Crisis Counselor

JOB TITLE: CRISIS COUNSELOR

JOB SUMMARY:  The Crisis Counselor works on our Mobile Crisis Response Team located at our Rapid Access Center. Under supervision, the Crisis Counselor is responsible for providing crisis assessments, intake and intervention services 24/7 for crisis services. The position is designed to provide crisis mental health and substance use assessments, intakes, interventions and resolutions and resolutions in the community.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Provide clinical services in the Crisis Stabilization Unit when mobile response needs are low.
• Respond quickly to conduct rapid mental status assessments, suicide risk assessments, hospital screens, and intakes on-site and in the community, including requests from local police departments, 988 crisis lines, and referrals from other community partners.
• Provides crisis interventions on-scene in the community with individuals, families, and/or others present as needed, with an emphasis on assessing needs, securing appropriate level-of-care services, and minimizing trauma.
• Coordinate and facilitate referrals to appropriate services in the community.
• Participate in hospital admission screens by completing an Emergency Detention Order (EDO) and overseeing the admission process as needed.
• Strive to develop intervention and or diversion plans that prevent or reduce admissions to jails and hospitals, when other interventions can meet the needs.
• Prepare to quickly respond to calls, always, during a shift.
• Proactively outreach local hospitals, jails, police departments, and the community at large to build relationships and establish a sound protocol for reaching the Mobile Crisis Team.
• Follow protocol by always utilizing a Certified Peer Specialist on all Mobile Crisis Calls and a Crisis Intervention Trained officer whenever safety is unknown or questionable.
• Provide 24/7 Crisis Assessment in person within 1 hour of receiving the crisis call.
• The Mobile Crisis Team will do a warm hand-off for clients who have received a mobile crisis assessment but are not hospitalized. The warm hand off will be to Edgewater’s Crisis Stabilization Unit immediately when appropriate or to outpatient services at Edgewater or another provider of the client’s choice within 24 hours of the mobile crisis assessment.
• Mobile Crisis Counselor and the Certified Peer Specialist will document all contacts and interventions in the EHR in a timely and accurate manner.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Effective communication and people skills.
• Must be compassionate, empathetic, and display patient-centered approach to care.
• Ability to manage stressful situations and remain calm under pressure.
• Knowledge of mental health disorders and treatments.
• High degree of professionalism in dealing with diverse groups of people, including clients, staff and others.
• Ability to demonstrate working and collaborating well with other Edgewater Health departments.
• Ability to multitask, complete a high volume of tasks and projects with little or no guidance.
• Possess well developed organizational and time management skills.
• Maintain professional discretion and adherence to confidentiality.
• Must be able to interact and develop a rapport with a diversified population.

SUPERVISED BY:  Director, Crisis Services

EMPLOYEES SUPERVISED: None applicable.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education – master’s degree in social work, psychology, or related field. (License preferred)
• Experience -- Minimum of two years’ experience working and/or volunteering within  healthcare, social work, or healthcare settings.
• Training in crisis intervention or behavioral management is highly desirable.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Occasional standing, walking, lifting, reaching, kneeling, bending, stooping, pushing, and pulling for extended periods of time.
• Occasional lifting and/or moving up to twenty-five pounds.
• Frequent sitting.
• Ability to communicate by speaking and hearing in person or on the phone.