Mobile Youth Crisis Clinician

Sign-On Bonus: $5,000 (paid half within 90 days and the remainder after 6 months). Retention Bonus: $1,250.

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.

Responsibilities

• Conduct risk assessments, consult with supervisors or DPBHS workers to determine the least restrictive level of care, and provide short-term therapeutic crisis intervention services for up to 30 days.
• Develop comprehensive skills in planning for safety, providing evaluations, diagnosis, and therapeutic crisis intervention services to children, adolescents, and their families.
• Provide therapeutic recommendations and referrals for children, adolescents, and their families, including follow-up services.
• Communicate with and provide appropriate documentation to the DPBHS team and other stakeholders to maintain a systems-based approach to crisis stabilization.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely therapeutic documentation from intake through discharge.
• Administer solution-focused and trauma-informed interventions to maintain safety, build skills, and address problem-solving, communication, and relationship conflicts.
• Uphold professional standards of treatment and the mission of the organization, maintaining a quality code of conduct, ethics, and professionalism.
• Provide goal-directed and team-oriented services, communicating effectively and professionally with all stakeholders.
• Participate in the Clinician On-Call rotation, including after-hours telehealth shifts (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.) 2-3 days per month.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school in a Human Services field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.
• Education/training in suicide risk prevention and intervention (preferred).
• Travel to client locations is required.

Skills

• Reliability and flexibility
• Customer service
• Written and verbal communication
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Assessment and intervention skills

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 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 requiring a more intensive 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 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 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. DGS also provides services tailored to meet the unique behavioral health care needs of child welfare-involved families and foster youth.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Incentive pay for specific roles
• Generous paid time off (starting at 44 days of paid leave per year)
• Up to 8% annual contribution to your retirement fund
• Free professional development opportunities
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and long-term disability insurance

Position Highlights

• Flexible/hybrid work environment (community-based)
• Salary plus $3,500 program premium
• Generous benefits and time off policies
• Ability to work with children through a mission-driven organization

Pay

Competitive compensation plus incentive pay for specific roles.

Schedule

• Flexible/hybrid work environment
• Participation in Clinician On-Call rotation, including after-hours telehealth shifts (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.) 2-3 days per month.