Mobile Response Team Specialist

Alachua County•Gainesville, FL

About The Position

This is a professional crisis intervention counseling role providing mobile response team services and supporting the ongoing development, training, and operation of the Crisis Center’s mobile response program. The position is based at the County’s Crisis Center and involves work throughout the community. The employee reviews crisis calls, mobile response calls, care plans, follow-up contacts, and warm handoffs to community providers. Work is performed under the direction of a higher-level supervisor and reviewed through conferences, reports, and observation of results. The role provides trauma-sensitive, strength-based crisis intervention, especially for youth and families, through mobile response, the crisis phone line, in-person counseling, and telehealth as needed. It also involves care coordination, staff and student training and supervision, community outreach, interagency collaboration, program policy implementation, and tracking program data. This is an emergency-essential, grant-funded position; permanent employment is not guaranteed. Employees must work when a disaster or emergency is declared. The Crisis Center operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and employees may be required to work various hours and days of the week, including after-hours on-call and in-person supervision.

Requirements

Master’s degree in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, clinical social work, or a closely related mental health field qualifying the individual for licensure under Chapter 491, Florida Statutes. Applicants within six months of meeting the education requirement may be considered for trainee status.
Licensure in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, or clinical social work is required within four years of employment.
If not currently a registered intern, obtain an intern registration number in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, or clinical social work within six months of employment.
Valid Florida driver license and a Motor Vehicle Record meeting Alachua County policy #6-7; records are reviewed before employment. Minimum qualifications are not met if, during the prior 24 months, the applicant has more than three moving traffic infractions, three or more at-fault motor vehicle accidents, a combination of these, a conviction or pending charge for driving under the influence, or a violation of a standard mandated by federal or state law or regulation.
Successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen and a Level 2 background check specified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Complete screening through the Florida Clearinghouse and all applicable pre-hire and ongoing background checks.
Knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations relating to community crisis intervention programs.
Knowledge of current techniques, principles, and practices of mobile response, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention programs.
Skill in using personal computers, including word-processing programs.
Ability to work with diverse populations and demonstrate cultural and linguistic competency.
Ability to work with and counsel suicidal or distraught clients and use a family-driven and youth-guided collaborative model.
Ability to function in a team setting and to train, supervise, and appraise volunteers and students.
Ability to react calmly and quickly in emergencies and coordinate and supervise volunteers and students in emergency situations.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and make public presentations to community organizations.
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with assisting agencies, County departments, employees, and the public.
Ability to work various hours and days of the week, provide after-hours on-call and in-person supervision, and work during declared disasters or emergencies.

Responsibilities

Provide trauma-sensitive, strength-based mobile response crisis intervention services to the community, with a focus on youth and families.
Provide direct services through mobile response, the crisis phone line, face-to-face counseling, and telehealth, as needed, both on a planned basis and in emergencies.
Screen and assess clients and families, provide crisis intervention support, and link them to community services.
Develop care plans focused on reducing individual and family stressors and maintaining stabilization.
Coordinate care with psychiatric providers and mental health and social service organizations, including transitioning care through warm handoffs when appropriate.
Review the processing of crisis calls, mobile response calls, care plans, follow-up contacts, and warm handoffs.
Coordinate in-service training and debriefs for mobile response team members and ensure team compliance with policies and procedures.
Provide supervision and clinical training to graduate students toward certification or licensure.
Support staff and volunteers through individual and group conferences to review cases, client concerns, care coordination, case problems, and diagnostic and helping skills.
Inform citizens and community organizations about Crisis Center mobile response, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention services.
Collaborate with local agencies on client care and community-wide strategies addressing mental health issues.
Collect and organize feedback from individuals and families to improve service delivery and care outcomes.
Provide in-service training on advanced mobile response and crisis intervention skills, policies, procedures, regulations, trauma-informed care, and cultural and linguistic competency.
Represent the department in community and interagency activities.
Conduct or direct staff development programs and coordinate activities, groups, and internal projects for team members, volunteers, graduate students, and staff.
Review the current caseload and counsel and refer clients to appropriate community agencies or services.
Supervise, evaluate, assist, and advise crisis intervention volunteers and practicum and internship graduate students.
Ensure proper tracking of mobile response program data and statistical information.
Provide after-hours on-call and in-person supervision for the mobile response team and Crisis Center workers.
Coordinate and assist with implementation of mobile response program policies and procedures.
Regularly drive a County and/or personal vehicle to crisis calls, including responses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and travel to offsite training and outreach events.
Perform assigned duties professionally and with a sense of urgency.