School Intervention Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL INTERVENTION SPECIALIST (SIS)

Classification: Full-time (40 Hours), Exempt Reports to: Youth Program Supervisor

Work Location: 100% In-Person

This position operates as an essential employee. All members of Harford Crisis Response (HCR) are the frontline, first response workers for mental health in Harford County. HCR employees are employed through the Office on Mental Health/Core Service Agency of Harford County, Inc. (OMH/CSA).

The School Intervention Specialist will serve school aged youth who are in a crisis as a result of behavioral health needs, including substance use, who do not need emergency medical care and can be safely served in the community and school setting. The School Intervention Specialist will be licensed to practice therapy in the State of Maryland.

All direct care workers are cross trained to provide multiple types of crisis response as part of HCR’s mission to make timely and effective crisis care available and accessible to the community.

The SIS worker shall maintain licensure of LMSW, LGPC, equivalent or greater.

Requires a valid driver’s license and the ability to operate agency vehicles as a condition of employment.

There are potential risks to crisis response work including but not limited to:

• Entry into environments with poor sanitation standards

• Entry into environments with insect or rodent infestations

• Exposure to people displaying volatile, unpredictable, or aggressive behavior, and/or to highly charged emotional situations

• Exposure to weather conditions including snow, rain, and heat

• Exposure to persons with infectious diseases

Major Duties & Responsibilities:

• Conducts assessments and intervenes in the school setting with children, youth, transitional age youth, adults, and families. Serves as part of the Mobile Crisis Team staff dedicated to the Harford County Public School system

• Provides in person, community based, crisis intervention and stabilization to clients experiencing mental or behavioral distress to deescalate situations; utilizes the least invasive intervention; participates in active rescue as required and as a last resort

• Answers hotline calls and provides phone counseling services

• Provides intervention and care, and documents all visits and interactions

• Conducts assessments of the need for emergency medical services, including involuntary emergency behavioral health care, and linkages to client resources and care

• Completes performance and wellness checks, as needed, for follow-up to ensure clinical stability

• Coordinates care to include school system resources

• Attends specialized school meetings as necessary

• Provides support to decrease crisis and allow individuals to remain in their home

• Makes recommendations for behavioral management of disruptive behavior

• Facilitates referrals to crisis stabilizations resources, and other community intervention services/supports

• Develops crisis plans

• Completes all documentation in the Electronic Medical Record system in timely manner

• Complies with all mandatory reporting laws

• Abides by all federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to confidentiality and protected health information

• Compiles and tracks data as required by the grant; completes monthly and quarterly reporting

• Completes outreach events at schools and in community settings

• Completes training as assigned

• Maintains professional licensure according to regulations established by professional board (i.e., LMSW, LGPC, LCPC, LCSW-C, etc.)

• Provides afterhours supervisory coverage as part of the leadership rotation

• Provides afterhours coverage, as assigned

• Provides Holiday coverage, as assigned

• Assists with daily office upkeep tasks with the team

• Other duties as assigned for the good of the program and organization

Performance Standards:

• Encourages and facilitates cooperation and trust, fosters commitment and team spirit, and works with others to achieve goals

• Demonstrates outstanding interpersonal skills to effectively work and communicate with others

• Practices sound record keeping principles and practices

• Practices sounds case management to appropriately utilize community resources for effective care provision

• Ensures timely and accurate resources referrals and case follow-up

• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Demonstrates the ability to resolve problems

• Utilizes best practice standards for acute medical, psychiatric and substance use evaluation, treatment, and referrals

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Must be able to lift up to 10 pounds at times.

• The ability to wear personal protective equipment in accordance with agency COVID-19 Policies and Procedures.