolescents, and their families referred for assessments and follow-up services
• Communicate with and provide appropriate documentation to the DPBHS team
• Communicate with appropriate stakeholders to maintain a systems-based approach to stabilization of crisis situations
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely documentation

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention

• Plan and administer solution-focused and trauma-informed interventions to maintain safety, build skills, and address problem solving, communication, and relationship conflicts.  

General Responsibilities

• Uphold professional standards of treatment and the mission of the organization
• Maintain a quality code of conduct, ethics and professionalism 
• Provide goal-directed and team-oriented services 
• Communicate effectively and professionally with all stakeholders 
• Participate in Clinician On-Call rotation
• Rotation of on-call telehealth for after hours 11p-7a 2-3 days a month

Competencies/ Capabilities:

• Reliability & Flexibility 
• Customer Service
• Written and Verbal Communication
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Assessment and Intervention Skills

Supervisory responsibilities:  None

Work environment:  Community-Based, Office location in Lewes, Dover, or Newark, DE

Travel required:  Travel to locations where the client resides or is located

Minimum qualification:

• Master's in licensed eligible field OR
• Master's in related field w/2 yrs Crisis or 4yrs behavioral health experience OR
• Bachelor's in related field w/10 yrs. Crisis or behavioral health experience

Preferred qualification:

• Master’s degree from an accredited school in a Human Services field
• Education/Training in suicide risk prevention and intervention

EEO: 

Delaware Guidance Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions .

Other duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

About Delaware Guidance Services

DGS is the largest non-profit provider of outpatient behavioral health services for children and families in Delaware, and the only statewide organization of its kind continuously accredited by The Joint Commission since 1999. Our vision for Delaware—resilient families nurturing children’s well‑being—flows from our mission to provide high‑quality, trauma‑informed therapeutic services that strengthen social, emotional, and behavioral wellness. 

Each year, DGS serves an average of 3,500 children and youth through a clinically excellent continuum of care that includes outpatient therapy, community‑based services, school‑based supports, mobile crisis response, and short‑term youth crisis stabilization. Our clinical lines operate 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, ensuring that children and families have access to timely, flexible, and culturally responsive care wherever it is needed—at home, in school, in the community, or at one of our five office locations across Wilmington, Newark, Dover, Lewes, and Seaford. 

If you want to learn more about Delaware Guidance Services, please go to

Why Work at Delaware Guidance Services? 

DGS strives to build a collaborative, flexible, and client-focused work environment. Employee wellness is a top priority. In addition to offering flexible work arrangements, DGS offers a comprehensive and competitive employee benefits package including the following:

• Competitive Compensation
• Incentive Pay for Specific Roles

Position Highlights:

• Flexible / Hybrid work environment (community based)
• Generous benefits and time off policies
• Ability to work with children through a mission driven organization
• On Call Pay available
• Paid Training