Crisis Assessment Counselor (per diem)

The Crisis Assessment Counselor is an integral part of a multidisciplinary team working with clients in an outpatient mental health setting. While promoting the health and wellness of clients, the crisis assessment counselor completes a comprehensive assessment and determines the appropriate level of care and develops a stabilization plan for clients presenting in crisis. Clients present with complex medical, mental health, substance use, social service needs and psychosocial needs. The Crisis Assessment Counselor collaborates with the internal interdisciplinary team, the local hospitals, and a client's support system (when appropriate) regarding the mental health needs, diagnosis, symptoms, and lethality of a client's current condition. The Crisis Assessment Counselor coordinates referrals to community and mental health service providers as needed. When clients need a higher level of care for mental health or physical health needs, the crisis assessment counselor works with the Team to ensure the transfer and collateral information is provided to the entity accepting the client.

Essential Job Functions

• Supports and models behaviors consistent with Billings Clinic's mission, vision, values, code of business conduct and service expectations. Meets all mandatory organizational and departmental requirements. Maintains competency in all organizational and departmental requirements. Maintains competency in all organizational and departmental standards as it relates to the environment, employee, client safety or job performance. And practices the mission and philosophy of Billings Clinic and Community Crisis Center.
• Assessment and Interventions to assist in the determination of a diagnosis and the level of care needed to admit a client to CCC stabilization services or to refer clients to other organizations for psychiatric care or community sheltering.
• Responds to telephone crisis calls and accepts referrals from other organizations, hospitals, and law enforcement.
• In collaboration with the CCC Team members evaluates, plans, organizes, implements, and documents safe therapeutic client care consistent with Crisis Center values/goals and Billings Clinic departmental policies and procedures and those of the CCC also. Consideration will be given to cultural diversity needs and the appropriateness of care based on each individual client.
• On occasion, may provide collateral information to assist Billings Clinic with involuntary detention and commitment to assure compliance with state laws and Billings Clinic policies and procedures.
• Utilizes interviews, the client's support system, and client record reviews to identify barriers, set proper goals, minimize anxieties and maximize client cooperation in resolving their immediate crisis.
• Develops collaborative relationships with the Billings Clinic Psychiatric Team. Also works closely with the CCC interdisciplinary team to provide the best care possible.
• Interviews clients and their support systems, when applicable, in order to set proper goals and minimize anxieties and maximize cooperation.
• Demonstrates positive, supportive, and caring behaviors in communication with clients, families, visitors, physicians, staff, and others.
• Helps clients cope, accept, and adjust to issues related to mental health and substance use.
• Reviews the client record to identify environmental impediments and works with team members to resolve.
• Discusses goals and stabilization plans with clients and their support system to maximize compliance in meeting the goals.
• Performs duties to support CCC's goals and objectives in its effort to provide the least restrictive care in the most cost-effective system of care. Will only transfer to a higher level of care when the client is not appropriately served within the CCC or when the client will not agree to stay voluntarily at the CCC.
• Maintains basic knowledge regarding insurance benefits and reimbursement and completes all client billing sheets in a timely manner to ensure reimbursements.
• Assists with internal auditing by completing peer counselor chart audits as directed by the CCC Supervisor. Will also comply with any necessary corrections, in a timely manner, on his/her own charts if there are corrections warranted.
• Coordinates with internal discharge coordinator and coordinates necessary referrals to ensure services are in place. Provides the paperwork in a timely manner for the discharge coordinator. Monitors the need for revisions in the stabilization plans and makes recommendations to the interdisciplinary team. Modifies stabilization plans to comply with changes in a client's situation or needs.
• Monitors the need for revisions in a client's goal and works with other CCC counselors to modify goals and ensure the client can comply with care that is consistent with their current stage of change. Provides documentation and justification when a client goal is modified. Documentation will be timely, reflect professional practice and consistent with CCC policy.
• Takes a lead role in debriefing crisis situations within the CCC when a stressful incident occurs with clients, employees, and or security.
• Maintains competency in departmental policies and processes that are relevant to the performance of the counseling position.
• Identifies and anticipates problems and safety issues and initiates appropriate action. Maintains competency in all organizational, departmental and outside agency environmental, employee or client safety standards relevant to job performance
• Takes responsibility for the identification of own professional growth and development needs; meets all system/departmental educational requirements.
• Adheres to department and organizational policies addressing confidentiality, infection control, patient rights, mental health ethics, disaster protocols, and safety.
• Performs other duties as assigned or needed to meet the needs of the department/organization.
• Demonstrates the ability to be flexible, open minded and adaptable to change