Mental Health Specialist

Liberty Resources • Oneida, NY

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Liberty Resources is seeking Mobile Crisis Mental Health Specialists (Responders) in Madison County. The Mobile Crisis Team is a trained multidisciplinary team providing culturally and linguistically competent crisis intervention in community settings, including homes, workplaces, schools, service locations, and public spaces. Services aim to interrupt and reduce the effects of a crisis through assessment, crisis diversion and safety planning, support during and after a crisis, and coordination with or referral to health, social, and other services. The program seeks to divert unnecessary hospitalizations and arrests, connect people with services, reduce symptoms, stabilize individuals, restore functioning, and build coping mechanisms to help prevent future crises.

The Mental Health Specialist works alongside Mobile Crisis Clinicians to provide non-clinical support to individuals and families experiencing a crisis. The role primarily involves assessing needs and coordinating care for adults, youth, and families during and after crisis episodes, addressing crisis antecedents and gaps in care. It is a per diem, field-based role with flexible scheduling. Work includes regular travel and in-person engagement in locations not controlled by the agency, such as private homes, shelters, public spaces, and outdoor environments. The work is fast-paced and emotionally dynamic, requires flexibility, composure, and quick decision-making, and may involve collaboration with emergency services, families, and multi-agency partners. Shifts may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and other non-standard hours.

Available shifts: Cayuga, Cortland, or Madison counties: weekdays, 5:00 PM–12:00 AM; weekends and holidays, 6:00 AM–12:00 AM. Onondaga or Oswego counties: weekday evenings, 5:00 PM–11:00 PM; weekends and holidays, 7:00 AM–11:00 PM; overnights, 11:00 PM–7:00 AM; and weekday daytime coverage as needed.

Pay is $32.15 per on-call shift (stated as equating to $225 for one week and providing advanced compensation for telephonic services), with an additional $100 per on-call shift on an agency-observed holiday. Mobile Crisis Response pay is $100 for 1–90 minutes, $150 for 91–180 minutes, and $200 for 181 minutes or more. In-person follow-up pay is $50 for 1–90 minutes, $75 for 91–180 minutes, and $100 for 181 minutes or more.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must have a valid New York State driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
• 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.
• Must demonstrate professionalism and collaborative efforts when working with law enforcement, providers, and other collateral contacts.
• One qualifying education and experience pathway is a bachelor’s degree and at least two years of behavioral health experience.
• Alternatively, a high school diploma, high school equivalency, or State Education Commencement Credential plus at least one of the following: 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; student or intern status in a mental health/clinical New York State Education Department-approved program; Licensed Practical Nurse qualification; CASAC credential; or lived experience as an individual with emotional, behavioral, addiction, or co-occurring disorders, or as a parent/primary caregiver of a child with such disorders, when not qualified as a peer.

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.
• Make referrals to and facilitate engagement in behavioral health, medical, care coordination, and basic-needs 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.

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: High school or GED