Licensed crisis assessment counselor

Billings Clinic•Billings, MT

5h•Onsite

About The Position

The Crisis Assessment Counselor is an integral member of a multidisciplinary team in an outpatient mental health setting. The counselor completes comprehensive assessments, determines the appropriate level of care, and develops stabilization plans for clients presenting in crisis. Clients may have complex medical, mental health, substance use, social service, and psychosocial needs. The counselor collaborates with the internal interdisciplinary team, local hospitals, and—when appropriate—the client’s support system regarding mental health needs, diagnoses, symptoms, and risk of lethality. The counselor coordinates referrals to community and mental health service providers and helps ensure safe transfers and the timely provision of collateral information when a higher level of care is needed. This is a full-time, non-exempt role at the Community Crisis Center on Billings Clinic’s main campus. The schedule varies, and the position is listed at 0.80 FTE, or 64 hours every two weeks. Starting wage is $32.06–$40.07, depending on experience.

Requirements

Graduate degree.
Current Montana license as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, or Licensed Clinical Psychologist.
Applicants entering with a license from another state must be able to obtain a Montana license.
Ability to meet organizational and departmental requirements and maintain relevant competencies.
Ability to work flexibly and adapt to change.

Nice To Haves

A minimum of two years’ experience in a clinical setting with duties and expectations similar to this position is preferred.

Responsibilities

Model behaviors consistent with Billings Clinic’s mission, vision, values, code of business conduct, and service expectations, and meet organizational and departmental requirements and competency standards.
Assess clients and provide interventions to help determine diagnosis and appropriate level of care for admission to crisis stabilization services or referral to psychiatric care or community sheltering.
Respond to telephone crisis calls and accept referrals from other organizations, hospitals, and law enforcement.
Collaborate with Community Crisis Center team members to evaluate, plan, implement, and document safe, therapeutic, culturally appropriate client care in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.
When needed, provide collateral information to support involuntary detention and commitment in compliance with state laws and Billings Clinic policies and procedures.
Use interviews, information from clients’ support systems, and record reviews to identify barriers, establish goals, reduce anxiety, and support cooperation in resolving immediate crises.
Build collaborative relationships with the Billings Clinic Psychiatric Team and work closely with the Community Crisis Center interdisciplinary team.
Communicate positively and supportively with clients, families, visitors, physicians, staff, and others.
Help clients cope with, accept, and adjust to mental health and substance use issues.
Review client records to identify environmental impediments and work with team members to resolve them.
Discuss goals and stabilization plans with clients and their support systems to promote adherence.
Support the Community Crisis Center’s goal of providing the least restrictive, cost-effective care, transferring clients to a higher level of care only when they cannot be appropriately served at the center or will not stay voluntarily.
Maintain basic knowledge of insurance benefits and reimbursement, and complete client billing sheets promptly.
Complete peer counselor chart audits when directed by the Community Crisis Center Supervisor and make timely corrections to the counselor’s own charts when warranted.
Coordinate with the internal discharge coordinator and arrange referrals; provide required paperwork promptly.
Monitor and recommend revisions to stabilization plans, modifying plans as client situations or needs change.
Monitor client goals, collaborate with other counselors to adjust goals in light of the client’s stage of change, and provide timely documentation and justification for changes.
Take a lead role in debriefing stressful crisis situations involving clients, employees, or security.
Identify and anticipate problems and safety issues and initiate appropriate action.
Take responsibility for professional growth and development and complete required system and departmental education.
Follow policies concerning confidentiality, infection control, client rights, mental health ethics, disaster protocols, and safety.
Perform other duties as assigned or needed and remain flexible, open-minded, and adaptable to change.