Crisis Support Clinician

Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth, Inc.•Lewes, DE

3d•$38,983 - $52,742•Hybrid

About The Position

The Crisis Support Clinician is an integral member of the team-based approach to crisis intervention in Delaware’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) program. The clinician provides rapid, trauma-informed, community-based behavioral health support to children, youth, and their families during crises. The role assists, coordinates, and supports crisis interventions, stabilization planning, and connection to long-term services within Delaware’s System of Care. It emphasizes teaching, practicing, and reinforcing skill-building interventions such as de-escalation, soothing techniques, and safety planning with youth and caregivers. Services are delivered in homes, schools, and other community settings to ensure accessible, family-centered support. The position works closely with the Lead Clinician and MRSS team, as well as families and child-serving system partners, to coordinate care and support long-term stabilization. The clinician documents contacts, interventions, and referrals using agency-approved electronic health record systems and follows MRSS guidelines, agency policy, state regulations, and ethical and confidentiality requirements. The role includes participation in an on-call rotation, including evenings and weekends as needed, and may require travel throughout the assigned county. Delaware Guidance Services is a nonprofit provider of outpatient behavioral health services for children and families in Delaware. The organization offers a flexible, hybrid community-based work environment and a comprehensive benefits package.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or a related behavioral health field.
1–2 years of experience working with children, youth, and families in a behavioral health, community, or crisis setting.
Knowledge of trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, family systems, and youth development.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and critical thinking skills.
Ability to remain calm and effective in high-stress or emotionally charged situations.
Valid Delaware driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Willingness to travel throughout the assigned county.
Flexibility to respond to youth and family needs outside traditional business hours, including evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Delaware’s System of Care, child-serving systems, and behavioral-health resources.
Bilingual ability, including Spanish/English or other languages.
Experience implementing therapeutic interventions or behavioral supports in home or school settings.
Knowledge of wraparound, care coordination, and family-driven principles of care.
Prior experience with MRSS or similar mobile crisis models.

Responsibilities

Respond quickly and effectively, in a team-delivery model, to behavioral health crises involving youth ages 2–17.
Provide de-escalation support and emotional regulation strategies to youth and caregivers.
Assist the Lead Clinician in maintaining safety, assessing risk, and developing individualized safety and stabilization plans.
Deliver short-term, strength-based interventions intended to stabilize crises and reduce emergency system utilization.
Assist parents or guardians with an Environment Safety Scan to mitigate sharps, medications, and other risks in alignment with the Comprehensive Safety Plan.
Participate in the on-call rotation, including evenings and weekends, as needed.
Build rapport with youth and families to foster trust, safety, and collaboration.
Empower caregivers with tools and strategies for managing behavioral health challenges at home.
Support families through acute stress and conflict while promoting resilience and self-efficacy.
Encourage and reinforce soothing and calming techniques in the home.
Identify family strengths and protective factors for use in crisis planning.
Connect families with Delaware child-serving systems, including DSCYF, behavioral health services, education, juvenile justice, child welfare, and community providers.
Provide warm hand-offs and referrals to behavioral health, peer support, care coordination, and wraparound services.
Collaborate with system partners to support continuity of care and long-term stabilization.
Advocate for culturally competent, accessible services and promote family voice and choice in care planning and service connection.
Complete timely and accurate documentation of contacts, interventions, and referrals in agency-approved electronic health record systems, in compliance with MRSS guidelines and agency policy.
Maintain confidentiality and uphold ethical and professional standards; comply with state regulations and ethical and confidentiality requirements.
Participate in required trainings and ongoing professional development to maintain proficiency in MRSS service delivery.
Work closely with the Lead Clinician and MRSS team to coordinate effective service delivery.
Participate in team meetings, reflective supervision, and case coordination sessions, and maintain communication with the MRSS team.
Travel throughout the assigned county as needed to serve youth and families.