Specialist-Mobile Crisis Outreach

NORTH TEXAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITY•Dallas, TX

3d•$62,000 - $66,000•Hybrid

About The Position

North Texas Behavioral Health Authority (NTBHA), based in Dallas, is responsible for developing a collaborative system of care for children, adolescents, and adults with severe mental illness and other serious emotional disturbances, as well as those experiencing a substance use disorder. This position's actions and work must align with NTBHA’s values and goals, policies and procedures, and meet all documentation standards and regulatory requirements. It requires organizational and clinical skills to work in conjunction with the remote telehealth crisis services system. This position will provide crisis assessments using in-person and telehealth services where clinically appropriate, crisis intervention services, crisis follow up, and relapse prevention services for individuals in the community. The mobile crisis services provide on-site, in-person or face-to-face intervention for individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis. The MCOT Crisis Intervention Specialist will work in accordance with NTBHA policies and procedures. The position will provide initial telephonic triage and screening, in-person or face-to-face crisis assessment, crisis intervention, care coordination with local providers, as well as local mental health response/co-responder teams and provider chronic care community outreach teams. Their role is to perform required triage and assessment of crisis calls with psychiatric crisis components to emergent, urgent, and routine behavioral health calls. The MCOT crisis intervention specialist may be required to coordinate and facilitate with law enforcement or courts on involuntary responses. The MCOT crisis intervention specialist will communicate consistently and effectively with community members, law enforcement, crisis services, courts, hospitals, diversion programs, schools, and other NTBHA staff regarding clients’ progress, barriers, and needs. The MCOT crisis interventionist specialist will be expected to work closely and collaboratively with partner agencies and organizations regarding clients to develop effective responses to citizens in need. This position will require weekend/holiday hours and flexible work hours to meet program needs. This position will be responsible for seeking clinical consultation with supervisors on an as-needed basis. The team is a crisis response team that operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. This position is responsible for adherence to and compliance with NTBHA policies and procedures as well as state and federal regulatory codes. Travel is required as part of this role’s duties. Travel can vary from 20% to 100% per day. This would include all counties within NTBHA Catchment area (Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro & Rockwall Counties). This role may be required to use a fleet vehicle and/or a personal vehicle for business needs. This may include, but not limited to field & home visits, offsite meetings, co-located sites and/or pick up items for business needs, etc. If your program requires transport of individuals, this would only be allowed with a company vehicle and approval from management. This position is classified as exempt and requires flexibility in scheduling to meet organizational needs, including adjusting work hours as necessary to ensure job responsibilities are completed. We are responsible for developing a collaborative system of care for individuals in crisis in the NTBHA service area. We are focused on trauma-informed, resilience-oriented care in all services provided.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or a related behavioral health field.
Minimum of two years of experience in community mental health working with individuals having severe persistent mental illness and substance use disorders that includes crisis services.
Experience in MCOT or field crisis response teams.
Experience in providing psychosocial education, skills training, or assessments, particularly with the target population.
Experience with participating in a treatment team that develops and monitors treatment plans for persons with severe persistent mental illness and substance use disorders.
Knowledge of the Texas crisis response requirements.
Knowledge of the various community resources and providers within the NTBHA service area including (but not limited to) supportive housing and employment, shelters, food banks, social service agencies, charities, medical and behavioral health providers, and other resources for the indigent population.
Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
Pass and maintain a clear background record as required for healthcare organization under state and federal contracts in addition to requirements for working with the telehealth system.
Must be able to perform remote work reliably using telehealth systems on a consistent basis without in-person supervision.
Must be able to work on and have knowledge of a PC (personal computer).
Advanced Microsoft Office Suite skills - Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc., with an ability to become familiar with company-specific programs and software.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual ability preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Provide crisis assessments using in-person and telehealth services where clinically appropriate, crisis intervention services, crisis follow up, and relapse prevention services for individuals in the community.
Provide initial telephonic triage and screening, in-person or face to face crisis assessment, crisis intervention, care coordination with local providers, as well as local mental health response/co-responder teams and provider chronic care community outreach teams.
Perform required triage and assessment of crisis calls with psychiatric crisis components to emergent, urgent, and routine behavioral health calls.
Coordinate and facilitate with law enforcement or courts on involuntary responses.
Communicate consistently and effectively with community members, law enforcement, crisis services, courts, hospitals, diversion programs, schools, and other NTBHA staff regarding clients’ progress, barriers, and needs.
Work closely and collaboratively with partner agencies and organizations regarding clients to develop effective responses to citizens in need.
Seek clinical consultation with supervisors on an as-needed basis.
Adhere to and comply with NTBHA policies and procedures as well as state and federal regulatory codes.
Use NTBHA’s approved curriculum and assessments with clients in accordance with their developmental and cognitive abilities as well as their mental health status and symptoms.
Follow info-item V crisis standards: MCOT.
Seek clinical consultation as needed from the MCOT Supervisor and/or supervisor identified.
Assist clients while they are in crisis in accessing appropriate mental health services and facilitate appropriate continuity of care.
Provide accurate and timely reporting metrics to the MCOT supervisor and/or designee.
Make accurate and effective assessments and recommendations regarding the client’s mental health needs in compliance with the client’s rights as well as all relevant State and Federal statutes, and NTBHA policies and procedures.
Develop and maintain rapport with persons in crisis using modalities such as Motivational Interviewing and other relevant and appropriate methods to communicate and relate with callers to resolve crises.
Develop and maintain rapport with the various agencies and organizations involved with the MCOT team.
Prepare, create, and maintain records, files, documents, reports, and correspondence both within NTBHA and partner agencies and organizations.
Work with other NTBHA employees, members of partner agencies and organizations, as well as the target population and their families in a constructive and efficient fashion.