Mobile Children’s Crisis Clinician
Essential Functions:
To provide mobile crisis intervention services to children and adolescents in the schools, community, and clinic setting. The clinician will meet face to face the child/adolescent in crisis within a maximum of two hours’ time. They will see children/adolescents across all disabilities, and will be able to help create and implement a crisis plan for the parents/guardians and other appropriate people and situations involved. They will help parents/guardians navigate the local services available in the community. They will work with the family, with a goal of finding community supports and natural resources to divert the child/adolescent from a hospital placement or residential treatment. The mobile crisis worker will work with the family for up to 30 days at a time. The crisis intervention clinician is expected to exercise considerable independence and autonomy in day to day decisions making related to the delivery of services to a diverse population across all disabilities. He/She will report directly to the Director of Behavioral Health Services.
This position is classified exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Provide face to face and phone contact with children, parents/guardians and emergency and
school personnel when a child is in crisis.
Assess support needs and strengths of the family.
Have a working knowledge of community resources and contact information for school, emergency, and family.
Create individualized service plans to help stabilize a family/child in crisis, regardless of disability.
Keep abreast of proven practices for interventions in families with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, IDD, and mental health issues.
Assures compliance with agency policy, confidentiality, clients rights, licensure regulations and Medicaid regulations as applicable. Meets agency standards for staff productivity.
Maintain effective relationships with coworkers, consumers, and staff from other child serving agencies based on courtesy, compassion and respect.
Is responsible for other duties as assigned, consistent with Board policies and procedures and with program and client needs.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
This position requires a thorough knowledge of principles, practices and methods of mental health counseling and case management; ability to work effectively with clients, co-workers and service providers from the community; knowledge of crisis intervention and emergency techniques; thorough knowledge of child development and knowledge of child-serving community agencies such as school systems, social services, public health and private providers; ability to create and help implement Crisis Stabilization Plans; knowledge of and adherence to basic ethics appropriate for the helping relationship; the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; and demonstrated good judgment and creativity is a must.
Additional Requirements:
Possession of a current, valid Virginia driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
Minimum Education and Experience:
Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia as an LPC or LCSW, or eligible to be licensed upon completion of residency and testing. Experience with families, children, mental health, substance use disorders, Intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Other Information:
Equipment: Telephone, copy machine, vehicle, PC, word processing software, cell phone, and electronic signature pads. Must be able to work in an Electronic Medical Record.
Work Environment: General office environment with normal lighting levels, temperature, air quality, ventilation and noise levels. Community settings, facilities, individual’s homes with environment as determined by occupant.
Work Location: 463 E. Washington, Harrisonburg, Va., individuals’ homes, facilities, and or community settings.
Work Hazards: Minimal Hazards associated with community and home based services.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, regular office hours; some evenings as required during crisis. Additional hours as needed to perform job requirements.