Mobile Crisis Counselor

JOB SUMMARY: The Mobile Crisis Counselor is responsible for responding to crisis calls with the Mobile Crisis Peer, assessing the situation to determine client service needs, eligibility, and appropriateness of services, and making referrals or coordinating with other agencies to obtain services for clients and their families as necessary.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Provides crisis and risk assessment and intervention services in support of BestCare’s mobile crisis response, including after hours;
2. Provides immediate mobile response to individuals experiencing mental health crises within the County. Calls may come from a variety of different sources including the hospital, jail, police, or other community partners;
3. Gathers information necessary to identify and assess risk factors for harm to self or others in the context of the client's current psycho-social state via interview with client and with consideration given to collateral information; makes recommendations for safety planning or higher level of care needs;
4. Assesses for personal safety in the environment and requests law enforcement support as appropriate;
5. Provides direction to the Peer team member in completing comprehensive safety plans for each client;
6. Provides assessment, recommendations, and case consultation to treatment providers and emergency department as appropriate;
7. Provides information and facilitates linkage to mental health treatment and other social services;
8. Operates in a sometimes ambiguous and frequently changing work environment;
9. Respects client rights and responsibilities and demonstrates professional boundaries and ethics;
10. Adheres to mandatory abuse reporting laws, 42 CFR, and HIPAA requirements;
11. Documents and maintains electronic health record (EHR) and ancillary records in a manner that assures compliance with all agency policies, program procedures and local, state, and federal regulations. Completes documentation within agency stated timelines.
12. Reviews/approves all crisis documentation completed by the Peer team member;
13. Collaborates effectively with other team members and community partners;
14. Provides case consultation and stays in communication with other MH providers;
15. Completes appropriate follow-up with clients as required;
16. Assists in completing referrals, as necessary, to respite or other higher levels of care;
17. Acts as a role model to clients to inspire hope and share life experiences as appropriate;
18. Telephones contacts, which include talking with clients who need support and are struggling and may be prone toward self-harm/suicidality or prone to making bad decisions;
19. Identifies person’s abilities, strengths and assets and assists them to recognize and use them.
20. Other related duties as assigned.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Performs work in alignment with the BestCare’s mission, vision, values;
2. Supports the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by fostering a culture of open-mindedness, cultural awareness, compassion, and respect for all individuals;
3. Strives to meet Program/Department goals and supports the organization’s strategic goals;
4. Adheres to the organization’s Code of Conduct, Business Ethics, Employee Handbook, and all other relevant policies, procedures, and other compliance needs;
5. Understands and maintains professionalism and confidentiality per HIPAA, 42 CFR, and Oregon Statutes;
6. Participates in all scheduled staff meetings, supervision sessions, and other departmental and agency meetings;
7. Completes assigned training timely and satisfactorily, and attends other seminars, training, and educational opportunities to develop professional skills and abilities;
8. Ensures that any required certifications and/or licenses are kept current and renewed timely;
9. Works independently as well as participates as a positive, collaborative team member.
10. Performs other organizational duties as needed.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES: Must have demonstrated competency or ability to attain competency for each of the following within a reasonable period:

• Must be familiar with mental illness and substance use disorder populations, as well as people with disabilities;
• Must have knowledge of alcohol and drug addiction and detoxification, community resources, and recovery programs;
• Ability to complete and apply required trainings/certifications including First aid, CPR, administration of naloxone and overdose reversal, de-escalation strategies, trauma-informed crisis response, harm-reduction strategies including overdose intervention, etc.;
• Ability to function well, follow direction, and use good judgment in a high-paced and at times stressful environment;
• Must have knowledge of and ability to use de-escalation techniques effectively
• Must have critical thinking skills;
• Ability to work independently as well as participating as a positive, collaborative team member;
• Proficiency in MS Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook), EHR platform, databases, virtual meeting platforms, internet, and ability to learn new or updated software;
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills, and ability to work effectively and respectfully in a diverse, multi-cultural environment;
• Strong communication skills (oral and written);
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through;
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines;
• Ability to maintain strict confidence as required by HIPAA, 42 CFR, and Oregon Statutes;
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships;
• Ability to manage conflict resolution and anger/fear/hostility/violence of others appropriately and effectively.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Master’s Degree in accepted behavioral health field
• Must meet the Oregon Administrative Rules definition of a peer: “Any individual who has similar life experience, either as a current or former recipient of addictions or mental health services, or as a family member of an individual who is a current or former recipient of addictions or mental health services.”
• For individuals in recovery from substance-use disorder, must have maintained continuous recovery for the previous two years at the time of hire

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• QMHP required, or ability/commitment to register and obtain certification upon hire
• Must maintain a valid Oregon Driver License or ability to obtain one upon hire, and be insurable under the organization’s auto liability coverage policy (minimum 21 years of age and with no Type A violations in the past 3 years, or three (3) or more Type B violations)
• Current CPR and First Aid certifications (or obtain within 3 months of hiring)

PREFERRED:

• Bilingual in English/Spanish a plus