Crisis Intervention Spec, Per Diem, University Campus

Everyone Is a Caregiver

At UMass Memorial Health, everyone is a caregiver regardless of their title or responsibilities. Exceptional patient care, academic excellence and leading-edge research make UMass Memorial the premier health system of Central Massachusetts, and a place where we can help you build the career you deserve. We are more than 20,000 employees, working together as one health system in a relentless pursuit of healing for our patients, community and each other. And everyone, in their own unique way, plays an important part, every day.

Provides crisis evaluations for patients in the Psychiatric Service both on and off site, for young children, adults and geriatric patients. Utilizes the language of the current DSM V to establish comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and subsequent planning and treatment. Coordinates and facilitates system treatment meetings, on and off site, to develop comprehensive treatment plans. Works with patients and their families, including treatment planning implementation, group and individual therapy, and coordinates community services and discharge planning. Works with insurance companies to fulfill all requirements for appropriate referrals to inpatient units, outpatient care and diversion programs, while strongly advocating for the patient. Participates in the orientation and/or training of new staff, students and others.

I. Major Responsibilities:

• Provides psychosocial history and mental status assessment of patients in psychiatric crisis at the University campus and mobiles to off-site locations.
• Assigns the appropriate clinical level of care to each patient including inpatient, outpatient, diversion programs, providing information and referrals to specialized intervention programs, including substance abuse detoxification and rehabilitation. Understands clinical levels of treatment.
• Develops and maintains a safe therapeutic environment. Actively participates in psychiatric emergencies, including restraint of out-of-control patients, while maintaining safety in the milieu.
• Triages calls of patients with psychiatric emergencies, including suicide ideation and/or attempts, and determines which intervention is needed. Identifies clinical resources and makes referrals when necessary. Serves as a referral source for patient, family members and agency staff.
• Functions in a Case Management role, facilitating and coordinating referral and access to psychiatric treatment, delivery of social services, including financial assistance, health insurance, community-based care and medical contracts/collaboration.
• Assesses factors relating to need for care, adjustment to care, and response to treatment as documented in the clinical record. Facilitates communication with all outpatient treaters, including psychiatric outpatient, social services and medical, i.e. Primary Care Physicians, Nurse Practitioners and Visiting Nurse, and interfaces with these providers to coordinate treatment planning, serving as a referral source for patients and family members to assist in their compliance with treatment recommendations.
• Maintains current knowledge and compliance for all managed care specifications regarding notification, presentation of clinical information, pre-certification, billing and faxing requirements.
• Documents all information obtained in evaluation, assessment, consultation, referral and disposition to comply with regulatory requirements, as well as ensuring best possible patient outcome. Actively participates in formulation and execution of Quality Improvement and subsequent data collection.
• Maintains service logs are required. Codes for billing according to current practice.
• Obtains vital signs and specimens as ordered, and uses computer ordering system to facilitate specimens to the lab.
• Actively engages in Continuing Education to maintain and expand current knowledge as required to maintain licensure, as well as to enhance professional expertise and keep abreast of current trends.
• Maintains basic life support (BLS) certification every two years.
• Maintains all psychiatric competencies including annual CARE training.

Standard Staffing Level Responsibilities:

• Complies with established departmental policies, procedures and objectives.
• Attends variety of meetings, conferences, seminars as required or directed.
• Demonstrates use of Quality Improvement in daily operations.
• Complies with all health and safety regulations and requirements.
• Respects diverse views and approaches, demonstrates Standards of Respect, and contributes to creating and maintaining an environment of professionalism, tolerance, civility and acceptance toward all employees, patients and visitors.
• Maintains, regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.
• Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.

All responsibilities are essential job functions.

II. Position Qualifications:

• License/Certification/Education: Required: 1. Master's Degree in Human Services or equivalent. 2 Must be license eligible upon hire (LICSW, LISW, or LMHC). If not licensed upon hire, employee must obtain LICSW or LICW license within 18 months of hire or will be subject to termination. If not licensed upon hire, employee must obtain LMHC license within 24 months of hire or will be subject to termination.
• Preferred: LCSW, LICSW, or LMHC licensure
• Experience/Skills: Required: 1. One to three years of experience in Psychiatry/Mental Health. 2. Demonstrated ability in psychosocial assessment, knowledge of community resources, crisis intervention skills, ability in discharge planning, and ability to work with a multidisciplinary team. 3. Excellent written and communications skills. 4. Basic computer skills. Unless certification, licensure or registration is required, an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed in this description may be substituted for the above requirements.

III. Physical Demands and Environmental Conditions:

Work is considered sedentary. Position requires work indoors in a patient care office environment.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

We're striving to make respect a part of everything we do at UMass Memorial Health for our patients, our community and each other. Our six Standards of Respect are: Acknowledge, Listen, Communicate, Be Responsive, Be a Team Player and Be Kind. If you share these Standards of Respect, we hope you will join our team and help us make respect our standard for everyone, every day.

As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMass Memorial Health recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io. We will make every effort to respond to your request for disability assistance as soon as possible.