Crisis Counselor

Agency Profile: Spectrum Health & Human Services respectfully partners with adults, children and families as they recover from behavioral, emotional, mental health and/or substance related disorders by offering individualized and meaningful opportunities of hope, empowerment and support to achieve self-defined improvements in their quality of life.

Full-time: 227 Thorn Avenue, Orchard Park, NY

Sign on Bonus $5,000

SUMMARY OF POSITION FUNCTION:

Ensure that all CARES clients (children, adolescents and their families) receive the highest quality mental health assessments, crisis intervention, safety planning and service coordination necessary to safely maintain children in the community in accordance with their individual family needs and plan. Deliver all services consistent with the content and spirit of Agency Standards of Practice. Work effectively as a high performing team member with children, adolescents and families as well as other key stakeholders to accomplish these objectives.

Provide Crisis intervention for adult clients of SHHS and affiliated agencies with a goal of promoting the safety and wellbeing of the clients, their families, and the community as a whole. Re-engage clients back to SHHS clinics and appropriate services as needed.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Demonstrate competence to function as a MHL 9.45 designee as authorized by the Director of Community Services in various counties.
• Provide high quality psycho-social and mental status assessments as appropriate to children and their families in crisis situations due to emotional, behavioral or mental health problems; initiate requests for required services, phone calls, agency information, etc.
• Provide effective crisis intervention services and solution-focused treatment to families that empower them until follow-up services can be obtained for children and their families.
• Respond effectively to emergency phone calls and provide crisis interventions to help alleviate a mental health crisis; provide information to coordinate and provide additional services to families and follow-up services.
• Work effectively with emergency rooms and in-patient psychiatric hospitals assisting them with potential admissions and, where appropriate to the mental status, providing/implementing community-based crisis stabilization alternatives to hospitalization.
• Maintain records, reports and legal documents consistent with Agency standards of practice including the Fidelity Electronic Health Record (EHR), and various Cerner/Millennium systems.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES:

• Practice history indicates a commitment to strength-based, family focused values.
• Licensure as a Social Worker or Mental Health Counselor (Limited Permit acceptable) is preferred.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (Minimum)

• Masters degree (in the following preferred areas): social work, mental health counseling, psychology, rehabilitation counseling or psychiatric nursing .
• Educational qualifications must match regulatory requirements.

EXPERIENCE: (Preferred)

• Two (2) years full-time paid experience in a comprehensive behavioral healthcare organization serving at-risk children, adolescents and their families. Experience must include direct work and clinical assessments with one or more of the following populations: at-risk children, adolescents, adults and families in a range of clinical and community settings that includes crisis intervention, safety planning and service coordination.
• Experience with OPWDD and court involved youth highly desirable. Ability to work effectively with children, adolescents, families, staff and community contacts from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Experience must meet regulatory requirements.

Must possess a valid NYS Driver’s License and acceptable driving record

COMPENSATION: $51,784 - $66,024/yr