Community Liaison

Description

Greater Nashua Mental Health is looking for Community Liaison to join our Emergency Services team! The Community Liaison is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with the local police departments of the Greater Nashua area on behalf of GNMH and in responding to concerns or requests from the police related to mental health services. Additionally, the ES Community Liaison works to support the local Nashua and DRF hospitals by monitoring admissions and discharges, and supporting clients in transitioning to long term community based mental health care. The ES Community Liaison also supports the ES team in responding to day to day crisis evaluations and crisis supports, where appropriate or when assigned to do so.

Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Initiates, develops, and maintains relationships with the local police departments in the Nashua catchment area including Nashua, Hudson, Merrimack, Milford, and Amherst police as well as the Hillsborough House of Corrections to better support community-based services. 
• Working with the local police departments, identifies individuals in the community who need mental health services but are not presently receiving any or adequate services and assess their needs accordingly.
• Provides education to the local police, and individuals identified by the police as needing services, on available services, resources, supports and limitations of mental treatment in the community.
• Where possible, develops relationships with the police which allows for occasional co-deployment into the community. 
• Where the police have had significant or frequent contact with individuals who are receiving services at GNMH, ES Community Liaison coordinates with the GNMH treatment team to increase client supports. 
• Provides education to GNMH treatment teams on the role of the police in engaging individuals with mental health and how best to both utilize the police to support our clients. 
• Develops relationships with the local Nashua Hospitals to support rapid admission and rapid discharge as needed and as appropriate. 
• In support of Mission Zero initiative, follows GNMH clients admitted to the local ERs and reports progress to the primary treatment team to ensure treatment engagement is consistent and that hospitalization is optimized and efficient. 
• With support of the ES Director, collaborates with the Nashua Hospital Behavioral Health Teams to ensure that client discharges are completed smoothly and efficiently for all parties. 
• Works as the primary liaison to hospitals identified as Designated Receiving facilities; Monitors client intake from the Nashua catchment area and supports the hospitals in discharging established clients or clients in need of services efficiently back to the Nashua catchment area. 
• Engages the NHH Care Traffic Control team on behalf of GNMH if there are concerns about a client admission or discharge which requires administrative support. 
• Organizes, manages and monitors a list of GNMH clients who are court ordered to outpatient treatment and supports the primary treatment team in renewing or completing those court orders.   
• Participates in the rapid response system and provides crisis evaluations and assessments both office based and community based as needed or as assigned. 
• Participates in the Afterhours Agency On-Call service as well as the ES Supervisors On rotation.
• Performs other duties or special projects as required or as assigned.  
• Be willing to work non-traditional shifts in order to staff this 24/7 program as needed.

Requirements

Qualifications: 

• Master’s Degree in Counseling, Social Work, or related mental health discipline field
• 1 to 2 years related work experience
• Ability collaborate professionally with the local police and to provide feedback on their needs to GNMH, while providing education on GNMH services and limitations. 
• Ability to organize and maintain a list of clients on varying levels court ordered treatment and to support the primary treatment team in initiating a renewal of the court order or in completing the court order as needed.  
• Understanding of the NH mental health system and the challenges that police, hospitals, and clients face in navigating typical and emergency mental health services as well as court orders for treatment. 
• Ability to collaborate with local hospitals and DRF hospitals to ensure discharges and admissions are completed as efficiently and compassionately as possible for the wellbeing of our clients. 
• Knowledge of Interpersonal engagement skills such as motivational interviewing. 
• Strong collaborating skills, and an ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Familiarity with community resources.
• A working knowledge of computers and ability to complete documentation electronically is required. In addition, the ability to complete written documentation timely, effectively, and at times in the field.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with frequent deadlines; high energy, self-motivated and proactive. Ability to hold a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and insurance required as this position requires the regular outreach and transport of clients.
• Knowledge of major mental illnesses and appropriate treatment interventions. Knowledge, understanding and application of appropriate treatment, intervention and ethical standards.
• Strong proficiency in a broad spectrum of computer software, with the ability to quickly adapt to new technologies and platforms.
• Strong collaborating skills, and an ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with frequent deadlines; high energy, self-motivated and proactive.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to multitask, and be flexible with regard to workload and assignments.
• Ability to exercise judgment.  
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and automobile with liability insurance in the amount required by agency policy 

Why Join Us:
We are looking for collaborative, curious for knowledge people with a “can do” mentality to join our team of compassionate employees! We provide a stimulating work environment and offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits including:
 

• Choice of 2 health insurance plans
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement
• Health Plan Opt Out Benefit
• Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Account
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Group Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short and Long Term Disability
• Accident & Critical Illness Insurances
• 403b Retirement Plan with Agency Match
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Generous Earned Time Off
• Paid Extended Sick Time
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Bereavement Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Qualifying Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and NH State Loan Repayment Program

Greater Nashua Mental Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer