The County of Siskiyou is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer

We welcome applicants of any race, religion, or ancestry.

General Statement of Duties

Under general supervision, working with a cross functional team the Mobile Crisis Worker assists clients in crisis using appropriate community resources, and if available, family support systems, to resolve complex or difficult client cases; performs community outreach; provides ongoing intervention assessment, treatment and follow-up services designed to help stabilize clients.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

This classification is distinguished by having principal responsibility for working in a multidisciplinary Psychiatric Evaluation Team (PET) to provide crisis intervention and follow-up services to high-risk clients with severe mental health needs many of whom are homeless and may be high utilizers of public services. The primary goal of PET is to provide a more comprehensive response to calls for service involving community members going through a mental health crisis and to be a resource for community members struggling with mental illness, including extended family members. Most of the work is completed in the field and requires evening and weekend hours. Incumbents may carry a client caseload including a broad range of clients ranging from seniors to juveniles. Incumbents in this classification may work in multiple assignments.

This is a flexibly staffed classification within the Behavioral Health Services Mobile Crisis Worker series.

Reports to:

Behavioral Health Systems Administrator

Classifications Supervised:

None.

Essential Functions:

• Provides on-scene crisis intervention and referrals.
• Provides advice on behavior health related service calls related to Welfare and Institution Code Section 5150.
• Provides crisis intervention response when community members are undergoing a mental health crisis, avoids using involuntary psychiatric hospitalization when appropriate by providing alternative treatment resources which may include consultation, crisis intervention and referral to brief treatment and/or diversion or other voluntary crisis services as available.
• Completes follow-up visits or makes a "warm handoff" to other Crisis Workers, Behavioral Health Specialists or Peer Specialists as appropriate.
• Provides outreach with known individuals who have recently been placed on a 72-hour hold under a 5150 or to high-risk populations, such as the homeless, providing mental health follow-up referrals for assistance with other needs leading to client stabilization including housing assessment, if homeless.
• Explains treatment facility procedures and clients' rights and responsibilities.
• Provides individual crisis intervention as needed, stabilizes clients in crisis including brief intervention in clinic; arranges for hospitalization and coordinates treatment elements.
• Works weekend and evening hours as required.
• May be required to testify in court, for determination of client's legal status regarding outpatient court-ordered treatment.
• Receives client referrals from other Crisis Workers other PET team members or members of the Human Services Department.
• Conducts comprehensive client assessments to collect functional, psycho-social, environmental, employment, financial, housing and family information to develop a stabilization plan.
• Conducts housing problem solving and housing assessment, as part of Siskiyou County's Coordinated Entry System. Assessments will be conducted at locations where client is comfortable and is easily accessible. Assists with housing applications if needed.
• Trains to utilize County Housing Management Information System (HMIS) to enter and retrieve data related to work with homeless clients.
• Maintains current knowledge of public benefit programs and community resources for all age groups.
• Research relevant services to meet client needs.
• Accompanies or assists clients in accessing needed services and advocates on their behalf.
• Assists and or accompanies Code Enforcement and Law Enforcement agency employees in outreach efforts to homeless locations to provide resource information.
• Provides regularly scheduled visits to Project Basecamp homeless shelter to provide resource information and to conduct coordinated entry housing assessments.
• Works to maintain an updated resource list outlining services and programs to support client population.
• Develops and maintains strong working relationships with staff in the Law Enforcement agencies, Human Services Department, other City Departments, hospitals, health care professionals, family service providers, the Family/Community Resource Centers, homeless/housing service providers and the community at large.
• Maintains program documentation and outcome measures.
• Prepares written and statistical reports.
• Completes Crisis Intervention Training.
• Attends regular and ongoing coordination meetings with other PET team members.
• Prepares correspondence and reports on client histories, treatment progress and other matters related to case treatment.
• Enters data into client health record system.

Knowledge of:

• Techniques and methodology of educational and social service program design, development, and administration.
• Manual and automated record keeping systems.
• Needs assessment and program evaluation practices and techniques,
• Local and/or regional resources available to meet the needs of the targeted population.
• Principles and practices of program administration and budgeting.
• Principles and techniques of interviewing clients.
• Diagnostic assessment tools public relations techniques.
• Preparation of written and verbal reports.

Desired Skills:

• Understanding human behavior and family dynamics especially of high-risk vulnerable populations with mental health needs or dual diagnosis, who may be homeless.
• Understanding the functions and organizations of public assistance; medical and psychological, educational, and social service resources, especially access to dignity and housing resources.
• Conduct mental health and other related needs assessments in the field, community, school, office, or home.
• Determine and implement the appropriate course of action in emergency or stressful situation.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other staff, agencies, service providers, and institutions.
• Participate in the development and implementation of operational policies and procedures.
• Establish effective relationships with clients from a variety of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds and age groups.
• Prepare concise narrative and statistical reports and evaluations, using appropriate word processing and spreadsheet technology.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Incumbents must possess the physical and mental capacity to work under the conditions described in this document and to perform the duties required by their assigned position.

Any combination of training or experience that would provide the knowledge and skills to successfully perform the listed duties is qualifying.

A typical way, but not required, to obtain the required knowledge and skills would be:

BHS Mobile Crisis Worker I - Education and/or experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in social services, psychology, counseling, sociology, nursing, or a related field or two (2) years of experience working with individuals with substance use disorder or with mental health challenges including homeless populations.

BHS Mobile Crisis Worker II - One year of experience comparable to the duties of the Behavioral Health Services Mobile Crisis Worker I or a similar position at another public agency. Plus education requirements for a Mobile Crisis Worker I.

Required Licenses:

Community Health Worker OR

Registered/Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor OR

Certified Peer Support Specialist OR

Emergency Medical Technician OR

Paramedic OR

Registered Nurse OR

Licensed Vocational Nurse OR

Psychiatric Technician OR

Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist OR

Registered/Licensed Psychologist OR

Marriage and Family Therapist OR

Clinical Social Worker OR

Registered/Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor OR

Occupational Therapist

Other Qualified Provider

Required licenses, certifications and registrations must be maintained throughout employment in this class.

Incumbents will be required to work other than normal office hours. This position requires the ability to travel independently.

Failure to possess or maintain the required, valid licenses shall result in discipline up to and including termination of employment.

Typical Working Conditions

Works days, nights, weekends, and holiday shifts. Work is performed in various locations including office, clinic, community environments, institutional facilities, client homes or location of unhoused persons. Work may be performed outdoors in various climate conditions when traveling between locations. Work is performed with clients who may exhibit unstable and potentially violent behavior. Work requires continuous contact with other staff and the public.

Typical Physical Conditions

Sit for extended periods of time; frequently stand and walk; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; lift and move objects weighing up to 25 pounds; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment including computer, telephone, cellular phone, copiers, and FAX.