Crisis Intervention Specialist

The Opportunity Alliance • Portland, ME

1d • $23 - $25 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Crisis Intervention Specialist is a professional social work position for Cumberland County Crisis Response program (CCCR). This position provides direct service and immediate intervention as identified and appropriate to the provision of crisis intervention and stabilization services; both in the field and through the Crisis Telephone Response system. All work is performed with the goal and intention of maintaining a trauma informed, trauma sensitive, and recovery-oriented framework.

Requirements

• Associate degree or higher
• Proficiency with technology
• Must be able to successfully pass a criminal background check
• Driver’s license and a vehicle
• No experience necessary – we provide full training!
• An Associate’s Degree and two years of relevant experience is required. Relevant experience is identified as follows: work performed in a behavioral health or human services setting, can also be as a paid volunteer or as a student/intern and includes crisis work, child protective services, warm line volunteer, residential care, case management, special education or work with people with developmental disabilities. One year of relevant experience is defined as; the equivalent of 1,200 hours of work, volunteerism, or internship or a combination of these areas.
• MHRT/CSP certification or the ability to obtain MHRT/CSP certification within 30 days of employment (on-site training is provided) is required.
• Technical literacy, electronic documentation, solid oral and written communication skills and strong organizational skills, and flexible schedule are required.
• Demonstrated competence with critical thinking especially as it relates to assessing information, ethical decision making, and problem solving is required.
• Must demonstrate ability to work across differing systems, within a team framework, which encompass different rules, governing policies and leadership styles across cultural perspectives.
• Must be able to demonstrate a belief that recovery is possible and maintain agency perspectives of recovery and treatment that is guided by the needs of the client.
• Flexible schedule is required.
• Demonstrated computer proficiency in Microsoft Office, E-mail, and the Internet required.
• Must be able to successfully pass a criminal background, child protective service check & sex offender check.
• Must not be on the state or federal suspension and disbarment list.
• Normal office conditions such as sitting, with occasional standing, walking, reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, typing and lifting up to 10 pounds.
• Driving may be necessary to attend meetings and trainings and for the occasional need to meet with clients offsite and within the program service area. This may include transportation of clients or driving to agency location to complete work. A good driving record is required.

Nice To Haves

• An Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, human development, social sciences, Health/Human Services, Social Work, or Law Enforcement and two to three years of relevant experience is preferred.
• Technical literacy, knowledge of DSM-V, solid oral and written communication, strong organizational skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Respond to and support adults, children, and families in mental health crises
• Engage, de-escalate, assess needs, and develop collaborative action steps
• Provide direct service and intervention in person, by phone, or through electronic media
• Attends staff meetings as needed to ensure continuity of care
• Participates in other meetings as needed
• Establishes and maintains positive work relationships
• Engages fully as a member of the team
• Proactively demonstrates constructive conflict resolution skills
• Employs helpful self-care tools that recognize and safely attend to issues of secondary traumatization

Benefits

• Generous paid time off accrual
• 9 paid holidays per calendar year and up to 3 floating holidays per calendar year
• Excellent medical benefits at very reasonable cost
• Dental and Vision insurance options
• Agency paid basic life insurance and STD & LTD disability insurances
• 403(b) retirement with a generous agency match (all employees are eligible)
• Tuition Reimbursement – offered once per year through an application process
• The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) is a qualified employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree