Mental Health Specialist
About The Position
Liberty Resources is hiring a Mobile Crisis Mental Health Specialist (Responder) to work alongside Mobile Crisis Clinicians, providing non-clinical support to individuals and families experiencing a crisis. The role primarily involves conducting needs assessments and coordinating care for adults, youth, and families during and after crisis episodes to address crisis antecedents and gaps in care. The Mobile Crisis Team is a trained multidisciplinary team providing crisis intervention in community settings where people live, work, attend school, receive services, or socialize. Services include culturally and linguistically competent assessments; crisis diversion, safety, and relapse-prevention planning; support during and after a crisis; and coordination with and referrals to health, social, and other services, including peer and family support. The team aims to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and arrests, engage people in services, reduce symptoms, stabilize individuals, help restore prior functioning, and build coping mechanisms to reduce the likelihood of future crises. It serves Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego counties. This is a per diem, field-based role involving regular travel and in-person engagement in varied community environments. Scheduling is flexible, with shifts that may include evenings, weekends, holidays, overnights, and weekday daytime coverage as needed. Staff may work at locations not controlled or maintained by the agency, such as private homes, shelters, public spaces, and outdoor environments. Conditions may include stairs, uneven terrain, limited accessibility, or other physical challenges. The work is fast-paced and emotionally dynamic, requiring flexibility, composure, and quick decision-making. Team members collaborate closely and may coordinate with emergency services, families, and multiple agency partners. Pay includes $32.15 per on-call shift, which the posting says equates to $225 for one week and provides advance compensation for telephonic services. An additional $100 is paid per on-call shift on an agency-observed holiday. Mobile crisis response compensation is $100 for 1–90 minutes, $150 for 91–180 minutes, and $200 for 181 or more minutes. In-person follow-up compensation is $50 for 1–90 minutes, $75 for 91–180 minutes, and $100 for 181 or more minutes.
Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Either a bachelor's degree and at least two years of behavioral health experience; or a high school diploma, high school equivalency, or State Education Commencement Credential and at least one of the listed additional qualifications.
- With the high school credential pathway, qualifying additional qualifications include one to three years of experience working with individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorders; two years of work experience in children's mental health, addiction, or foster care; being a student or intern in a mental health/clinical New York State Education Department-approved program; being a Licensed Practical Nurse; being a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC); or having lived experience with emotional, behavioral, addiction, or co-occurring disorders, either personally or as a parent/primary caregiver, without qualifying as a peer.
- Must be willing to participate in all required federal, state, county, and agency training, including Narcan administration, evidence-based assessments, and person-centered and trauma-informed approaches.
- Demonstrate professionalism and collaborative conduct when working with law enforcement, providers, and other collateral contacts.
- Must possess a valid New York State driver's license and have access to reliable transportation.
Responsibilities
- Provide non-clinical emotional support through active listening, validation, encouragement, and practical guidance.
- Conduct initial and ongoing needs assessments to identify crisis triggers, service gaps, and follow-up needs.
- Engage in person-centered, client- and family-driven non-clinical goal setting and safety planning.
- Refer individuals to behavioral health, medical, care coordination, and basic-needs services and facilitate engagement with those services.
- Collaborate with internal team members and external providers to support smooth transitions and continuity of care.
- Follow up with individuals, families, and care teams to verify that aftercare services are in place and being accessed.
- Complete timely and accurate documentation in accordance with agency and program standards.
