Crisis Services Clinician - Dispatch Pod (Day Shift)

Crisis Connections•Seattle, WA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Crisis Connections is hiring an in-person Crisis Services Clinician in Seattle, Washington. The clinician works across Crisis Services, Dispatch Services, and Professional Services, providing clinical oversight, consultation, coaching, risk assessment, and decision-making support to Crisis Support Specialists and Crisis Intervention Specialists during live calls. The role helps callers receive emotional support, safety assessment, crisis intervention, referrals to appropriate levels of care, and connections to community resources. Its goals include stabilizing people in crisis, reducing the likelihood of future crises, and minimizing law enforcement and emergency room involvement when possible. The clinician oversees phone-room activities, monitors service delivery, supports quality assurance, makes clinical decisions, debriefs challenging calls, and collaborates with clinical staff and paraprofessionals. Work includes crisis-line oversight and coaching; dispatch assessments and coordination with first responders; hospital diversion and authorization screening; and professional consultation and service linkage. The position uses trauma-informed, non-judgmental, and recovery-oriented approaches and requires thorough documentation in relevant electronic systems. The regular schedule is Friday through Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time. New hires attend onsite training and shadowing shifts before beginning their scheduled shifts. Employees must maintain their applicable active license or credential and continuing education requirements. The position is represented by OPEIU.

Requirements

Meet Washington Mental Health Professional status requirements under WAC 246-341-0515 and RCW 71.05 and 71.34.
Hold an active Washington credential or license from an accepted category: LICSW or LSWAIC; LMHC or LMHCA; LMFT or LMFTA; psychiatric ARNP; psychiatrist; psychologist or licensed psychological associate; physician assistant working under a psychiatrist as defined in RCW 18.71A.010; or 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 computer skills assessment.
Attend a four-hour onsite listening shift during the first week, complete 19 hours of online training modules, and complete 10 onsite shadowing shifts of eight hours each before starting scheduled shifts.
Attend live training once a year and dedicate at least 12 hours per full-time equivalent to approved job-related training.
Maintain current licensure and fulfill continuing education requirements applicable to the employee’s credential.
Be able to sit or stand for lengthy periods, wear a headset or earphones while taking calls, use several IT/software platforms at once, and function amid moderate noise and distraction.
Demonstrate reliable attendance and adherence to assigned work hours and organizational policies.
Communicate clearly and effectively, work collaboratively across disciplines, engage appropriately with supervision, and demonstrate resilience and adaptability in demanding work environments.

Nice To Haves

Independent clinical licensure (LMHC, LMFT, LICSW, or ARNP), noted as preferred for supervisory or managerial roles.
Additional certification in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, or trauma-informed care.
Experience working within a call center.
Telephone assessment or helpline experience.
Experience with public mental health systems in King, Clark, Chelan, Douglas, Pierce, Okanogan, Klickitat, Grant, or Skamania County.

Responsibilities

Provide direct oversight, monitoring, and coaching to Crisis Support Specialists and Crisis Intervention Specialists during scheduled shifts.
Support staff with behavioral health and suicide risk assessment, crisis de-escalation, and safety planning, and ensure appropriate clinical practices and community resources are used.
Ensure appropriate screening and connection to services such as Next Day Appointments, mobile crisis services, geriatric assessment teams, designated crisis responders, and other outreach services.
Give Crisis Support Specialists and Crisis Intervention Specialists ongoing and immediate feedback, and ensure agency policies and procedures are followed.
Help identify callers known to the agency who may have case plans on file, and ensure calls are accurately and completely documented in the electronic health record.
Use trauma-informed, non-judgmental 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 emotional support and appropriate clinical interventions.
Use the King County Client Lookup System to identify callers who may be affiliated with a community mental health center.
Complete Sheena’s Law referrals from law enforcement, including telephonic outreach or facilitating crisis services, and notify the person’s public mental health agency as appropriate.
Answer calls from first responders, gather information about people in crisis, use electronic systems to identify available supports, and offer less restrictive options in real time.
Establish warm connections to identified resources and facilitate transitions for people in crisis.
Answer the Hospital Authorization Line and screen referrals for medical necessity using LOCUS and CALOCUS.
Complete and maintain required authorization documentation and electronic data entry, consult with psychiatrists as required, and document acceptance or denial of inpatient-level care.
Complete authorizations within required timelines, including within two hours of receiving complete referral information, and refer retrospective reviews or length-of-stay extensions to the appropriate lead.
Provide assistance to the Crisis Services Coordinator during peak periods or upon request, including clinical guidance to phone workers.
Provide professional consultation on access to mental health services, crisis and suicide intervention, and related mental health topics.
Conduct and document ECLS searches, disclose information only in accordance with applicable policy, and use electronic health record and county communication systems to coordinate care.
Ensure appropriate screening and linkage to outreach and other services, and maintain accurate documentation throughout quality assurance activities.
Attend required training and staff meetings, maintain current licensure and continuing education, and stay informed about developments in the mental health field.
Contribute to a respectful, collaborative, and professional work environment; communicate clearly, engage with supervision, and demonstrate reliability and constructive problem-solving.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage, including an option that is 100% employer-paid 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 coverage.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
403(b) retirement plan.