OVERNIGHT Crisis Support Specialist - Maine Crisis Line - full time, remote optional (in ME)

The Opportunity Alliance • South Portland, ME

2d • Remote

About The Position

The Opportunity Alliance is hiring a full-time Crisis Support Specialist for the Maine Crisis Line. The role supports adults, families, and children experiencing mental health crises through telephone, text, and chat responses. Specialists assess callers’ presenting problems and psychosocial stressors, complete risk assessments, and help ensure callers’ safety and well-being. The work involves collaborating with Crisis Response Services across Maine’s eight districts and using program systems to document calls and monitor progress toward performance measures.

The position is scheduled overnight, Saturday through Tuesday, from 8:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., for 40 hours per week. The office is in South Portland, and remote work is optional within Maine. Employees must attend an in-person orientation in South Portland. Training is provided for the required Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician certification, with certification expected within 30 days of employment. The posting lists pay of $23 per hour, plus a $4-per-hour overnight differential for hours worked between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Requirements

• Associate degree required.
• Ability to earn the MHRT-CSP certification within 30 days of employment; onsite training is provided.
• Solid oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly, succinctly, and in a customer-friendly manner and to communicate with multiple parties during a crisis call.
• Ability to learn and understand written crisis-call documentation skills.
• Ability to manage complex tasks effectively and work with complex information to address challenging situations.
• Ability to become familiar with DSM-V information.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Flexible schedule required; the listed schedule is overnight, Saturday through Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
• Ability and willingness to learn documentation software and resource applications well enough to document while simultaneously engaging with clients by phone.
• Ability to use telephone, instant messaging, and chat technology.
• Must successfully pass criminal background, child protective service, and sex offender checks, and must not be on a state or federal suspension and disbarment list.
• Must be able to attend an in-person orientation in South Portland.

Nice To Haves

• A year or more of crisis or mental health-related experience preferred.
• Previous experience in a call center or customer service environment is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assess callers’ presenting problems and psychosocial stressors.
• Complete risk assessments to support the safety and well-being of callers experiencing a crisis.
• Use programmatic systems to support effective monitoring of progress toward performance measures.
• Collaborate with Crisis Response Services in the eight districts across Maine.
• Respond to crisis calls and text/chat messages, and document interactions while engaging with clients.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off accrual.
• Nine paid holidays per calendar year and up to three floating holidays per calendar year.
• Medical benefits at a reasonable cost.
• Dental and vision insurance options.
• Agency-paid basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance.
• 403(b) retirement plan with an agency match; all employees are eligible.
• Tuition reimbursement offered once per year through an application process.
• Qualified employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree