About the position
The Overnight Mental Health Crisis Therapist provides essential crisis intervention services to individuals across the lifespan, including adults, children, and families facing mental health or substance use challenges. This role is primarily community-based, utilizing a mobile response approach to deliver timely and effective support. The therapist conducts comprehensive mental health risk assessments and triage, coordinates crisis interventions, and develops short-term, person-centered stabilization plans tailored to the unique needs of each client. In situations where safety is a concern, the therapist is responsible for initiating involuntary transport to the emergency department under a Director's Custody Hold. This on-call position requires the therapist to be available from home, with a preference for residency in Washington County to meet response time requirements. The work hours are from 9:30 PM to 7:45 AM, and the compensation starts at $36.73 per hour, with additional stipends for overnight phone availability and mobile response services. The therapist is expected to respond to emergency situations, perform client evaluations, and provide follow-up contact as outlined in the stabilization plan. They will also engage in consultation and training for staff, caregivers, and community organizations regarding mental health issues and addiction. The therapist must maintain a high level of cultural sensitivity and awareness, participating in ongoing training related to diverse populations. They are responsible for maintaining awareness of community resources, building relationships with other providers, and ensuring that all necessary equipment for crisis response is ready at all times. Documentation is a critical aspect of the role, requiring timely completion of progress notes, assessments, and treatment plans in an electronic health records system. Regular participation in individual and team meetings is also expected to foster collaboration and professional growth.
Responsibilities
- Responds to emergency situations involving children and adults experiencing mental health crises.
- Provides behavioral health risk assessments and crisis intervention in the community by mobile response.
- Performs client evaluations and risk assessments, formulates diagnoses, and develops short-term stabilization or safety plans.
- Notifies clients and significant others of diagnoses and initial recommendations, completing written narratives of evaluations and obtaining necessary releases.
- Provides follow-up contact as developed in the stabilization or safety plan.
- Consults and trains staff, caregivers, families, and community organizations regarding mental health issues, addiction, and behavior management.
- Maintains awareness of community referral resources and builds positive relationships with other community providers.
- Assists staff members in resolving difficult emergency situations and serves as back-up when needed.
- Meets performance standards for productivity, documentation, quality of care, and teamwork as defined in the Performance Review.
- Identifies situations involving domestic abuse or family problems affecting clients' development and determines appropriate counseling or referrals.
- Ensures that all necessary equipment for crisis response is always ready.
- Maintains professional presentation in the community and responds to all situations with a customer service attitude.
- Prepares mental health evaluations and reports for all client contacts, maintaining clear and concise records according to confidentiality guidelines.
- Participates in regular individual and team meetings with supervisors and attends required trainings.
- Uses Feedback-Informed Treatment to obtain and review feedback from clients regarding service effectiveness.
- Checks email and voicemail daily and responds to contacts within 24 to 48 hours.
- Travels between sites and in the community, may transport clients in LifeWorks NW vehicles.
Requirements
- Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or a Mental Health related field.
- Valid and active QMHP credential certification through MHACBO or valid status with an approved Oregon licensing board.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct mental health crisis assessments and develop safety plans.
- More than 1 year of experience preferred in providing clinical interventions and mental health assessments with children and families or individuals with severe mental illness.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively on a highly interdependent team, showing initiative, dependability, flexibility, and strong organizational skills.
- Knowledge of community resources and treatment agencies for appropriate referrals.
- Good computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Outlook and Word, and ability to master proprietary software including electronic health records systems.
- Effective communication skills and ability to maintain cooperative working relationships in a culturally diverse environment.
- Valid driver's license and ability to meet LifeWorks NW driving requirements.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience in crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques.
- Familiarity with medications commonly used by the client population.
- Experience working with diverse populations and cultural sensitivity training.
Benefits
- Starting pay at $36.73 per hour.
- Additional $7.50 swing shift differential for actual hours worked.
- Stipend for having the phone overnight and for providing mobile response services.
