Mental Health Crisis Clinician - Dept. of Public Health

Job Description

ROLE SUMMARY

Under general supervision, the class works on cross-agency Alternate Response Teams in coordination with first responders and other behavioral health or social service professionals to respond to 911 calls for service that include a behavioral health component. These Alternate Response Teams support an overall effort to deliver specialized and compassionate services tailored to meet the needs of people living with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and unmet social needs who interface with the City's emergency response system; and performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Respond, in collaboration with other team members, to 911 calls with an identified behavioral health component and provide crisis assessment, crisis intervention, de-escalation, safety planning, referrals, and linkage to care services for residents.
Provide case management services to patients as needed or assigned as part of response to behavioral health related 911 calls. This may include telehealth or telephonic follow-up with the patient subsequent to the crisis event to ensure linkage to appropriate community support.
Develop and implement crisis related safety plans; work with patients, families, and other members of the Alternate Response Team to determine if the patient requires a higher level of care requiring transport to a hospital or alternate transport destination.
Provide psychological consultation while responding to behavioral health-related calls.
Listen to, support, and guide call takers and dispatchers at the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC)
May coordinate with police & fire telecommunicators onsite providing support to calls received of those experiencing behavioral health emergencies
Provide wellness support to 911 call center staff
Conduct proactive outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness, serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders who may have unaddressed behavioral health or social service needs.
Deliver services that are compassionate, trauma-informed, and attentive to the particular needs and values of each patient.
Maintain accurate and timely clinical medical records consistent with CDPH and City of Chicago standards.
Participate in team/department meetings, in-services, and supervisory sessions as required.
Perform all duties as assigned in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
Additional duties may be required for this position.

Certificates/Security Clearances/Other

Location: 1338 S. Clinton St Chicago, IL 60607
*Due to the nature of this position, this role is expected to work in multiple locations*

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.

All employees of the City of Chicago must demonstrate commitment to and compliance with applicable state and federal laws, City ordinances and rules; the City's Ethics standards; and other City policies and procedures. Equivalent foreign degrees, accreditations, and credentials in evaluating qualifications will be considered. The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.

Additional Qualifications/Responsibilities

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Training
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's or Doctoral degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or similar field

Experience Two years of experience in delivering direct clinical services in any of the following areas:
Working with patients living with serious and persistent mental illness.
Working on an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) or Community Support Team (CST).
Working on a mobile crisis, alternate response, or co-responder team.
Working in a psychiatric stabilization setting such as a psychiatric emergency room or crisis stabilization unit.
Working with patients experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
Working in an inpatient psychiatric hospital setting.
Licensure, Certification or Other Qualifications A valid State of Illinois driver's license is required within three (3) months of employment.
Current license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Doctor of Psychology (Ph. D, Psy. D) in the State of Illinois. If you hold a terminal clinical license in another state, this meets the requirement, but you must demonstrate the ability to establish the clinical license in the state of Illinois within 6 months of hire.
WORKING CONDITIONS Operates out of a vehicle when out in the field
General office environment
Exposure to outdoor environment
Ability to work flexible and on-call hours may be required. Hours can change depending on program needs
Must be comfortable responding to calls in communities across the city
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Ability to walk and stand for extended periods of time
Ability to run, bend, kneel, crouch and move one's hands/arms to grasp or manipulate objects
OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ATTRIBUTES, AND ABILITIES Learning and implementing trauma-informed principles and practices.
Methods of psychotherapy and counseling.
Linkage to community resources.
Motivational interviewing and engagement techniques to build rapport with patients, clarify patient values/goals, and explore patient readiness for change.
Understanding of privacy rules and laws, mandatory reporting, and legal responsibilities to patients and the community and other related laws, rules, and regulations including HIPAA.
Understanding of cultural differences, especially as they relate to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, religious identity, and their various intersections. Some knowledge of:
DSM-V and diagnostic techniques, and corresponding interventions
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines
Mental health care principles, practices, and procedures
Individual, family and group psychotherapy and counseling Knowledge of applicable City and department policies, procedures, rules, and regulations