Crisis Specialist

Position Title: Crisis Specialist

Program/Location: Mobile Crisis Team/ San Luis Obispo

Position Summary

The Crisis Specialist provides compassionate, person-centered mobile crisis services, to individuals of all ages experiencing mental health, substance use, or co-occurring behavioral health crises throughout San Luis Obispo County. Guided by the mission and philosophy of Transitions Mental Health Association, the Crisis Specialist delivers trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, culturally responsive, and harm-reduction-focused services that promote hope, dignity, safety, and self-determination. Working collaboratively with individuals, families, Crisis Dispatch, community partners, first responders, healthcare providers, and the broader behavioral health system, the Crisis Specialist conducts behavioral health crisis intervention, assessments, provides de-escalation and short-term stabilization, develops collaborative safety plans, evaluates the need for higher levels of care, facilitates connections to ongoing supports, and provides required follow-up after crisis contacts. Crisis Specialists who are appropriately trained and designated may conduct evaluations for involuntary detention under applicable Welfare and Institutions Code sections 5150 and 5585.

Hours/ Salary Employee Perks:

Full-time, non-exempt position. 40 hours per week. Anticipated hiring range is $44.00-$45.00. Includes a generous individual benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life, 403b retirement (with up to a 5% employer match) paid vacation/holiday time, paid sick time and a variety of helpful employee perks as well. (*Full Salary Schedule $44.00-$48.00 per hour).

Employee Perks:

A few of our helpful employee benefits include membership discounts to various local fitness centers. We offer years of service gift cards to businesses of your choice. We offer gift cards for walking, biking, or carpooling to work as well as 20% discount for shopping at our Growing Grounds Downtown Store/Nursey/ Farm. We host two employee appreciation events for employees and their families yearly. We practice Trauma Informed Care Principles, Guidelines for Collaborative Conversations, and encourage the use of pronouns. We mindfully promote equality, respect and diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and all the fascinating characteristics that make us different! TMHA is also a pet friendly workplace (upon approval)!

Organization Description:

Transitions – Mental Health Association is a leading non-profit agency committed to providing comprehensive mental health services and support to individuals and families by inspiring hope, growth, recovery and wellness in our communities. TMHA has decades of experience with teams of compassionate staff. TMHA is a driving force in improving mental health and wellness in our communities and a supportive and inclusive work environment that values diversity and individual contributions.

Mission Statement:

Transitions Mental Health Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating stigma and promoting recovery and wellness for people with mental illness through work, housing, community and family support services.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide timely, compassionate, trauma-informed, and person-centered crisis intervention services to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises in community settings.
• Conduct comprehensive behavioral health crisis assessments, including assessment of risk, safety, mental health symptoms, substance use, supports, and immediate needs. When appropriately trained and designated, evaluate criteria for involuntary detention pursuant to applicable Welfare and Institutions Code sections 5150 and 5585.
• Provide short-term stabilization through evidence-informed de-escalation, collaborative safety planning, problem solving, engagement, and person-centered crisis intervention.
• Identify and support the least restrictive appropriate disposition based on the individual’s needs, preferences, safety, available supports, and clinical presentation.
• Coordinate with Crisis Dispatch and other system partners when a higher level of care is indicated, including communication necessary to support psychiatric evaluation, placement, hospital coordination, transportation, or other appropriate disposition.
• Facilitate referrals and linkage to behavioral health, substance use treatment, medical care, housing, social services, peer and recovery supports, and other community resources, based on individual needs and preferences.
• Provide required post-crisis follow-up by telephone or in person, as assigned and in accordance with program, County, and Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis requirements, to support continuity of care and linkage to ongoing services.
• Provide information and support regarding substance use, harm reduction, treatment options, recovery supports, and community-based resources based on individual needs and preferences.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant documentation in the electronic health record and other designated systems and complete required Mobile Crisis screening, assessment, disposition, safety planning, follow-up, data, and other documentation, in accordance with County, DHCS and TMHA Requirements.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with Crisis Dispatch, hospitals, emergency responders, law enforcement, EMS, behavioral health providers, community agencies, family/support persons when appropriate, and other system partners to support coordinated and effective crisis response.
• Participate in communication and handoff processes with Crisis Dispatch regarding response status, disposition, pending needs, safety concerns, and other information necessary for continuity of operations.
• Maintain awareness of personal, partner, team, and environmental safety during community-based responses and follow established procedures regarding field safety, consultation, emergency response, and situations requiring additional resources.
• Maintain required training, competencies, certifications, and County designation applicable to assigned responsibilities.
• Promote, encourage and maintain trauma-informed practices in all services and activities. Practice and promote, both individually and in team meetings, TMHA’s Guidelines for Collaborative Communication in order to facilitate clear, empathetic and person-centered communication.
• Promote person-centered, culturally responsive, recovery-oriented, and harm-reduction practices in all services and activities.
• Attend required staff meetings, case consultations, debriefings, training, and other program meetings.
• Assume other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Mobile Crisis Team Lead.

Job Environment

• Work is primarily community and field based and may occur in residences, hospitals, healthcare settings, shelters, public spaces, law enforcement or first-responder settings, behavioral health facilities, and other locations where behavioral health crises occur.
• Daily and frequent use of computers, mobile devices, electronic health records, and other technology for documentation, communication, coordination, and program operations.
• Services are provided twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week. Work schedules will be developed in collaboration with all team members and management based on program needs and may include day, evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday shifts to ensure appropriate community coverage.
• Frequent driving that will include the transportation of TMHA clients.
• Moderate to substantial physical activity. May include moving or lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Involves moderate risks that require safety precautions and the risk of exposure to potentially intense situations.

Supplemental Information:

This Job Description is a guideline reflecting the primary activities associated with this position; it is not intended to be an all-encompassing list of responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions. TMHA retains the right to assign other related duties; change or modify this job description at any time.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Must meet the qualifications for an eligible Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis provider type under DHCS BHIN 23-025 appropriate to the scope of the Crisis Specialist position. Qualifying pathways may include current California licensure, registration, waiver, certification, or other applicable qualification as a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, professional clinical counselor, psychologist, Registered Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse, Psychiatric Technician, Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist (MHRS), or another DHCS-recognized provider type appropriate to the position.

An MHRS must have a baccalaureate degree and four years of experience in a mental health setting as specified in California regulation. Up to two years of graduate professional education may be substituted for the experience requirement on a year-for-year basis. Up to two years of post-associate arts clinical experience may be substituted for the required educational experience, in addition to the requirement of four years of experience in a mental health setting.

• Must successfully complete all State-mandated Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis training, TMHA field orientation and competency requirements, and at least ten (10) hours of annual position-relevant training as required by DHCS, San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health, and TMHA.
• Crisis Specialists assigned to conduct WIC sections 5150/5585 evaluations must complete the required 5150/5585 training and obtain and maintain appropriate County designation.
• Experience providing behavioral health crisis intervention, assessment, de-escalation, or other high-acuity behavioral health services required.
• Must be available to work assigned shifts in a 24/7 program, which may include days, evenings, awake overnights, weekends, and holidays, as well as field response, required meetings and training, and other in-person activities based on program needs and supervisor direction.
• Must be proficient with computers and able to learn and effectively use electronic health records, Mobile Crisis documentation tools, mobile devices, email, and other technology required for field operations while accurately documenting time-sensitive information, prioritizing multiple urgent needs, and completing required documentation within established timelines.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate communication, care coordination, and effective handoffs with Crisis Dispatch, team members, supervisors, system partners, and service providers.
• Strong interpersonal skills, collaborative work style and strong oral, written, and communication skills.
• Well defined organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and flexibly
• Ability to handle intense situations, display good judgment and decision-making skills, and remain calm and clearheaded under pressure.
• Able to work effectively with a variety of people and personality types regardless of age, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or socio-economic level
• Ability to possess and maintain good physical and mental health.
• Ability to work well within a team and maintain a professional, respectful attitude in the workplace.
• Ability to be willing to work with supervisor oversight and direction. Ability to recognize when consultation or additional support is needed, seek consultation when appropriate, and respond constructively to feedback.
• Attendance is an essential function of this job that requires face-to-face interaction with clients and/or other employees.
• Ability to mindfully promote equality and respect diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin and all of the other fascinating characteristics that make us different.
• Demonstrate the ability to successfully deliver culturally responsive services
• Knowledge of the various dimensions of diversity, including mental health, gender, race and ethnicity.