Mobile Crisis Counselor / CARE Team bei Town of Chapel Hill, NC

About the Department

Summary

This position is part of the Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) Team. The CARE team responds remotely and/or in person to behavioral health emergencies that do not require a law enforcement response. This position is primarily dedicated to serving on the mobile CARE Team unit. 

In collaboration with a Peer Support Specialist and a Community EMT, the Crisis Counselor responds to non-emergency 911 behavioral health calls. Together, the team delivers immediate crisis intervention and support services with the goal of enhancing stability and minimizing interactions with law enforcement, emergency mental health hospitalization, and incarceration.

This position is scheduled for late afternoon and evening shifts. Flexibility is required, as work hours may change to meet the evolving needs of the team, department, and community.

Position Duties

Essential Functions

• Triage, assess, and respond to behavioral and mental health, substance use, and intellectual developmental disability related calls that are non-emergent.
• Respond with a team, that also includes a community EMT and a peer support specialist, to behavioral health calls that do not require a law enforcement response.
• Work on-call as a part of the team rotation. On-call response does include responses to emergency calls with officers to emotionally stabilize persons and link them with community resources. Types of calls may include but are not limited to psychiatric emergencies and suicide attempts; crime victims; family violence and child abuse; interpersonal conflicts and violence; indecent exposure; traumatic events such as a death of a family member, missing child, natural disaster or residential fire.
• Provide follow-up contact with appropriate parties once situation is stabilized.  Must be willing to deliver services in varying environments such as homes, schools, jails, homeless shelters, campsites, and various community locations.
• Conduct mental health, well-being and traumatic stress response assessments. Assess risk and potential lethality to victims and/or during psychiatric emergencies. Provide short-term counseling and support during crisis response. Conduct safety planning and assist in developing risk mitigation strategies for individuals, schools and other community agencies.
• Interpret needs through a person-centered, trauma informed and intersectional approach.
• Respond to concerns from citizens, other town employees, or human service agencies regarding individuals needing services for stabilization.
• Receive requests for services from individuals or human service agencies, providing short-term counseling service and assisting in determining an appropriate resolution.
• Provide external and internal training on Crisis related issues. Assist with the development and delivery of community programming.
• Participate in community outreach and engagement activities
• Ensure up-to-date knowledge and methods of profession by attending and participating in training, participating with clinical and administrative supervision, and other staff developmental activities; and provides input to department procedures and operations.
• Provide mutual aid to assist other law enforcement, court, schools and victim service agencies as appropriate.
• Act as a liaison between the Police Department and other service agencies such as local mental health agencies and hospitals, social and human services agencies, emergency service providers, civic and community groups and court personnel.  
• Collaborate with other community resources for referrals, information sharing and continuity of care.  
• Initiate, complete, and maintain accurate program records and documentation in accordance with policies and procedures.  
• Perform other duties as required

Supervision Exercised

None

Physical Demands

The work requires intermittent sitting, standing, walking, running, or stooping. This position requires the ability to traverse adverse or uneven terrain, and work in all weather conditions. The employee uses equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity and medium strength. The employee must possess the visual and hearing acuity to operate position-related technology.

Work Environment

This is a field-based crisis response position.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

A bachelor’s degree, master’s preferred, in social work, psychology, counseling or other program of study directly related to the occupational field or equivalent education and experience.

Experience

At least three years of professional work experience within the social service/human service field with experience in crisis work.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of community-based behavioral health principles and psychotherapeutic treatment techniques
• Strong theoretical and practical understanding of crisis intervention methods and techniques
• Strong understanding of best practices relating to duties of the position and the ability to work independently, making sound decisions based on best practices, laws, policies, and procedures.
• Proficiency in and commitment to multicultural competence and experience working with individuals from culturally diverse populations, including underrepresented and/or underserved populations.
• Ability to participate in an on-call rotation which includes some weekends and holidays.
• Ability to work a rotating schedule, as needed, which includes some days, evenings, and nights. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, community members, and supervisors.
• Ability to work as a member of a team
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to solve problems within scope of responsibility.
• Model behavior that is consistent with our town values of RESPECT.
• Utilize a computer and various word processing and database software applications.

Certifications

Possession of or the ability to obtain a valid driver’s license issued by the state of NC.  

Other Qualifications

Supplemental Information

This classification has been designated as Safety Sensitive and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing. 

The position is driving essential and must conform to the Town's Safe Driving and Accident Policy and procedures.