Crisis Specialist

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive.

Job Location (Full Address):

2613 W Henrietta Rd, Brighton, New York, United States of America, 14623

Opening:

Work Shift:

UR - Day (United States of America)

Range:

Compensation Range:

$19.72 - $26.62

Responsibilities:

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Functions as a professional member of the Rochester Community Mobile Crisis Team (RCMCT) serving complex mentally ill patients in crisis in a variety of settings across Monroe County. Functions as a member of inpatient psychiatric and CPEP units serving complex mentally ill patients in crisis within the hospital in support of a therapeutic milieu. Provides expertise with regard to community resources and agencies and ensures continuity of care via direct and indirect means of communication with persons involved in care of the patient.

Job Profile Title 

Crisis Specialist

Department 

The University of Rochester Department of Psychiatry is one of the largest behavioral health providers in the U.S. We offer diverse career opportunities across multiple divisions and clinical service campuses.

Division

The Acute Adult Psychiatry Division Mobile Crisis Team is a psychiatric emergency team serving anyone within Monroe County who is experiencing anxiety, distress, sadness, or emotional or behavioral difficulty that’s disrupting life. The team believes that mental health crisis services are best provided quickly and in a familiar place.

Position

We are seeking a Crisis Specialist to join our team. The Crisis Specialist functions as a professional member of the Department of Psychiatry's Monroe County Mobile Crisis Team serving complex patients in mental health crisis in a variety of settings across Monroe County. Provides expertise with regard to community resources and agencies and assures continuity of care via direct and indirect means of communication with persons involved in care of the patient.

Essential Functions 

• Responds patients in mental health crisis at off-site locations in homes, group homes and other settings.  Interviews patients and families in concert with Crisis Therapist.  Provides patients and family members emotional and tangible support, advocacy and linkage to resources.  Responsible for facilitating the referral process.  Confers with other community agencies, Therapists, and law enforcement agencies as necessary at the request of the Crisis Therapist.
• Enhances patient efforts in receiving Medicaid and other social services.  Provides support and education to families and agencies involved with the patient in psychiatric crisis.  Promotes and ensures continued staff education around multicultural factors which affect care and treatment of patients.  Assists in all planning regarding food, shelter or transportation for patients.
• Visits patients in their community setting to assess their progress toward meeting the goals of the care plan and to monitor compliance with the treatment plan.  Teaches, guides, and assists patients and family members to ensure their clear understanding of the patient's needs and expectations of the specific care plan.  Makes recommendations to mental health professionals regarding treatment plans.
• Carries out strategies for implementation of treatment plan by: establishing contact with various service providers and family members; assuring appropriate utilization of life support services in the community; assuring the smooth and orderly transition of patients into their respectively designated placements; and takes initiative for suggesting appropriate community services that would enable the patient to function at his/her optimal level in the community.
• Maintains contact with psychiatric service providers to assess: appropriateness of placement; continued progress of patients; and other supplemental needs of patients.  Implements the proper intervention strategies with minimal supervision from the mental health professional.  Documents patient contacts and patient progress in the medical record and assists patients with paperwork, correspondence, etc. necessary to ensure linkage to appropriate resources.
• Communicates with home base, i.e. estimated time of arrival, current location of team, additional support required, etc. Participates on a rotational basis in on-call group as back-up to Life Line during evening/weekend hours.  Responds, as necessary, after hours to psychiatric crises in the community. Attends weekly meetings.  Participates in all Quality Improvement activities.
• Maintains current knowledge and supports the policies and procedures of community resources, assists families with identifying their needs and providing and/or connecting them with appropriate community resources, and advocates.  Participates in education and training for provision of services to patient in psychiatric crisis.  Participates in data collection for Mobile Crisis services.
• Models ICARE Values, supports diversity and inclusion strategies and approaches that reduce stigma, engages patients, and promote patient-driven decision making with clinical leadership team to provide referrals and connections to those resources.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Associate’s Degree required.
• Two years’ experience in human services, preferably in a psychiatric or emergency setting.
• Or, an equivalent combination of education and experience required.

·       Availability to work a flexible work schedule including occasional evenings and weekends, effective communication and teaching skills, and the ability to empathize families and/or support systems required

•  Ability to speak Spanish, Vietnamese or be fluent in American Sign Language preferred.

Licenses & Certifications 

• Valid NYS driver’s license and satisfactory driving record required.

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics). This commitment extends to non-discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.