Crisis Services Clinician

Thurston Mason BH-ASO/OHRS • Lacey, WA

1d • $28 - $36 • Hybrid

About The Position

Olympic Health and Recovery Services (OHRS) is seeking a Crisis Services Clinician to join their Crisis Response Team serving Thurston and Mason counties. This is a full-time position in a dynamic and rapidly growing organization focused on providing behavioral health crisis and recovery support services. The ideal candidate is adaptable, flexible, positive, and eager to learn. The Crisis Clinician will provide clinical support to the Crisis Services Program, responding to community outreach with Crisis Peer Specialists and handling calls on regional Crisis Helplines. The role involves providing clinical support, telephone triage, developing safety plans, mobile crisis intervention, de-escalation, and making referrals to various service providers. The position also requires assisting clients with basic resources, providing outreach and engagement, facilitating services across systems of care, promoting best practices, and maintaining client confidentiality. Proficiency in electronic medical records and effective communication with coworkers are essential.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree in psychology, social work, or a related area; Combination of experience and education in behavioral health coursework may be substituted on a year for year basis.
• Two (2) years of face-to-face crisis outreach experience within a social service or a closely related environment preferred.
• Current Washington State Driver's License, proof of insurance, and satisfactory drivers record.
• Qualifies as a WA State Agency Affiliated Counselor
• Satisfactory Washington State Patrol (WSP) criminal background clearances and excluded party sanctions.
• May be subject to additional national background check clearances if assigned to a law enforcement-based team and must be approved for access to Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS).
• The ability to work in active, ongoing partnership with a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) to deliver safe, coordinated, and effective crisis assessment, intervention, and stabilization services.
• Ability to collaborate across distinct roles (clinical and Peer) by maintaining clear boundaries, sharing relevant observations, and integrating clinical crisis intervention strategies with lived-experience support from the CPS.
• Ability to work in high stress, high demand environment while communicating clearly and effectively.
• Ability to use Electronic Health Record System for clinical documentation
• Ability to provide clear documentation of assessments and dispositions
• Ability to utilize principles of crisis intervention and de-escalation while maintaining strong customer service skills, and empathy.
• Ability to remain calm and professional during escalated situations.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and respectfully manage differences, opposing perspectives, opinions, and interests
• Ability to remain flexible and adaptable to change
• Strong critical thinking skills, ability to conceptualize and implement creative solutions
• Promote and champion the values of partnership, teamwork, compassion and integrity in all dealings within and outside of OHRS
• Knowledge of presentation of behavioral health related behaviors
• Ability to utilize principles of motivational interviewing and additional evidence based practices
• Ability to work as a team and with assigned partners
• Actively develop familiarity with systems and community resources.
• Knowledge of conflict resolution principles, de-escalation, and problem-solving techniques.

Nice To Haves

• Two (2) years of face-to-face crisis outreach experience within a social service or a closely related environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Completes risk assessments to determine if client is at risk for suicide, homicide, or who may need immediate response, which may include referrals to Law Enforcement, Designated Crisis Responder (DCR), to other referral source to maintain their safety or the safety of others.
• Provides telephone triage services to individuals requesting assistance or third party referral sources to provide community stabilization services to individuals in crisis.
• Conducts follow up phone calls as requested and appropriate.
• In collaboration with clients and their support system, develops stabilization and safety plans.
• Responds to referrals and provides mobile crisis intervention and stabilization services in varied environments in the community.
• Provides mobile crisis intervention services in varied environments in the community.
• De-escalates as needed for community outreaches.
• When in the community, does not physically interact with clients in the event of assaultive behavior, but works to maintain safety in accordance with the principles of crisis de-escalation and safety training.
• Respond to requests for information about available services for individuals who are homeless, individuals with behavioral health disorders, and those with other human and social service needs.
• Make referrals to appropriate service providers and coordinate service delivery.
• Assist the target population served with obtaining basic resources such as shelter, food, medical services, behavioral health treatment, jobs and other social and human services as needed.
• Provide outreach, engagement and liaison support to those people that are seen on a recurring basis which may require short term intensive case management.
• Facilitate services for high-need individuals across all involved systems of care.
• Promote best practices in treatment approaches, support systems, and interventions.
• Meet with and interview contacts, families, and other care providers to assess needs and eligibility of services.
• Advocate needs of contacts within and outside system; liaise between contact, caregivers, and service providers.
• Provide client-level and system-wide troubleshooting and advocacy.
• Consult with other agency professionals on difficult cases.
• Develop a network of working relationships with Thurston County Jail, Mason County Jail, Nisqually Jail, behavioral health treatment providers, emergency housing providers, Lacey Veterans Services Hub, Community Lifeline, other Law Enforcement agencies and social service providers.
• Establish and maintain rapport with the population served.
• Provide information, consultation, and referral.
• Assist with relocations.
• Monitor contact behaviors and progress, provide assistance toward attaining pre-determined goals, and schedule appointments.
• Develop and recommend procedures for identifying and screening people with social service needs.
• Maintains familiarity with and handles client information in accordance with Federal Regulations (42 CFR, Part 2 and 45 CFR), and other applicable laws pertaining to confidentiality of client and staff information.
• Maintains physical security of confidential materials and assigned Agency property.
• Demonstrates proficiency in utilization of electronic medical record system.
• Maintains timely and accurate documentation in accordance with Washington State law, and current best practices.
• Communicates effectively with co-workers in dynamic environment.
• Supports Crisis and ITA Team on program deliverables including Provider compliance documentation and encounter tracking.
• Demonstrates professional customer service and phone etiquette.
• Demonstrates the OHRS mission, purpose, values and beliefs in everyday language and contact with the internal and external stakeholders.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical/dental/vision plan options (many with no employee paid monthly premium depending on plan choice, and dependent coverage options)
• Life insurance and disability insurance options
• WA State PERS retirement plans
• Additional pre and post tax deferred compensation retirement options
• PTO package earning a minimum of 140 hours annually
• 12 paid holidays
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level