Mobile Youth Crisis Clinician

Retention Bonus: $625

About the role

Under the supervision of the Crisis Clinical Coordinator, the Crisis Clinician will provide rapid response screening, assessment, and counseling intervention services to youth and families experiencing urgent psychological and emotional problems (e.g., aggressive and defiant behavior due to problems with emotion regulation, suicidal/homicidal ideation, plans, or attempts, family conflicts, etc.). The role focuses on maintaining safety and implementing therapeutic treatment plans in a community-based setting.

The incumbent is responsible for conducting risk assessments, consulting with appropriate supervisors or DPBHS workers to determine the level of care needed, and providing short-term, therapeutic crisis intervention services for up up to 30 days. Additionally, the incumbent will handle therapeutic documentation of cases from intake through discharge.

Responsibilities

• Risk Assessment:
  • Maintain professional, trauma-informed, and empathetic interactions during crisis situations with families and stakeholders.
  • Use critical thinking and risk management skills to assess and decide on the least restrictive level of care.
  • Understand and utilize knowledge about warning signs and risk factors associated with suicide risk and harm to others.
  • Develop comprehensive skills in planning for safety and providing evaluations, diagnosis, and therapeutic crisis intervention services to children, adolescents, and their families.
• Case Management:
  • Provide therapeutic recommendations and referrals for children, adolescents, and their families referred for assessments and follow-up services.
  • Communicate with and provide appropriate documentation to the DPBHS team.
  • Engage with stakeholders to maintain a systems-based approach to stabilizing crisis situations.
  • Maintain complete, accurate, and timely documentation.
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention:
  • Plan and administer solution-focused and trauma-informed interventions to maintain safety, build skills, and address problem-solving, communication, and relationship conflicts.
• General Responsibilities:
  • Uphold professional standards of treatment and the mission of the organization.
  • Maintain a quality code of conduct, ethics, and professionalism.
  • Provide goal-directed and team-oriented services.
  • Communicate effectively and professionally with all stakeholders.
  • Participate in Clinician On-Call rotation, including after-hours telehealth (11p-7a, 2-3 days a month).

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited school in a Human Services field.
• Valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.
• Travel to locations where the client resides or is located.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited school in a Human Services field.
• Education/Training in suicide risk prevention and intervention.

Skills

• Reliability & Flexibility
• Customer Service
• Written and Verbal Communication
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Assessment and Intervention Skills

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation
• Incentive Pay for Specific Roles
• Flexible / Hybrid work environment (community-based)
• Generous benefits and time off policies
• On-Call Pay available
• Paid Training
• Ability to work with children through a mission-driven organization

Schedule

• Weekday and weekend availability needed.
• Rotation of on-call telehealth for after hours (11p-7a, 2-3 days a month).

About Delaware Guidance Services

Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth, Inc. (DGS) is the largest provider of outpatient behavioral health services to children and families in Delaware. We operate offices in Wilmington, Newark, Dover, Lewes, and Seaford, and we are the only statewide not-for-profit outpatient behavioral health organization for children and adolescents accredited by JCAHO.

In 2020, we were honored as a Compassionate Champion for our dedication to serving youth and families using a trauma-informed approach. Through DGS, clients and families have access to outpatient counseling, group therapy, parent-child interaction therapy, and school-based services. Our community-based service lines serve youth and families who require a more intense therapeutic protocol.

DGS’ 24-hour statewide Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) dispatches skilled crisis intervention clinicians to provide immediate care to children experiencing behavioral health crises. Therapeutic options are available for a wide range of diagnoses including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, traumatic stress-related disorders, and suicidal ideation.

In 2021, DGS clinicians provided over 54,000 direct care hours to children, youth, and families in Delaware. Over 93% of clients report improvement in their level of functioning following treatment, and therapeutic benefits derived from trauma-informed care extend to clients’ siblings, caregivers, classmates, and peers.

Our client population is racially and ethnically diverse; 80% of DGS clients are Medicaid recipients and 90% have household incomes under $30,000. Many of our clients present with significant treatment challenges including learning impacts due to missed school and negative economic impact due to parental missed work. We provide care to anyone in need, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay for care. DGS also provides services specifically tailored to meet the unique behavioral health care needs of child welfare-involved families and foster youth.