Mental Health Specialist

Liberty Resources is seeking motivated Mobile Crisis Mental Health Specialists (Responder) in Cortland County to join our team.

About Us:

Liberty Resources is a dynamic and growing human services agency that is a great place to work! Working for Liberty Resources means you’ll have access to great career opportunities, benefits and a fun atmosphere. Our employees have passion around our values of excellence, integrity, diversity, self-determination, service, innovation and fiscal responsibility. Our rapid growth is providing exciting opportunities in all areas of our organization. 

We pride ourselves on high quality, integrated, community-based services that meet the evolving needs of our communities. We’re committed to building a diverse workforce that values contributions of all team members and work to recognize cultural beliefs, values, traditions, language preferences, and health practices of the communities that we serve and how they apply to provision of positive health outcomes.

About The Mobile Crisis Team:

The Mobile Crisis Team is a trained multidisciplinary response team that provides crisis intervention services in a variety of settings including community locations where individuals live, work, attend school, engage in services, or socialize. Mobile Crisis intervention services are designed to interrupt and ameliorate the crisis experience and include: an assessment that is culturally and linguistically competent, the development of crisis diversion plans, safety plans or relapse prevention plans, support during and after a crisis and coordination with, and referrals to, health, social, and other services and supports as needed, including peer/family support services. The goals of the Mobile Crisis Team are diversion of unnecessary hospitalizations and arrests, engagement in services, symptom reduction, and stabilization, restoring individuals to a previous level of functioning, and developing the coping mechanisms to minimize or prevent the crisis in the future. The Mobile Crisis Team strives to build strong relationships and a successful reputation in providing efficient and quality crisis services within a five-county region. We serve Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego counties. 

Position Summary:

The Mobile Crisis Mental Health Specialist will work alongside Mobile Crisis Clinicians to provide non-clinical support to individuals/families in crisis. Mobile Crisis Specialists/Responders are primarily responsible for conducting needs assessments and coordinating care for adults, youth and families during and after a crisis episode to address the antecedents of crisis and gaps in care.

This is a per diem position with flexible scheduling options. Available shifts are as follows: 

• Cayuga, Cortland or Madison:
• Weekdays, 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM
• Weekends and holidays, 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM
• Onondaga or Oswego:
• Weekday evenings, 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
• Weekends and holidays, 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM
• Overnights, 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM
• Weekday daytime coverage as needed

Mental Health Specialist/Responder Job Responsibilities:

• Provides non-clinical emotional support through active listening, validation, encouragement, and practical guidance.
• Conducts initial and ongoing needs assessments to identify crisis triggers, service gaps, and follow-up needs.
• Engages in person-centered, client/family-driven non-clinical goal setting and safety planning.
• Makes referrals to and facilitates engagement in behavioral health, medical, care coordination, and basic needs services.
• Collaborates with internal team members and external providers to ensure smooth transitions and continuity of care.
• Follows up with individuals, families, and care teams to verify that aftercare services are in place and being accessed.
• Completes timely and accurate documentation in line with agency and program standards.

Work Environment:

This is a field-based, community-facing role involving regular travel and in-person engagement in a variety of environments.

Pace and Atmosphere

• Fast-paced and emotionally dynamic work environment requiring flexibility, composure, and quick decision-making.
• Team members work in a highly collaborative environment that emphasizes shared responsibility.
• Situations may evolve rapidly and involve collaboration with emergency services, families, or multi-agency partners.
• Shifts may include evenings, weekends, holiday, or other non-standard hours based on program needs.

Worksite Conditions

• Staff are required travel to locations not controlled or maintained by the agency, including private homes, shelters, public spaces, or outdoor environment. Locations may include stairs, uneven terrain, limited accessibility, or other physical challenges.

Mental Health Specialist/Responder Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Bachelor’s degree with at least two (2) years of behavioral health experience OR
• High school diploma, high school equivalency, or State Education Commencement Credential and one or more of the following qualifications:
• One (1) to three (3) years of experience working with individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorders;
• Two (2) years of work experience in children’s mental health, addiction, or foster care;
• A student or intern within a mental health/clinical DOH-approved New York State Education Department program;
• Licensed Practical Nurse;
• Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC);
• Individuals with lived experience as an individual with emotional, behavioral, addiction, or co-occurring disorders or as a parent/primary caregiver of a child with emotional, behavioral, addiction, or co-occurring disorders and who are not qualified peers.
• Must be willing to participate in all required federal, state, county and agency training including Narcan administration, evidence-based assessments, person-centered and trauma-informed approaches.
• Demonstrates a high standard of professionalism and collaborative efforts when working with law enforcement, providers and other collaterals.
• Must possess a valid NYS driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.

Pay Rate: 

• $32.15 per on-call shift (which equates to $225 for one week and provides advanced compensation for telephonic services)
• Additional $100 per on-call shift on an agency observed holiday
• Mobile Crisis Response:
• 1-90 minutes: $100
• 91-180 minutes: $150
• 181+ minutes: $200
• In-Person Follow Up:
• 1-90 minutes: $50
• 91-180 minutes: $75
• 181+ minutes: $100

Liberty Resources is committed to creating a diverse inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Liberty Resources offers equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, parental status, housing status, source of income or military status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local EEO laws.