Crisis Counselor I - Family

Job Description

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

JOB SUMMARY:

Provide services to youth in the community who have been recently placed in the foster care system and require additional support while acclimating to the new circumstances. Manage acute distress, rapid assessment, and provide effective communication and coordination of services among multiple systems. Coordinate appropriate services and interventions in order to stabilize the individual in the least restrictive manner. Work as part of a team to ensure services and resources are coordinated among providers as needed to help individuals served live and function optimally in the community. Will complete assessments including but not limited to the WHODAS, GPRA’s, NOM’s as appropriate.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide crisis stabilization in the crisis care center, home, and community environments through the FAMILY program with mobile crisis services. Includes the provision of professional face-to-face and/or telephone crisis stabilization services for individuals and foster families experiencing acute distress and psychiatric, substance abuse, or intellectual disorders. As appropriate, works as part of the crisis services team to provide appropriate direct and client related services including crisis services. Demonstrate sound clinical judgment and strong risk assessment skills.
• Assist individuals with crisis resolution and general problem-solving. Develop effective and measurable individualized service plans for crisis stabilization plans as quickly as possible from onset of crisis, to avert hospitalization. Monitor the plan to ensure all needed services are provided as stated in plan, and change plan as needed.
• Assist clients in maintaining stability following discharge from the program by providing short-term crisis stabilization and case management services to clients until the client has established services in other agency programs or in the community.
• Respond in a timely manner to individuals receiving services, families, and representatives of multiple systems by providing and gathering necessary information, as appropriate. Interact with individuals and community partners in a manner that supports collaboration. Promote positive communication and collaboration among team members and other community resources needed to provide quality services. Serve on designated teams, committees and work groups.
• Demonstrate sound clinical judgement in evaluations and follow through. Staff cases as appropriate. Provide staffing consultation to others as requested. Maintain a good working relationship with both internal and external referral sources and provide community education or training as needed.
• Meet productivity standards for services provided. Document all required elements in the electronic health record (EHR) at the conclusion of the crisis situation. Complete all reports in a timely manner. Relay information on all face-to-face and telephone crisis case dispositions to appropriate agency programs and crisis services program staff to ensure appropriate follow-up and aftercare arrangements. Complete assessments including but not limited to the WHODAS, GPRA’s, NOM’s as appropriate.
• Ensure that individual records are in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal requirements including guidelines as they pertain to DBHDS Licensure Regulations, Waiver, State Plan and Clinic Options Medicaid. Complete administrative and other paperwork as required. Strive to promote continuous quality improvement of services through the timely completion of QA activities (i.e. satisfaction surveys, outcome measurement reports, etc.).

OTHER DUTIES:

• Perform such other duties as assigned by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Requires demonstrated knowledge of crisis intervention models and theories and resources available to help individuals with serious emotional and developmental disabilities, including individuals with co-occurring disorders (MH/DD, MH/SA, and MH/DD/SA), and their families/care givers in the community.
• Clinical competence in managing suicidal individuals.
• Understanding of the use of psychotropic medications, drug overdose, common medical complications that may mimic psychiatric illness.
• Working knowledge of substances of abuse and the ability to assess the need for medical detox.
• Ability to work as part of a clinical treatment team is essential, as is the ability to cooperatively with emergency services and other agency staff and to appropriately interact with community referrals.
• Clinician must be able to respond to client emergencies both in person and over the phone and to provide clinical documentation of services provided.
• Working knowledge of Medicaid guidelines as they pertain to crisis stabilization, emergency, and community service provision.
• Basic knowledge of human rights, ethical, and legal concerns as they relate to providing clinical and residential services.
• Ability and willingness to work closely with other members of a multi-disciplinary treatment team
• Knowledge and understanding of best practice treatment modalities for serious mental illness, intellectual and developmental, substance use and co-occurring disorders to include behavioral supports and interventions.
• Demonstrated understanding of issues around cultural competence and finds value in a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Job Requirements

EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION REQUIRED:

Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology or other related human services field required; Master’s degree preferred.

QMHP-Eligible is required; QMHP with two years of experience in a mental health field is preferred.

Valid Driver's License with a safe driving record.