Crisis Responder

Full-time, 40 hours per week, flexible schedule, serving our rural counties of Holt, Antelope, Cedar, Knox!

MAIN FUNCTION:  The Crisis Responder is responsible for providing 24-hour crisis coverage as part of the on-call rotation.  This is a short-term service which aims to assist individuals who are in a crisis (i.e. suicidal, homicidal, psychotic).  The Crisis Responder will complete a screening during crisis calls to assess for safety of the individual and others.  If the Crisis Responder identifies risk requiring further consultation and/or assessment, the Crisis Responder will contact the Community-based Services Director, any other director or supervisor or the Licensed Mental Health Therapist on-call to consult further, which may result in the Licensed Therapist completing a crisis assessment.  The Crisis Responder can respond via phone, telehealth and/or in person.

The program is designed to prevent hospitalizations and Emergency Protective Custody by wrapping appropriate services around the consumer to allow them the opportunity to remain in the community.  Therefore, it is the Crisis Responder’s responsibility to help access appropriate services to assist the consumer which may include, but not be limited to, local Law Enforcement, therapists, medical facilities, domestic violence shelters, housing, substance abuse treatment, food banks, etc.  The Crisis Responder will be visible in the community and promote the Crisis Response Program as well as other programs of Heartland Counseling Services, Inc. throughout the counties served by Heartland Counseling Services, Inc.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide crisis support and intervention services in a preventative manner, during a crisis and/or after a crisis has stabilized. This includes screening and safety planning. If hospitalization becomes necessary, facilitates in cooperation with the inpatient provider, the client’s transition back into the community, including after hours and on weekends, when necessary.
• Provides services at other HCS locations as assigned, which may include travel.
• Complete appropriate documentation in accordance with agency policy and procedures; this includes entering data in Heartland’s EMR system as well as the CDS. Maintains up to date client charts to include crisis encounters and screenings.
• Assist in providing referrals to other mental health services.
• Connect individual to necessary supports (both formal and informal) and community resources.
• Communicates and collaborates effectively with necessary outside individuals and agencies.
• Partner and participate in community meetings (i.e. collaboration with the district health department and emergency management agencies to better prepare for and identify special needs and supports in all phases of an emergency) as assigned.
• Provides community education services (i.e. schools, law enforcement, media, community meetings) as assigned.
• Demonstrates willingness to maintain flexibility and openness to new information through trainings and case consultation, including peer support certification.
• Be on the on-call rotation to maintain coverage of the crisis line 24/7/365.
• Attends scheduled supervisory, all-staff and community-based staff meetings.
• Completes all paperwork in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Implements screening tools as directed.
• Participates in community events as assigned.
• Participates in a planning committee as assigned.
• Always follows professional ethics.
• Adheres to all agency policy and procedures.
• Adheres to agency policy on confidentiality.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Maintains ethics as dictated by profession.
• Maintains certifications as needed.
• Ability to form positive relationships with clients.
• Skills in verbal and written communication.
• Ability to form cooperative and supportive relationships with staff/agency.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be insurable.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree in the Human Service Field or equivalent experience.

BENEFITS:

2-3 weeks paid vacation per year.

12 paid sick days per year.

2 paid personal days per year.

1 paid mental health day per year.

9 paid holidays per year.

3 paid training days per year.

Bereavement Leave.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

Paid life insurance policy.

Medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts.

Aflac.

Employee Assistance Program.

3% matching retirement plan after 2 years of employment.

Flexible schedule.

Salary : $41,000 - $43,000