Outreach Crisis Specialist (Baldwin)

Responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities:

• Responds in a timely manner to crisis calls
• Leads in the initiating and implementing the services of the crisis team
• Makes face to face visits when calls come into Access To Care or the Outreach Liaison
• Provides services in the community, consumer’s homes, etc.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize the elements of a crisis state and knows how to deescalate or resolve the situation
• Effectively determines the level of response needed in crisis situations
• Transports consumers to services on a limited basis.
• Educates families on de-escalating crisis situations including but not limited to safety plans
• Collaborates with Access To Care and other members of AltaPointe to help with placement of consumers in services when necessary
• Follows up with consumers that are in AltaPointe’s Adult Outpatient Programs who may be decompensating or at high risk.
• Travels to consumers’ homes to ensure medication compliance as needed
• Utilizes appropriate communication methods to ensure appropriate communication with individual consumers’ treatment teams
• Handles and triages calls from multiple referral sources
• Able to assess for medical needs and help seek treatment as appropriate
• Assist in securing emergency medical services or law enforcement if needed
• Provides effective clinical assessment of the consumer as needed
• Utilizes assessment data to support a DSM IV diagnosis as needed
• Formulates appropriate treatment plan along with consumer and families, as appropriate
• Provides individual, group, and family therapy, utilizing basic therapeutic models and theories according to consumer needs as stated in the treatment plan as needed
• Effectively collaborates with the treatment team members, law enforcement, emergency medical services, court personnel and outside sources in the delivery of clinical services
• Advocates on behalf of the consumer to secure community resources
• Evaluates the consumer for discharge planning or movement to a less restrictive environment
• Adheres to professional code of ethics
• Effectively demonstrates the application of adult specific competencies

Supervision and Consultation:

• Seeks clinical supervision and consultation as needed
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
• Actively works to enhance clinical skills

Clinical Record Keeping:

• Documents in a timely fashion per AltaPointe policy
• Learns and utilizes Avatar electronic health record appropriately
• Documents in detail the resolutions of crisis situations and linkage to appropriate follow up sources.
• Documents all services provided before the completion of the shift.
• Documents appropriate, complete, and clinically comprehensive mental health assessments
• Documents measurable and specific goals in the treatment plan
• Documents in a clear and concise manner, types of consumer problems, treatment goals addressed, services, and techniques used
• Documents case disposition, case closings, follow-up and referrals
• Documents legibly’

Case Load Management:

• Effectively manages caseload based on consumer needs
• Meets AltaPointe productivity standards
• Monitors caseload for accuracy

Courteous and respectful attitudes towards consumers, visitors and co-workers:

• Treats consumers with care, dignity and compassion
• Respects consumer’s privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Assists consumers as needed
• Personal values do not inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the consumer’s needs, expectations and individual differences
• Is gentle and calm with consumers, families, and other agencies

Administrative and Other Related Duties as Assigned:

• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Accesses appropriate community resources according to consumer needs
• Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures
• Maintains current license and requirements for renewals (i.e. CEU’s), if applicable, and attends to required in-services and workshops
• Keeps To Do list on Avatar maintained appropriately
• Participates in ongoing staff education trainings

Qualifications

Master’s degree in a mental health discipline, or RN, or LPN, or Certified Peer Specialist with 2 or more years’ experience working with psychiatric disorders or crisis situations.   

Knowledge in adult specialty, outlined below, to be attained within (6) six months of employment.

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the adult population
• Basic knowledge of the nature of addiction for referral purposes
• Basic knowledge of Senior Adult issues for referral purposes
• Knowledge of cultural diversity
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and interventions common to acute psychotic consumers, as well as, to non-violent crisis intervention practice
• Knowledge of psychiatric rehabilitation principles
• Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to adults with severe and persistent psychiatric disorders
• Knowledge of AltaPointe services and continuum of care
• Knowledge of appropriate services codes and billing procedures
• Knowledge of community resources