What are the responsibilities and job description for the MCOT Intervention Specialist position at North Texas Behavioral Health Authority?
Title: MCOT Intervention Specialist
Do you have a passion for helping others and want a career where you can make a difference? Then join our NTBHA team. We have proved to be a strong, self-sufficient and enduring foundation within our community. We are committed to connecting and serving our clients where they live.
NTBHA is the Local Behavioral Health Authority (LBHA) contracted by Texas Human Services Commission (HHSC) to provide mental health and substance use disorder services to qualified indigent consumers in our six-county region of Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, and Rockwall Counties.
NTBHA is responsible for developing a collaborative system of care for incarcerated and justice-involved adults with severe mental illness and/or a substance use disorder that are being considered for specialized mental illness programs and court proceedings. NTBHA is also responsible for working with our local system of care for crisis services, which often includes individuals calling 911 or crisis hotlines.
Position Role Summary:
This position’s actions and work must align with NTBHA values and goals, regulations, and policies and procedures, and meet all documentation standards and regulatory requirements.
NTBHA is seeking a person with excellent 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 in order 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.
This role may be required to use a fleet vehicle and 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.
Qualifications required:
- Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, behavioral health, criminal justice, or related 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.
- Microsoft Office Suite skills - Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc., with an ability to become familiar with company-specific programs and software.
- Must be able to work on and have knowledge of a PC (personal computer).
- 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 in order to communicate and relate with callers in order 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.
- Bilingual ability preferred but not required.
- Hours and shift assignments may be outside of normal business hours.
- Duties and projects may be assigned or changed to meet business needs.
- Bilingual ability preferred but not required.
NTBHA is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our hiring practices and in our experiences as employees. We strive to create a mindful and respectful environment and culture that is free of perceived harassment, racism, and discrimination, creating an environment of understanding and compassion for all lived experiences.
Shift Hours:
Monday through Friday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday through Thursday 9:00 PM - 7:00 AM
Thursday through Saturday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday through Monday 9:00 PM - 7:00 AM
Benefits:
401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
