What are the responsibilities and job description for the YCOT Specialist - Youth Crisis Outreach Program Manager position at North Texas Behavioral Health Authority?
Title: YCOT Specialist - Youth Crisis Outreach Program Manager
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.
We are responsible for developing a collaborative system of care for individuals in crisis in the NTBHA service area. We are focused on trauma-informed, resilience-oriented care in all services provided.
Position Role Summary:
The Youth Crisis Outreach Team Program Manager manages day-to-day functions of the YCOT Program. Responsibilities include program implementation, management, supervision, and enforcement of policies and procedures that enable children, youth, families and caregivers to access appropriate services as needed.
This position reports directly to the Chief Clinical Officer.
The YCOT program offers immediate support to children and youth experiencing crisis situations. The purpose of the YCOT is to provide crisis intervention, screening, referral, relapse prevention, and follow-up/case monitoring services for Children and Youth who are experiencing crisis situations within NTBHA’s catchment area. This role involves trauma-informed interventions, crisis resolution, and ongoing support to ensure the well-being and mental health stability of the individuals served.
Work involves developing and maintaining professional contact with clients, client families, and service providers for medical, social, educational, psychiatric and related service needs in order to specifically reduce client crisis experience. YCOT is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, on a month to month rotating schedule. 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.
Qualifications required:
- Graduated from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree with a major specialization in Human/Behavioral/Social Services or related field.
- Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts (LPHA), LPC, LCSW, Licensed Psychologist, or LMFT.
- Minimum of two years of experience in community mental health working with children & youth having severe persistent mental illness and substance use disorders that includes crisis services
- Minimum of 2 years of supervisory experience
- Experience implementing new programs
- Familiarity with relevant laws and regulations governing crisis services for children and youth.
- Experience in working case-management with children & youth or field crisis response teams
- Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles and strategies
- 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 as needed.
- Advanced 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).
Job duties, responsibilities, and skills:
The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the position as necessary.
- Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, processing employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing employee performance appraisals.
- Coordinates operationally with NTBHA’s Crisis Hotline & Mobile Crisis Outreach Team, and other community crisis teams such as: Crisis Intervention Teams, Law Enforcement or Mental Health First Responders Programs and Crisis Intervention Services LIDDA.
- Coordinates, assigns and reviews work and establishes work schedules; maintains standards; monitors status of work in progress; inspects completed work assignments; answers questions; gives advice and direction as needed.
- Provides administrative and clinical supervision to YCOT staff to manage day-to-day progress with services provided.
- Responsible for interactions with other agencies and organizations. Provides training to community, law enforcement agencies regarding mental health issues.
- Ensures regulatory documentation via monthly compliance audits. Provides on-going training and monitoring of necessary clinical paperwork and develops plans of improvement when paperwork/performance audits are below acceptable standards.
- Assists with data collection in order to observe consumer call trends and improve service provisions and operational coordination.
Additional responsibilities and skills:
- 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
- Seek clinical consultation as needed from the Chief Clinical Officer
- 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 Chief Clinical Officer 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 YCOT 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: Monday – Friday 8:30-5pm
- Position requires a flexible schedule if Program Manager is needed to cover program needs.
- Duties and projects may be assigned or changed to meet business needs.
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.
