Crisis Services Clinician - Dispatch (Swing Shift)

Crisis Connections•Seattle, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Crisis Services Clinician is a qualified Mental Health Professional who works across Crisis Services, Dispatch Services, and Professional Services. The clinician provides risk-assessment oversight, clinical decision-making, and consultation and coaching to Crisis Support Specialists and Crisis Intervention Specialists during live calls on the Regional Crisis Lines. The role leads crisis-intervention planning and coordinates with staff to provide emotional support, assess safety, connect callers with appropriate levels of care, and refer them to community resources. The aim is to stabilize people in crisis, reduce the likelihood of future crises, and minimize law-enforcement and emergency-room involvement when possible. The clinician oversees phone-room activities, monitors service delivery, supports quality assurance, makes clinical decisions, and debriefs challenging calls. In Dispatch Services, the clinician assesses calls, consults with first responders, identifies resources, and facilitates connections to crisis services. Professional Services work includes screening hospital referrals for inpatient medical necessity, completing authorizations and documentation, and providing consultation and linkages to community services. The position is in person in Seattle, Washington, and is scheduled Sunday through Thursday from 4 PM to midnight. The stated pay rate is $37.24 per hour, and the role is represented by OPEIU. New hires complete onsite training, online modules, and shadowing before beginning scheduled shifts. Employees are expected to maintain their licensure and continuing education, complete at least 12 hours of approved training per full-time equivalent, and attend relevant staff meetings. The position requires sitting or standing for extended periods, using a headset or earphones, and working across multiple software platforms in a moderately noisy and distracting environment.

Requirements

Meet Washington State Mental Health Professional status requirements under WAC 246-341-0515 and RCW 71.05 and 71.34.
Hold an active Washington credential or license qualifying for MHP status, such as LICSW or LSWAIC; LMHC or LMHCA; LMFT or LMFTA; psychiatric ARNP; psychiatrist; psychologist or licensed psychological associate; a physician assistant working under a psychiatrist as defined in RCW 18.71A.010; or a licensed agency-affiliated counselor under RCW 18.19.210.
Have experience working with individuals in crisis.
Have excellent verbal, written, and typing skills.
Be able to work effectively with multidisciplinary clinical staff in a fast-paced environment.
Complete the required timed computer-skills assessment.
Maintain current licensure and meet continuing-education requirements applicable to the credential.
Complete required new-hire training, including an onsite listening shift, online modules, and onsite shadowing shifts.
Complete at least 12 hours of approved training per full-time equivalent and attend relevant staff meetings.
Be able to sit or stand for lengthy periods, wear a headset or earphones while taking calls, use multiple IT/software platforms at once, and function amid moderate noise and distraction.
Demonstrate reliability, clear communication, respect, collaboration, adaptability, resilience, and effective problem-solving.

Nice To Haves

Independent clinical licensure such as LMHC, LMFT, LICSW, or ARNP is preferred for supervisory or managerial roles.
Additional certifications in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, or trauma-informed care are strongly encouraged.
Call-center experience is preferred.
Telephone assessment or helpline experience is preferred.
Experience in the public mental-health systems of King, Clark, Chelan, Douglas, Pierce, Okanogan, Klickitat, Grant, or Skamania County is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direct oversight, monitoring, coaching, and feedback to Crisis Support Specialists and Crisis Intervention Specialists during scheduled shifts.
Support staff in assessing behavioral-health and suicide risk, de-escalating crisis situations, safety planning, and applying appropriate clinical interventions and community resources.
Develop crisis-intervention plans and coordinate emotional support, safety assessment, referrals, and connections to appropriate levels of care.
Ensure appropriate screening and linkage to services such as Next Day Appointments, mobile crisis services, geriatric assessment, Designated Crisis Responders, and other outreach resources.
Follow agency policies and procedures and ensure calls are accurately and completely documented in the electronic health record.
Use trauma-informed, nonjudgmental communication and recovery-oriented services to de-escalate high-stress contacts.
Assess calls to the King County Crisis and Commitment public line, evaluate risk of harm, and provide compassionate support and crisis intervention.
Use the King County Client Lookup System and other electronic systems to identify available supports and resources for callers and clients.
Complete Sheena's Law referrals, contact people of concern or facilitate crisis services, notify relevant public mental-health agencies, and document these interactions.
Answer calls from first responders, gather information about people in crisis, offer less restrictive options, and establish warm connections to appropriate resources.
Screen hospital referrals for medical necessity using LOCUS and CALOCUS and complete required authorizations and documentation within established timelines.
Refer retrospective reviews and length-of-stay extension requests to the appropriate lead, and assist the Crisis Services Coordinator during peak periods or upon request.
Provide consultation to business-line callers on access to the mental-health system, crisis intervention, suicide intervention, and related topics.
Complete and document Electronic Client Lookup System searches in accordance with access policies, and use electronic health and county communication systems to coordinate care.
Maintain accurate and complete records throughout quality-assurance processes and collaborate respectfully with clinical staff and paraprofessionals.
Maintain current licensure and continuing education, complete required professional development, and attend relevant staff meetings.
Contribute to a collaborative and respectful work environment, communicate effectively, seek supervision as appropriate, and proactively address workplace challenges.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage, including an option with 100% employer-paid coverage for certain plans and coverage tiers.
Annual wage increases.
Generous paid time off.
12 paid holidays.
Discount on ORCA transit pass.
Free parking.
Growth opportunities.
Self-care tools and weekly check-ins with a supervisor.
Voluntary benefits.
Short-term and long-term disability.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
403B retirement plan.