CRISIS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Cary Medical Center•Caribou, ME

1d•$21 - $31•Onsite

About The Position

Provides emergency evaluations and crisis stabilization primarily for patients in the Emergency Department, while collaborating with the Social Worker, ED nursing staff and ED physician to establish appropriate level of care needs. The Crisis Worker evaluates case situations, interviewing patient and potentially family members to determine the nature and degree of relevant concerns, such as family and social background pertinent to diagnosis and treatment. Provides assistance in case management in coordinating patient discharge planning. Addresses social determinants that may lead to future returns to the ED and/or noncompliance, provides follow up on compliance with recommended treatment plans. We take pride in our workplace culture — so much so that our employees have voted us one of the 2026 Best Places to Work in Maine for the sixth year in a row. At Cary, you’ll be part of a supportive, collaborative team where your contributions truly matter.

Requirements

High School Diploma or G.E.D preferred
1-2 years of Mental Health related work experience.
Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician certification or documented plans to obtain within 1 year of hire.

Responsibilities

Provides crisis work services to patients primarily in the Emergency Department, and potentially to patients throughout other departments in the hospital.
Evaluates case situations and presents information to the Social Worker to assist in level of care needs.
Collaborates with hospitalists and inpatient case managers for admissions/medical consults being held in the ED.
Assists in blue paper process for applicable patients.
Performs psycho-social screenings of all high-risk patients in the ED addressing food insecurity, substance use, and homelessness. Assists in discharge planning related to these needs.
Assists in discharge planning to coordinate patient access to Durable Medical Equipment such as home oxygen, hospital beds, commodes, etc.
Assists in discharge planning to help establish patients with Primary Care Providers, outpatient specialties and home health agencies.
Connects patients to community resources.
Coordinates transportation for discharging or transferring patients to other facilities.
Works with outside agencies like DHHS, APS, CPS through things like guardianship issues, potentially coordinating rapid response meetings.
Establish and manage working on psych/crisis care plans.
Prioritizes a safe environment for all patients.
Understands the needs of the elderly and provides discharge planning to nursing homes, boarding homes, and rehabilitation services.
Must communicate effectively, have good organizational skills and a working knowledge of the current standards of practice.
Coordinates patient care activities with other departments contributing to patient care.
Ensures that care is delivered with respect for the individual's rights and preferences.
Maintains high standards of patient care using professional specialty standards of care and practice.
Displays good understanding of psychodynamics of all age groups, and treatment strategies for common health problems.
Confers with other departments and management staff before instituting new policies and procedures that affect them.
Maintains regular communications with appropriate staff in the care and management of their patients.
Organizes interdisciplinary team meetings for patients when appropriate to best coordinate their care.
Helps patients modify their attitudes and patterns of behavior by increasing self-understanding.
Provides on-the-spot crisis management for patients who feel and display out of control behavior or need help through a crisis, i.e., loss of a friend or family member.
Maintains availability to staff for mental debriefing with difficult cases.
Keeps abreast of new techniques and counseling strategies, attend workshops as needed.
Maintains current knowledge about variable resources in the community.
Has ability to set priorities on current caseload and services.
Responds timely for crisis call when in hospital.
Participates in department meetings to solve problems and improve processes.
Is knowledgeable of department policies and procedures and participates in their updates.
Develops appropriate policies and procedures related to social services to assure quality care is provided to patients and to meet regulatory and accreditation requirements.
Helps to identify patient/family related ethical issues with referral to the Ethics Committee.
Participates on hospital and medical staff committees when requested.
Collaborates effectively with all members of the health care team.
Acts as a liaison with community mental health programs as needed.
Records pertinent social data and information on patients being managed.
Assumes responsibility for own self-development.
Complies with local, state and federal laws and regulations.