Crisis Intervention Specialist - Augusta

About the role

Becoming part of the Sweetser family means you can make a difference in the lives of Maine children, adults, and families every day. As a nationally recognized and accredited leader, we offer competitive salaries, a wide range of benefits and the opportunity to join a passionate team of more than 700 employees.

Responsibilities

• Respond to clients' calls for assistance in their homes, at schools, in other community locations, or in community hospital's emergency rooms.
• Respond to crisis calls from parents, teachers, police officers, other guardians and youths asking for immediate help with a child or family in crisis. Respond to those crisis calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Respond to requests for crisis intervention, consultation and support from person served, family members, community-based service providers and state agencies in order to resolve crisis situations involving children and/or adults who are experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis.
• Determine the need for a face-to-face assessment and, if needed, negotiate a meeting site convenient for the individual that provides safety for all involved.
• Absorb and communicate directly with persons experiencing a crisis in order to assess mental status, current level of functioning, and the person's wishes and goals for crisis resolution.
• Develop a crisis stabilization plan with the person served and family or guardian, if involved, based on a comprehensive crisis assessment that includes mental status and risk assessments.
• Request protective custody interventions by law enforcement personnel in order to resolve potentially life-threatening situations.
• Facilitate voluntary or involuntary hospitalization in accordance with state regulations.
• Facilitate the use of alternatives to hospitalization, including voluntary admission to crisis stabilization units.
• Develop and participate in implementation of crisis follow-up treatment plan by providing intervention services, including the provision of brief case management services and aftercare.
• Transport clients.

Requirements

• Clean Driver's license.

Qualifications

Persons with lived experience in the Mental Health and/or Substance Abuse system are encouraged to apply.