Crisis Counselor I

JOB SUMMARY:

The Crisis Counselor I provides clinical services to individuals in the community, crisis stabilization in the crisis care center, home, and community through mobile services. Assists in development of program and treatment protocols for the crisis stabilization program. Manages acute distress, rapid assessment, and provides effective communication and coordination of services among multiple systems. Provides professional clinical assessments of individuals displaying acute signs and symptoms of psychological distress. Implements clinical and diagnostic plans related to the needs of the individual. Coordinates appropriate services and interventions in order to stabilize the individual in the least restrictive manner. Works 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. Completes Government Performance Results Act (GPRAs) and SAMHSA’s National Outcome Measures (NOMs) and other assessments as required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (Maximum of Eight)

• Provide crisis stabilization in the crisis care center, home, and community through mobile services, and short-term crisis counseling interventions to meet the needs of individuals and/or families in the community. Includes the provision of professional face-to-face and/or telephone crisis stabilization services for individuals (and concerned others) 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.
• 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 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. . 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 GPRAs and NOMs and other assessments as required.
• 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.).

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 work cooperatively with emergency services and other agency staff and to maintain appropriate, professional interactions with community referral sources..
• 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.

EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION REQUIRED:

• Must be eligible for QMHP-trainee or possess QMHP through the Virginia Board of Counseling.
  • To be eligible for QMHP-trainee, an applicant shall submit evidence satisfactory to the Board of Counseling that the applicant has (i) completed a specified number of hours of didactic education in a program or programs recognized or approved by the Board and (ii) received, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board OR is actively enrolled and in good standing in a bachelor's degree program from an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board of Counseling.
  • To be eligible for QMHP, an applicant shall submit evidence satisfactory to the Board of counseling that the applicant has (i) completed a specified number of hours of didactic education in a program or programs recognized or approved by the Board; (ii) received, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board; and (iii) accumulated a specified number of hours of Board-approved supervised experience
  • Must submit application for QMHP trainee within 90 days from start of employment. Upon completion of trainee hours, application for QMHP must be submitted within 90 days.

• Valid driver's license with a safe driving record.