Crisis Clinician - Tumwater Fire Department Community Responder

Olympic Health & Recovery Services (OHRS) is seeking a behavioral health clinician to join our new Community Based Crisis Team (CBCT). The CBCT is a partnership between OHRS and Tumwater Fire Department, serving the most vulnerable in our communities. We are a dynamic and rapidly growing organization serving the most vulnerable in our communities. We need more team members to join us in our mission to provide access to an effective, reliable safety net of behavioral health crisis and recovery support services throughout our region. Whether you are experienced in Crisis Services or newer to the field we are looking for applicants who are adaptable to change, flexible, have a positive attitude, and are willing to learn.

This position serves as the Mental Health Care Provider (MHCP), partnering with a Peer Specialist, providing community based interventions. The CBCT work in coordination with emergency responders to respond to calls with individuals experiencing a crisis. The CBCT performs crisis intervention to reduce hospitalizations, and effectively link individuals with on-going social support services.  

CBCT cultivate contacts and establish and maintain positive, effective, collaborative working relationships with Fire Department personnel and agencies, emergency medical response agencies, law enforcement, court systems, community leaders, public health departments, state, federal and local agencies, homeless shelters, community services and faith-based groups in an effort to care for and assist individuals with chronic behavioral health disorders in need of social services.

Salary Range: $27.72 - $36.45 Hourly, Based on education and experience as well as parity within the organization. 

This position is eligible for $2.50/HR special duty pay as well as shift differential ($1/HR evenings, $3/HR nights and weekends)

Available Schedules: 
Wednesday – Saturday, 3PM – 1AM

Join us in our mission to provide access to an effective, reliable safety net of behavioral health crisis and recovery support services throughout our region.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: 
•    Completes risk assessments to determine if caller is at risk for suicide, homicide, or who may need immediate response, which may include referrals to Law Enforcement, Designated Crisis Responder (DCR), to other referral source to maintain their safety or the safety of others. 
•    Provides telephone triage services to individuals requesting assistance or third party referral sources to provide community stabilization services to individuals in crisis.  
•    Conducts follow up phone calls as requested and appropriate. 
•    In collaboration with clients and their support system, develops stabilization and safety plans. 
•    Responds to referrals and provides mobile crisis intervention and stabilization services in varied environments in the community. 
•    Provides mobile crisis intervention services in varied environments in the community.
•    De-escalates as needed for community outreaches.
•    When in the community, does not physically interact with clients in the event of assaultive behavior, but works to maintain safety in accordance with the principles of crisis de-escalation and safety training. 
•    Respond to requests for information about available services for individuals who are homeless, individuals with behavioral health disorders, and those with other human and social service needs. Make referrals to appropriate service providers and coordinate service delivery. 
•    Assist the target population served with obtaining basic resources such as shelter, food, medical services, behavioral health treatment, jobs and other social and human services as needed. 
•    Provide outreach, engagement and liaison support to those people that are seen on a recurring basis which may require short term intensive case management. Facilitate services for high-need individuals across all involved systems of care. 
•    Promote best practices in treatment approaches, support systems, and interventions. Meet with and interview contacts, families, and other care providers to assess needs and eligibility of services. Advocate needs of contacts within and outside system; liaise between contact, caregivers, and service providers. Provide client-level and system-wide troubleshooting and advocacy. 
•    Consult with other agency professionals on difficult cases. 
•    Develop a network of working relationships with Thurston County Jail, Mason County Jail, Nisqually Jail, behavioral health treatment providers, emergency housing providers, Lacey Veterans Services Hub, Community Lifeline, other Law Enforcement agencies and social service providers. 
•    Establish and maintain rapport with the population served. 
•    Provide information, consultation, and referral. 
•    Assist with relocations. 
•    Monitor contact behaviors and progress, provide assistance toward attaining pre-determined goals, and schedule appointments. 
•    Develop and recommend procedures for identifying and screening people with social service needs. 
•    Maintains familiarity with and handles client information in accordance with Federal Regulations (42 CFR, Part 2 and 45 CFR), and other applicable laws pertaining to confidentiality of client and staff information. 
•    Maintains physical security of confidential materials and assigned Agency property. 
•    Demonstrates proficiency in utilization of electronic medical record system. 
•    Maintains timely and accurate documentation in accordance with Washington State law, and current best practices. 
•    Communicates effectively with co-workers in dynamic environment. 
•    Supports Crisis and ITA Team on program deliverables including Provider compliance documentation and encounter tracking. 
•    Demonstrates professional customer service and phone etiquette. 
•    Demonstrates the OHRS mission, purpose, values and beliefs in everyday language and contact with the internal and external stakeholders. 
•    Performs other duties as assigned. 
Alternative Response / CBCT: 
•    Follow-up with identified individuals in an effort to bridge gaps between law enforcement and/or emergency medical contacts and social service providers. 

BENEFITS:
TMBH-ASO/OHRS provides comprehensive benefits for full-time employees including medical/dental/vision plan options (many with no employee paid monthly premium depending on plan choice, and dependent coverage options), and life insurance and disability insurance options. Eligible employees participate in WA State PERS retirement plans and employees may elect additional pre and post tax deferred compensation retirement options. Employees receive a PTO package earning a minimum of 140 hours annually and 12 paid holidays.  Other tax deferred options include Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).  
OHRS is an approved Public Student Loan Forgiveness employer. We pay the fees for required DOH licenses for the position, and we offer annual professional development funds. Find more information at www.tmbhcareers.org. 

QUALIFICATONS: 

• Bachelor's Degree in psychology, social work, or a related area.  Combination of experience and education in behavioral health coursework may be substituted on a year for year basis.  
• Two (2) years of behavioral health experience within a social service or a closely related environment preferred 
• Current Washington State Driver's License, proof of insurance, and satisfactory drivers record required when driving fleet vehicles or responding to outreaches in the community. 
• Qualifies as an Agency Affiliated Counselor 
• Satisfactory criminal background clearances and excluded party sanctions 
• Co-Responders may be subject to additional national background check clearances and must be approved for access to Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS).  

SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• The ability to work in active, ongoing partnership with a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) to deliver safe, coordinated, and effective crisis assessment, intervention, and stabilization services.
• Ability to collaborate across distinct roles (clinical and Peer) by maintaining clear boundaries, sharing relevant observations, and integrating clinical crisis intervention strategies with lived-experience support from the CPS.

• Ability to work in high stress, high demand environment while communicating clearly and effectively  

• Ability to use Electronic Health Record System for clinical documentation 

• Ability to use web based phone system for crisis line response 

• Ability to provide clear documentation of assessments and dispositions 

• Ability to utilize principles of crisis intervention and de-escalation while maintaining strong customer service skills, and empathy. 

• Ability to remain calm and professional during escalated situations. 

• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and respectfully manage differences, opposing perspectives, opinions, and interests 

• Ability to remain flexible and adaptable to change 

• Strong critical thinking skills, ability to conceptualize and implement creative solutions 

• Promote and champion the values of partnership, teamwork, compassion and integrity in all dealings within and outside of OHRS 

• Knowledge of presentation of behavioral health related behaviors 

• Ability to utilize principles of motivational interviewing and additional evidence based practices 

• Ability to work as a team and with assigned partners 

• Actively develop familiarity with systems and community resources. 

• Knowledge of conflict resolution principles, de-escalation, and problem-solving techniques. 

 Alternative Response/CBCT:

• Ability to utilize radio and communicate with dispatch, first responders and law enforcement officers. 

• Ability to utilize CAD system. 

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Mobile outreach is conducted in the community including residential facilities, individual’s homes, and in an office environment.  May respond to community referrals at hospitals, jails, and inpatient facilities. 

• Regular use of computer, telephone and radios required.  Computer usage may be in the officer or in the community locations.  

•      This position will expose you to conversations about suicide, mental health issues and staff responding to crisis situations. 

• Outreach is performed in outdoor settings and subject to weather conditions. 

• Outreach to individuals who may be living in the community, sanctioned and non-sanctioned camps, and in shelters. 

•      Often performed under physically demanding, stressful, and environmentally diverse conditions, and requires the ability to adjust quickly to changing priorities and demands. 

•      Regular, on-site, predictable attendance required. 

• Service responsibilities require on-call availability at certain times, including availability during normal business hours and after hours/weekends/holidays as needed. 

• Regular use of fleet vehicles required for mobile outreach.   

• Transportation of clients may be provided in a fleet vehicle.  

• Moderate physical exertion is required.  May be required to sit, stand, squat, walk short to moderate distances on uneven terrain, walk up and down stairs, lift or move boxes/equipment weighing up to 25 lbs.  

Alternative Response/CBCT:

• Works in emergency responder setting with fire department and law enforcement personnel.