Description

JOB TITLE: Crisis Response Clinician (Bilingual Spanish a plus)

DEPARTMENT: Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team (CWCRT)

REPORTS TO:  Program Manager

POSITION STATUS: Non-Exempt-Full-time - 40 hours per week 

SALARY: $52-$55 per hour

DESCRIPTION:

StarVista is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has helped people of all ages throughout San Mateo County navigate life challenges for over 55 years. Our mental health, crisis intervention, youth housing, substance use, and early childhood services help thousands of individuals each year. StarVista’s services are rooted in strength-based, holistic practices and center diversity, equity and inclusion to ensure anyone who comes to StarVista can access support. StarVista’s values of respect, passion, partnerships, accountability, innovation and integrity foster an agency culture of support and growth.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

This is a 2-year pilot partnership between San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) and 4 police departments: San Mateo, Foster City, North Fair Oaks, and Millbrae. This position responds to 911 calls that involve one or more individuals that may be exhibiting behaviors consistent with mental illness or substance abuse. 

POSITION PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES:

The position requires a 40-hour work week. Shifts are 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. The schedule for each city will depend on each department’s highest call volume. Clinicians will be provided office space/equipment, a cell phone, and a police radio to respond to calls. This is a co-response model; a clinician and a police officer will be dispatched to the scene of all calls of those identified as suffering from a mental health crisis.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Perform initial diagnostic evaluation during a crisis noting behavioral symptoms which may indicate organic and/or mental disorders in children, youth, or adults. 
• Determine whether individuals are holdable on a W&I 5150 and follow appropriate procedure. 
• Determine other resources to connect individuals to who do not meet criteria for 5150. 
• Work closely with different law enforcement communities. 
• Participate in monthly San Mateo County Field Crisis Consultation Committee (FCCC). 
• Perform suicidal/homicidal/Grave Disability risk assessments. 
• Conduct home visits and/or field-based services. 
• Crisis Intervention. 
• Provide outreach counseling and refer clients to appropriate behavioral health resources. 
• Collect and evaluate medical or psychosocial data such as case histories, behavior patterns and family relationships of patients/clients. 
• Follow up with individuals where appropriate who are reluctant to engage with resources. 
• Work as a psychiatric team member with other treatment disciplines. 
• Utilize Trauma Informed Care and other Evidence-based practices. 
• Provide consultation and education services. 
• Ability to work weekends. 
• Perform related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:
• Master's degree in Social Work, Social Welfare or a closely related field.
• Current philosophy, principles, and practices for services to clients with serious mental illness.
• Individual, group and family psychodynamics as they relate to adults or children.
• Psychological diagnostic methods and terminology.
• Personality development from infancy through adulthood.
• Human and health services systems in the County including private agencies and other community resources.
• Provide treatment to adults, children or adolescents with various mental disabilities ranging from serious mental illness to dysfunctional behavior patterns, including victims of sexual or physical abuse.
• Set realistic treatment goals and facilitate their attainment.
• Evaluate the degree of mental disability or emotional distress of patients/clients.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Provide consultation and technical assistance to agencies, schools and other organizations.
• Work collectively within a multi-disciplinary team.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A current license as either a LCSW, LMFT, LPCC or licensed Clinical Psychologist preffered
• Solid clinical treatment, assessment, diagnostic and evaluation skills.
• Knowledge of principles, techniques and trends in counseling, psychotherapy, clinical case management, crisis management and various treatment modalities 
• Experience providing treatment for adults and youth with serious mental illness.
• Experience delivering services to adult and/or youth consumers who have co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
• Excellent documentation skills, progress notes, assessments, client care plans, etc. 
• Demonstrated expertise, skill and interest in working with a broad range of clients of diverse cultures and backgrounds, and an ability to provide culturally appropriate and proficient services.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with families, co-workers, other professionals, collaborative partners and the public.
• Extensive knowledge of available community resources within the County of San Mateo and its neighboring counties.
• Experience using electronic health/medical record systems (e.g. AVATAR,SOARIAN)
• Preferred: Fluency in any of the threshold languages: Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese (Cantonese/Mandarin) or Russian; and experience providing clinical services using bilingual skills. 
• Perform related duties as assigned.

BENEFITS:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Basic Life & AD&D 
• Flexible Spending Account / Dependent Care Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement Plan (non-matching)
• Sick Time
• Vacation Time
• Personal Time
• Holiday Pay 
• Birthday Floating Holiday

All candidates will be required to pass an extensive background check, and polygraph, to be conducted by the police department.