Crisis Counselor (50062)

Position Summary:

Provides triage, crisis counseling and linkage on-demand in any setting in which a crisis is occurring including homes, schools, or community based setting within 60 minute on-site response time

Essential Job Functions:

• Works with individuals, families, and groups to provide outreach, emotional support, individual and group crisis counseling
• Provides warm hand off to community resources, services and supports
• Triages phone calls and provides community resource information as well as supportive counseling
• Conducts screening and provides intervention services
• Engages individuals and families in the crisis planning process using evidenced based practices including Motivational Interviewing and Mental Health First Aid.
• Develops safety or crisis care plan
• Facilitates stabilization and care coordination services post -acute intervention
• Coordinates psychiatric face to face or telehealth appointments with psychiatrist within 48 hours of intervention
• Provides after hours crisis services on a rotation schedule
• Interacts with management to gather and provide information
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of WestCare Foundation
• Participate in meetings and attend trainings as required and requested
• Completes all orientation and mandated training activities, including E-Learning Courses, within required timeframes, and in accordance with the criteria established for this position.
• Perform any other duties as assigned.
• Assessments are only to be completed by Bachelor level personnel.

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licensures:

• Must be CPR/First Aid certified within 6 months of employment and every two years thereafter.

Education:

• Graduation from an accredited college with a bachelors degree in Human Services, Addiction Counseling, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology or related field is preferred.
• Highschool/ GED with three years of previous experience in Human Services field.

Experience and Competencies:

• Training and or Experience in Crisis Intervention Preferred
• Ability to meet requirements of Monroe County Sheriff's Office background check
• Understanding and application of federal, state, local and agency confidentiality rules and professional standards of conduct
• Understanding of professional ethics, consumer rights, and professional responsibilities
• Ability to actively to actively participate in continuous quality improvement activities of agency
• Knowledge of behavioral health terminology
• Knowledge of theoretical and practical concepts of individual, group and family behavior
• Ability to deal with crisis situations
• Ability to deal with difficult people
• Ability to handle client concern/grievance according to agency protocol
• Demonstrates ability to compile and analyze data and draw appropriate conclusions and apply analytical skills to complex situations.
• Demonstrates ability to expedite a voluminous flow of detailed work
• Demonstrates ability to prepare clear and precise reports
• Demonstrates ability to follow and interpret instructions
• Demonstrates ability to appropriately and efficiently identify, prioritize and follow through on assignments
• Demonstrates ability to show flexibility in fulfilling the requirements of the position
• Demonstrates ability to take actions to be fiscally responsible when using agency resources
• Extensive personal computer skills with emphasis on data entry and word processing
• Demonstrates ability to remain calm and aware in crisis situations and take appropriate actions under high stress
• Demonstrates ability to cope and manage changes and help others to do the same
• Demonstrates Ability to collaborate with others to problem solve on going issues that impact service delivery.
• Demonstrates willingness to meet, communicate and problem solve with a cross section of people
• Exemplifies cooperation through teamwork by employing excellent usage of interpersonal skills and other teamwork principles
• Works in a way that promotes a safe environment and creates no safety hazards for self, colleagues, or client
• Exercises initiative in adapting and applying procedures to address unusual situations
• Understands that different cultural and ethnic groups have different perceptions of health, wellness, behavioral health, and preventive health services
• Demonstrates respect for individual's cultural and ethnic values when conducting assessments, developing Wellness and Recovery Plans, and providing services
• Understands that different cultures define and perceive family and its importance differently
• Demonstrates ability to work effectively with culturally diverse staff and populations
• Ability to use trauma informed care principles including ensuring consumer safety, preventing/avoiding re-traumatization, maximizing trustworthiness, enhancing consumer choice, maximizing collaboration, and emphasizing empowerment
• Ability to identify and describe key signs, symptoms, impact and manifestations of trauma
• Aware of the differences between trauma informed and trauma-specific services
• Understands the bidirectional relationships among substance use and mental disorders and trauma
• Understands the differences among various kinds of abuse and trauma, including: physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; domestic violence; experiences of war for both combat veterans and survivors of war; natural disasters; and community violence
• Knowledge of WestCare Mission, goals and values
• Knowledge of Incident Reporting
• Knowledge of HIPAA, Professional Ethics, Consumer Rights and Confidentiality
• Familiarity with WestCare services and programs
• Demonstrates a high degree of dependability.
  • Maintains a good attendance record.
• • Observes working hours
  • Shows flexibility and is responsive to requests from supervisor
  • Works independently with minimal supervision
  • Exhibits characteristics of good workmanship, and integrity on the job
  • Work time is always productive

• Demonstrates ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with consumers, co-workers, external partners, and regulatory agencies
  • Is courteous to consumers, staff, and all others.
  • Demonstrates tact at the appropriate time.
  • Cooperates with others both within and outside WestCare.
  • Works well with supervisor; accepts direction and supervision
  • Maintains a positive attitude toward work
• Ensures and maintains a safe working environment.
  • Work area is clean and orderly.
  • Verbalizes, understands and adheres to agency safety procedures.
  • Demonstrates appropriate use of Unusual Incident Reports, in accordance with the Center's reporting procedures
• Presents a positive personal image
• Dresses and maintains a professional demeanor

Working Conditions:

• Work is primarily performed in an office or residential treatment setting; and some outdoor activities may be required.
• Personal Protective Equipment:
  • Gloves are worn when cleaning.
  • Gloves are worn when using housekeeping and floor care products
  • Eye goggles are worn when pouring housekeeping and floor product
  • Gloves, mask, gown, eye goggles are used for Code Strongs as required for the situation
  • Appropriate PPE will be worn as required by any chemical or exposure situation
• Level of access to PHI : Level 2
• Level of access to Facility : Level 1
• Safety Sensitivity Level : Level 2- Moderate Risk

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:

Physical Demands:

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and

hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files). Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations through the use of approved physical de-escalation techniques.

• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employee's essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility

• The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

M ental Demands:

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions.
• Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.
• The ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations through the use of approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.