Behavioral Health Counselor (BHC) Co-Responder Richmond County

JOB TITLE: Behavioral Health Counselor (BHC)

DEPARTMENT: Community Supports; Co-Responder Program

SCHEDULED HOURS: 10:00am-7:00pm Monday through Friday (standard); Varies as needed by Administration

JOB DESCRIPTION:
PURPOSE AND SCOPE

• The co-responder will work within Richmond County Sheriff’s Department’s Crisis Intervention Unit providing community-based interventions and assessments of individuals who come in contact with law enforcement for a behavioral health related call.
• The goals of this new and exciting position include decreasing admissions to jail and providing appropriate interventions to individuals in crisis.
• The co-responder will be partnered with a trained police officer to provide assessment and interventions at various locations in the community once the scene has been determined to be safe.
• This position works as an employee of Serenity Behavioral Health but will be embedded within a County Sherriff’s Department.
• DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Support and assistance to Responding Officers: Supports police officers responding to and consulting on behavioral health related calls. This may include via the radio and/or phone.
• Communicates important safety information to officers when appropriate.
• Write 1013 Involuntary Commitment Orders when necessary
• Once safety has been determined, will also provide on scene crisis response and/or assessment with a law enforcement officer.
• Assessments: Conducts comprehensive clinical assessments and inpatient psychiatric screens as a part of crisis intervention; identifies individual needs and diagnoses substance use and/or mental health disorders; assesses individual risk for suicide and other safety related concerns; determines the need for inpatient psychiatric treatment or outpatient services and supports. Provides referrals; interprets and communicates relevant information to officers, families, and treatment providers.
• Internal Case Management: Assist in crisis follow-up and treatment coordination within SBHS and/or outside treatment providers.
• This includes referrals to individual, group, PSR-I, Case Management, Peer/Day Programs, medical, ITP, and ACT, CST, etc.
• Communicating with treatment staff on individuals seen in crisis and providing any info that may help the treatment provider in follow-up.
• Follow-up and Outreach Provides follow-up and outreach to individuals and/or families who may be dealing with Mental Health issues and it is determined that they could benefit from outreach and/or resources in the community
• Conduct trainings when needed and identified to educate staff and community about mental illness and supportive resources
• Track and submit monthly report data to DBHDD.
• Other job duties as assigned.
• ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
• Will report directly to the Community Support Director
• JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifications, Education, and Training:

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in mental health counseling, social work, psychology, or related field.

Competencies/Technical Requirements:

• Licensed as a LPC, LSCW, LMFT in Georgia
• Can be an associate Level
• Experience in Crisis and/or Mobile Crisis work
• Managerial Experience: None Required
• Expectations regarding quality and quantity of work: Meets or exceeds all quality indicators set forth by supervisors and agency management.
• Meets all program site and agency goals in the area of quantity of work.
• Provides a safe therapeutic environment that honors choice and recognizes individual strengths, needs, desires, and preferences.
• All documentation must be completed/signed within 24 hours of service delivery.
• Provide collaborative documentation at least 90% of the time.
• Follows and ensures that supervisees follow all policies and procedures regarding utilization of PTO.
• Attends work schedule as assigned.
• Follows all policies and procedures regarding dress code.
• Follows all policies and procedures regarding professional conducts and ethics.
• Complete all required annual/bi-annual trainings as required through DBHDD and CARF.
• Maintain Georgia licensure.
• Develop collaborative partnership with local law enforcement, target counties with highest frequency of mental health involved 911 calls, BH crisis related calls, arrests involving behavioral health presentations
• Partner w/ Law Enforcement (LE) to respond to mental health calls
• Will be dispatched when calls are received for specified county/counties during shifts that have a demonstrated pattern of higher BH involved calls
• Will monitor dispatch system/radio.
• Response can be to requests from LE.
• Respond to 911 calls involving persons experiencing a BH crisis
• Participate in wellness/well-being checks
• Participate in crisis calls
• De-escalate BH crisis calls at the scene
• Assist in transport to a behavioral health crisis center, crisis stabilization unit or other ERF
• Facilitate rapid, brief screening for the purpose of linkage to supports and services
• Follow-up to support linkage/engagement in services and supports

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $25.00 - $27.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: On the road

Salary : $25 - $27