PRN Crisis Clinician

Department: Crisis | Employment Type: Part-time, Hourly, PRN | Location: Basalt, Colorado (Hybrid)

About the role

Aspen Hope Center mobile crisis clinicians respond from Aspen to Parachute, CO and interact with individuals served in a variety of settings, including but not limited to in their home, in the community, and in hospital settings. It is essential that all interactions are conducted in a professional, courteous, and ethical manner. Mobile crisis clinicians are responsible for making sure that each individual served is treated with compassion and that time is taken to determine the appropriate course of treatment.

A mobile crisis clinician’s role is to provide care and immediate mental health services to anyone who calls the 24/7 HOPEline. The clinician’s primary function is to assess and triage individuals who present with any type of mental health crisis – as defined by the caller. The role of the clinician will be to ensure continuity of care: an immediate and professional intake or evaluation, collaboration with proper agencies, referral to appropriate type and level of service, and advocacy for any treatment deemed necessary beyond the initial crisis.

Compensation: $32–$38/hour

Responsibilities

• Completes AHC Crisis Clinician training plan within 14 days of hire
• Provides coverage for at minimum 24 hours each month which may look like one 24-hour shift or two 12-hour on-call shifts, depending on coverage needs
• Unless otherwise required by the crisis services director or a crisis supervisor, PRN mobile crisis clinicians work from an AHC office, from 10am–4pm, for Monday–Friday shifts. The other part of the shift may be covered from a remote location, so long as the clinician is within AHC’s service footprint, from Aspen to Parachute, and within a one hour response time from the furthest town in the response region
• Maintains all agency-issued equipment (work phone, laptop, hotspot, etc.) while on shift and ensures it is picked up before passdown and returned to the office at the end of shift
• Answers calls and provides appropriate information and referral to the caller
• Available to travel for on-site evaluation in personal vehicle
• Maintains response time of 30–60 minutes from start of shift or request for evaluation
• Assesses nature of the call and initiates appropriate response, intervention and level of service
• When on scene, clinician will provide immediate crisis intervention services including suicide risk assessment, mental status exam and assessment of any other psychological and physical needs
• Collaborates with family or other appropriate persons, relevant to the situation at hand
• Staff dispatches, calls, and cases, when necessary, with the designated licensed clinician on call, or a crisis supervisor, or the crisis program director
• Obtains proper paperwork and maintains strict adherence to confidentiality
• Determines type and level of care for the individual assessed and documents accordingly
• Licensed as an intervening professional and able to initiate mental health holds (M1) when clinically necessary
• Contacts other agencies (EMS, law enforcement, etc.) when necessary
• Initiates emergency mental health for involuntary treatment only when necessary
• Provides individual served (and/or their family) with necessary written information for follow up and education, as well as consents that may be done with the agency or therapist receiving the individual for treatment
• Provides trauma-informed crisis intervention at 911 scenes when requested by first responders, supporting individuals through grief/distress while coordinating with emergency personnel and helping community members process unfolding events
• Establishes and maintains strong interagency relationships, to include first response agencies, local mental health professionals, human service agencies and psychiatric facilities throughout the state
• Participates in passdown each morning coming on or off shift and communicates all shift activity verbally to the clinician taking over during shift change
• Completes all clinical documentation for shift activity and enters into the EHR system prior to ending a shift. If a shift spans more than 24 hours, documentation for the day must be completed before the next business day
• Manages Google Workspace (Calendar and Gmail) and Slack, which includes responding to calendar invites and emails promptly during shifts
• Provides services in alignment with partner contracts (see addendum)
• Acknowledges and adheres to all policies and procedures of Aspen Hope Center
• Completes additional job related tasks as assigned by the Crisis Services Director or Crisis Supervisor
• Completes additional trainings, assigned by Crisis Services Director, based on program needs and availability
• Provides team coverage for three of the four AHC workshops annually

Work Environment

This position requires 12-hour or 24-hour shifts as part of the mobile crisis response team. Clinicians provide assessment, intervention, and stabilization services in diverse community-based settings. Regular travel in mountain terrain and winter weather conditions is expected. Clinicians must be able to safely operate their own vehicle in snow, ice, and variable visibility. There may be extended periods of standing, walking, and sitting. Work may involve exposure to high-stress and emotionally charged situations, to include interactions with high acuity individuals who may present as agitated, unpredictable, or combative. The clinician must demonstrate the ability to maintain therapeutic composure, exercise professional discretion, apply de-escalation techniques, and uphold safety for self and others in all environments. Capacity to maintain professional composure, make decisions in fast-paced or challenging environments, and adhere to process protocols is necessary in this role.

Requirements

• Has completed Colorado's Crisis Professionals Curriculum and holds certification
• Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, social work or related field required
• Colorado registration with DORA and licensed to practice independently (without clinical supervision) in the state of Colorado
• 5+ years of experience in a mental health setting or crisis intervention required
• 3+ years of experience in crisis role or proficiency in trauma and suicide assessments required
• 3+ years of experience in case management and crisis planning required
• 2+ years mobile crisis experience preferred
• English/Spanish bilingual abilities preferred

Skills

• Knowledge of DSM 5 diagnoses and symptoms
• Skilled at assessing level of suicidality in individuals who present for help
• Skilled at working with various types of individuals and knowing how to approach each one
• Skilled in basic computer operations
• Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and proceed with objectives without supervision
• Ability to maintain boundaries with individuals served, practitioners, agencies and community members
• Ability to engage effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, adapting communication and service delivery as needed
• Ability to uphold confidentiality and discretion at all times, adhering to the US Dept of Health and Human Services minimum necessary standard when disclosing and requesting public health information
• Ability to maintain composure, professionalism, and structure in any given situation
• Ability to maintain communication with clinical team on a daily basis
• Ability to handle and resolve recurring problems