Crisis Center Project Coordinator

Alachua County•Gainesville, FL

17h

About The Position

This is responsible professional work for the County’s Crisis Center, providing crisis intervention counseling, supervising and training Crisis Center Care Team members, and developing professional relationships with outside agencies. The employee supervises and guides professional and paraprofessional volunteers and graduate students, assists with case management, counsels clients, and helps maintain a continuous community suicide prevention and crisis intervention program. Work is performed under the direction of a higher-level supervisor and reviewed through conferences, reports, and observation of results. This is an emergency-essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, employees in this classification are required to work. The role includes after-hours on-call supervision and crisis services by phone and mobile outreach, with regular driving to crisis calls at any time of day or night and to offsite training or outreach events. A master’s degree in a qualifying mental health field is required, along with eventual Florida licensure and, if not already a registered intern, timely intern registration. A valid Florida driver license and an acceptable motor vehicle record are required. Candidates must pass a pre-employment drug screen and a Level 2 background check, and must be screened through the Florida Clearinghouse.

Requirements

Master’s degree in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, clinical social work, or a closely related mental health field that qualifies the applicant for licensure under Chapter 491, Florida Statutes. Applicants within six months of meeting the education requirement may be considered for trainee status.
Obtain licensure in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, or clinical social work within four years of employment.
If not currently a registered intern, obtain an intern registration number in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, or clinical social work within six months of employment.
Valid Florida driver license and a motor vehicle record meeting Alachua County policy #6-7. A record with more than three moving traffic infractions, three or more at-fault motor vehicle accidents, a combination of these, a DUI conviction or pending charge, or a violation of applicable federal or state standards does not meet the minimum qualifications.
Successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen and a Level 2 background check specified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Complete screening through the Florida Clearinghouse.
Thorough knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations relating to community crisis intervention programs.
Considerable knowledge of current techniques, principles, and practices of crisis intervention and suicide prevention programs.
Skill in using personal computers, including word-processing programs.
Ability to work with and counsel suicidal or distressed clients.
Ability to function in a team setting and supervise and appraise volunteers and students.
Ability to coordinate and assist in effective and efficient implementation of policies and procedures.
Ability to react calmly and quickly in emergencies and coordinate and supervise volunteers and students in emergency situations.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and make public presentations to community organizations.
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with assisting agencies, County departments and employees, and the general public.

Responsibilities

Provide supervision and clinical training to graduate students toward certification or licensure.
Meet weekly with staff and volunteers in individual and group conferences to analyze case problems and improve diagnostic and clinical counseling skills.
Assist with case management review of case records for each contact in the crisis intervention program.
Provide clinical therapy and counseling to individuals, couples, and families, and refer clients to appropriate community agencies or services when appropriate.
Provide after-hours on-call supervision for Crisis Center workers.
Provide counseling services on the crisis phone line.
Develop and maintain effective liaison with community mental health and other assisting agencies.
Serve as the CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) Coordinator for North Central Florida, providing training and crisis-situation role playing for 911 operators, hostage negotiation teams, and other law enforcement agencies.
Assist with coordination and supervision of Survivors of Suicide services and projects in Alachua County, including the Suicide Memory Garden at Cofrin Park.
Inform community organizations about Crisis Center suicide prevention and crisis intervention techniques, procedures, and services.
Consult with staff concerning client and volunteer services and coordinate and assist with implementing program policies and procedures.
Ensure proper coding of statistical information and monitor center activities.
Provide consulting and clinical services to County staff and administrators in support of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Coordinate activities, groups, and internal projects supporting the personal and professional development of volunteers, graduate students, and staff.
Provide crisis intervention services through the mobile crisis outreach team.
Drive a County and/or personal vehicle regularly to crisis calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and to offsite training and outreach events.
Perform assigned duties with professionalism and a sense of urgency.
Provide positive customer service and support organizational culture by aligning decisions with County core values.