Mobile Mental Health Associate (Project Respond/Emergency Department Diversion Team)

Job Overview

Location/Schedule: Work is performed in the community setting including client residences, schools, police precincts, shelters, residential facilities, and public spaces, but the position is based out of Kerns building in NE Portland, OR. The schedule is Tuesday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

About the Role

The Mobile Mental Health Associate working with the Emergency Department Diversion Team acts as an Emergency Department Liaison and provides outreach and support to individuals identified in local emergency departments as needing additional support and advocacy in order to reduce the need for a higher level of care and provide stabilization in the community. This position works as part of a team and approaches work with people from a trauma-informed, strength-based, perspective and works in concert with programs in Multnomah County’s Acute Care Continuum.

Responsibilities

• Assess individual protective and risk factors as well as capabilities and resources in order to guide intervention.
• Absorb and utilize collateral information to assess risk factors for harm to self or others in the context of the client’s current psycho-social context.
• Triage requests for service as they come into the office from Emergency Departments.
• Collaborate with community agencies and service providers to coordinate responses to situations.
• Identify and assess risk factors for harm to self or others in the context of the client’s current psycho-social context via interview with client and with consideration given to collateral information; consider and articulate potential outcomes of various interventions, discuss their risks and benefits, and formulate why a particular course of action was pursued in lieu of other options; opt for least intrusive and most supportive intervention.
• Provide assessment dispositions to treatment providers and emergency departments as appropriate.
• Provide short term engagement, advocacy, referral, and support in the community to individuals originally assessed in Emergency Department.
• Assess for personal safety in the environment and request law enforcement support as appropriate.
• Provide information and facilitate linkage to mental health treatment and other social services.
• Consult with teammates, supervisors, program managers, and program medical directors as appropriate.
• Provide clinical consultation to other Cascadia Programs and Emergency Department staff when appropriate.
• Document and maintain electronic health record (EHR) and ancillary records in a manner that assures compliance with all agency policies, program procedures and local, state, and federal regulations.
• Demonstrate responsibility for safety of consumers, staff and property; possess familiarity with fire regulations and evacuation procedures.
• Adhere to mandatory abuse reporting, HIPPA and complete annual employee training requirements on a timely basis as indicated in the licensing requirements for the facility as well as agency requirements.
• Attend seminars, trainings and other educational opportunities in order to develop professional skills and abilities.
• Participate in all scheduled staff meetings, supervision sessions, and other departmental and agency meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Education: Must meet the requirement to be credentialed as a Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) through MHACBO. A QMHA requires a Bachelor's degree in a behavioral science field from an accredited college or university , three years full time related work experience in mental health, or a combination of the two (an equivalency of three years). Certification must be current and in compliance with the OAR’s.
• Experience: At least one year of experience working with individuals suffering from serious and persistent mental illness, providing a broad range of clinical intervention and completing mental health assessments. Equivalent combination of education/experience preferably in a non-profit organization preferred.
• Specialized Skills And Knowledge: Conduct a Mental Status assessment, Knowledge of risk assessment and crisis intervention, Understand evidence based practices, and strength based case management philosophies and strategies including trauma informed care, Operate computer hardware and software at a level needed to effectively perform job functions.
• Other: Possess a valid driver’s license, three year driving history; clean driving record, ability to pass Driver Motor Vehicle (DMV) check and complete the Cascadia online Defensive Driving course. This position requires the ability to drive a personal or company vehicle for the completion of work duties.