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Mental health

Crisis Intervention Specialist I/II (CSWA / LCSW)

Legacy Health logoLegacy Health$41.24–$58.96/hrPortland, ORPart timeAdded 4d agoStill open, checked every night

How this pay compares

This posting states $41.24–$58.96 an hour. Open licensed clinical social worker jobs in Oregon post a median of $50.10 an hour, the middle half $49.82–$52.35, across 7 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post. Licensed clinical social workers employed in Oregon earn a median of $32.79 an hour (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025) (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).

Licensed clinical social workers in Oregon: pay by town and employer

The Mental Health & Social Work job market: pay, applicant demand and hiring, researched nightly

Union record

By the bargaining notices filed with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, unions bargain for workers at Legacy Health here: Service Employees International Union Local 49 at Portland, OR (1,004 workers, contract up for renewal 30 Jun 2026); American Federation of Teachers 6552 at Portland, OR (180 workers, bargaining a first contract); Oregon Nurses Association at Portland, OR (175 workers, bargaining a first contract). Each union represents its own unit: ask the recruiter whether this position is in one. Healthcare union contracts.

Workplace injuries

Emanuel in Portland reported 108 work injuries and illnesses to OSHA for 2025 over 5,021,610 hours worked: 4.3 per 100 full-time workers, against 5.1 per 100 full-time workers at general hospitalsnationwide. 10 of them describe violence by a patient, resident or client in the case's own words. This is the employer's own report. Workplace injuries by employer.

Mental health and social work jobs in our research

  • How long these jobs stay listed: Median days to removal 24.0 days · Still listed at 7 days 74.3%
  • Applicant demand per open job on this site (1.00x is the average job): Index 0.63x · Clicks 35
  • How often these jobs state their pay: Jobs stating any pay 63.7% · Stating an hourly rate 46.0%

From every open job we read and every apply click on this site, as of 9 Nov 2026. Every figure for Mental health and social work jobs

About the job

Overview

In times of crisis, you are there for our patients, their family members and our practitioners. With a supportive approach, you offer short-term, urgent behavioral health services that are focused, effective and patient-driven. Through your use of evidence-based behavioral interventions, you diffuse an often tense situation to bring hope and healing. In short, you exemplify the Legacy mission of making life better for others.

Unity Center for Behavioral Health is a one-of-a-kind center for people facing a mental health crisis. Unity Center features a Psychiatric Emergency Service (PES), where patients receive care by specialists in behavioral health in a calming, non-hospital-like setting. Unity also has inpatient care for adults and teens. It is a collaboration between Adventist Health, Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health and Oregon Health & Science University.

Responsibilities

  • Provides primarily patient-centered, trauma-informed, short term, urgent and emergent behavioral health (mental health and addictions) services in adult and pediatric emergency settings across the health continuum.
  • Works both independently and collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Provides behavioral health consultations by supporting or assisting practitioners, family members and patients.
  • Provides focused, effective, and evidence-based behavioral interventions.
  • Key services include but are not limited to:
  • brief psychosocial assessment
  • brief drug and alcohol assessment
  • crisis intervention
  • hold assessment
  • supportive counseling
  • ED diversion
  • care coordination and communication with medical team, family, referents, access workers and other community-based providers
  • transitions of care/ discharge planning.
  • Incumbents in this job provide a variety of key services in guiding the patient through the continuum of care.
  • This position is specific to Unity Center for Behavioral Health.

Qualifications

Education

  • Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling or other behavioral health field as required by licensure or credential.

Experience

  • Crisis Intervention Specialist I: Experience assessing and diagnosing adults experiencing a mental health crisis preferred.
  • Crisis InterventionSpecialist II: Two years’ relevant experience in care management, mental health and/or addictions services, medical social work, or social service organization. 3 years relevant experience preferred.

Skills

  • Broad knowledge of the principles of crisis assessments and interventions and the ability to apply them with individuals, families and/or groups integrating knowledge of normal development and the aging process, changes related to illness, and the needs of patients with acute, chronic, and terminal illness in assessment and intervention with attention to cultural and literacy implications.
  • Knowledge of medical, mental health and substance use diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology.
  • Strong organizational, communication and collaboration skills, including an ability to effectively triage patient and family needs, function as member of an interdisciplinary team, identification and collaboration with community stakeholders or resources and written documentation.
  • Knowledge about social determinants of health, principles of diversity/equity/inclusion and culturally responsive practice with populations who have experience historical marginalization.
  • Demonstrates ability to locate, utilize and advocate for patient/family access to hospital/ community resources.
  • Ability to navigate electronic medical record and effectively utilize basic computer programs.
  • Knowledge of legal, regulatory and compliance requirements and an ability to be a resource to all team members regarding such issues and knowledge of current health care environment.
  • Implements verbal de-escalation skills, as needed.
  • Clearly document the rational for discharging patients presenting some level of risk.
  • Recognize potentially dangerous situations and seeks assistance from additional personnel to ensure safety.
  • Describes and documents medical necessity for hospitalization.

Licensure

Crisis Intervention Specialist I Licensure

  • Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA), Professional Counselor Associate, Marriage and Family Therapist Associate or registered Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) is required at the date of hire.
  • QMHP is acceptable for hire, however, employees must pursue the clinical license applicable to their degree; LCSW, LPC, or LMFT.

Crisis Intervention Specialist II Licensure

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), required at the date of hire.

Pay Range

USD $41.24 - USD $58.96 /Hr.

Our Commitment to Health and Equal Opportunity

Our Legacy is good for health for Our People, Our Patients, Our Communities, Our World. Above all, we will do the right thing.

If you are passionate about our mission and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply - even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can grow and succeed.

Legacy Health is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion or creed, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

To learn more about our employee benefits click here: www.legacyhealth.org/For-Health-Professionals/careers/benefiting-you

From Legacy Health's job posting, checked 9 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

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About Legacy Health

Legacy Health is a nonprofit health system based in Portland, Oregon, with six hospitals plus Randall Children's Hospital, about 70 (source: Legacy Health, Who We Are) clinics and more than 14,000 (source: Legacy Health, Who We Are) employees in Oregon and southwest Washington. Source: Legacy Health, Who We Are

Based in Portland, ORHires in Oregon, WashingtonPay on its listings: 85.3% of its open jobs state an hourly rate

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