Crisis Support Clinician

DELAWARE GUIDANCE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN•Lewes, DE

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Crisis Support Clinician is an integral member of Delaware’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) team, providing rapid, trauma-informed, community-based behavioral health support to children, youth, and families during crises. The role assists with crisis interventions, stabilization planning, and connection to long-term services within Delaware’s System of Care. It emphasizes teaching and reinforcing skill-building interventions, including de-escalation, soothing techniques, and safety planning, with youth and caregivers. Services are delivered in homes, schools, and other community settings. The clinician responds to behavioral health crises involving youth ages 2–17 as part of a team-delivery model, working with the Lead Clinician to assess risk, support safety, and develop individualized safety and stabilization plans. The role also engages and empowers families, connects them with child-serving systems and community resources, documents services in approved electronic health record systems, and collaborates with the MRSS team and system partners. Participation in an on-call rotation and flexibility to respond outside traditional business hours, including evenings and weekends, are required. Delaware Guidance Services is a nonprofit provider of outpatient behavioral health services for children and families across Delaware. Its services include outpatient therapy, community-based services, school-based supports, mobile crisis response, and short-term youth crisis stabilization. The organization describes its work environment as collaborative, flexible, and client-focused, with a focus on employee wellness.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or a related behavioral health field.
At least 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 in Spanish and English or another language.
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 to behavioral health crises involving youth ages 2–17 in a team-delivery model.
Provide de-escalation support and emotional regulation strategies to youth and caregivers.
Assist the Lead Clinician in ensuring safety, assessing risk, and developing individualized safety and stabilization plans.
Deliver short-term, strength-based interventions to stabilize crises and reduce emergency system utilization.
Assist parents or guardians with an Environment Safety Scan to mitigate risks such as sharps and medications, consistent with the Comprehensive Safety Plan.
Participate in an on-call rotation, including evenings and weekends, as needed.
Build rapport with youth and families and foster trust, safety, and collaboration.
Empower caregivers with tools and strategies for managing behavioral health challenges at home.
Support families experiencing 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 crisis planning.
Connect families with Delaware child-serving systems, including DSCYF, the Division of Prevention and 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.
Complete timely and accurate documentation of contacts, interventions, and referrals in accordance with MRSS guidelines and agency policy using approved electronic health record systems.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with ethical, professional, and state regulatory requirements.
Participate in required training and ongoing professional development.
Work closely with the Lead Clinician and MRSS team to coordinate service delivery.
Participate in team meetings, reflective supervision, and case coordination sessions, and maintain communication with the full MRSS team.

Benefits

Signing bonus of $4,000.
Retention bonus after one year, starting at $1,000.
Shift differential of $2 per hour for hours worked Monday through Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., and on weekends and holidays.
Competitive compensation.
Incentive pay for specific roles.
Generous paid time off, starting at 44 days of paid leave per year.
Up to 6% annual contribution to retirement fund.
Free professional development opportunities.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Life and long-term disability insurance.
Flexible work arrangements and a flexible/hybrid work environment.