Crisis Assessment Specialist

CommonSpirit Health • Lakewood, CO

3d

About The Position

The Crisis Assessment Specialist provides timely assessment and referral services, evaluating clients in consultation with emergency department personnel, psychiatrists, clinicians, and attending physicians and offering clinically appropriate disposition recommendations. Assessments may be conducted face-to-face or by telehealth. The role also responds to patient and family complaints, maintains assessment records, and performs statistical analysis to support effective crisis intervention.

The specialist assesses suicide, violence, and elopement potential; applies state mental health statutes and criteria related to involuntary holds; and helps implement referral and resource recommendations to support continuity of care. In potentially dangerous situations, the specialist uses low-level interventions and verbal de-escalation to help avoid harm to patients and staff. The role requires collaboration with diverse healthcare professionals, sound clinical judgment, and a compassionate, calm approach during crises.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Counseling, Social Work, Nursing, or a related behavioral health field.
• Two years of experience in direct behavioral health clinical care.
• Competence with DSM diagnostic criteria and treatment planning.
• Clinical and ethical professionalism, conflict resolution, and critical thinking skills.
• Adequate and available transportation to respond to various evaluation sites.
• Current license in the state of employment in an accepted discipline: Clinical Psychologist (PSY), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CHMC; Utah only), Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (RN CNS), Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (RN NP), Psych Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), and/or Licensed Addictions Counselor (LAC).
• Certain associate or certified licenses are allowable when proper supervision is required and can be provided by hospital staff: Certified Social Worker (CSW), Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor (ACHMC), Associate-level Mental Health Therapy License, or Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (Utah only).

Nice To Haves

• At least one year of crisis experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct face-to-face and/or telehealth triage evaluations.
• Consult with emergency department personnel, psychiatrists, clinicians, attending physicians, managed care representatives, and clients to develop safe and clinically appropriate disposition recommendations.
• Provide quality and timely assessment and referral services.
• Assess suicide, violence, and elopement potential.
• Apply knowledge of state mental health statutes and criteria pertaining to involuntary holds.
• Assist with implementation of referral and resource recommendations to ensure continuity of patient care.
• Respond to patient and family complaints.
• Maintain and manage assessment records and perform statistical analysis.
• Respond to potentially dangerous situations with low-level interventions and verbal de-escalation to avoid harm to patients and staff.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time