JOB TITLE: Mental Health Specialist I (Crisis Dispatcher)

LOCATION: Pendleton

FLSA: 1.0 FTE, 40 hours per week (Wed-Fri 7am-8:20pm)

SUPERVISOR: Umatilla Crisis Supervisor

Pay Grade: B08 ($25.19 - $36.97 per hour depending on experience)

**Plus shift differential pay ranging from $1 to $2.50 for working nights and weekends

**Bilingual - Eligible for 10% pay increase after passing language test

*** $5,500 Hiring Bonus until 10/31/26!!

(2 year Commitment, Staggered-taxed Payout)

Community Counseling Solutions provides a team-based Servant Leadership environment! Located in Eastern Oregon with year-round recreation based near the Columbia River and at the base of the Blue Mountains. Big city amenities in rural family-oriented communities.

Apply Directly at https://ccswebsite.org/employment/

Our mission is to provide dynamic, progressive, and diverse supports to improve the well-being of our communities and we’re looking for motivated employees to help us continue our vision!

CCS has a benefit package including, but not limited to:

• Health, dental and vision insurance
• 6% initial 401K match
• Potential for tuition reimbursement
• Paid vacation tiers ranging from accrual of 1 day to 4 days per month (Annual rollover cap of 220 hours, additional hours can be paid out at the end of the fiscal year)
• 9 Paid holidays, Community service day
• Floating holiday & 2 Wellness days provided after 1 year introduction
• Workplace Flexibility schedule options available after 1 year introduction (work from home hours vary by position & schedule)
• Employee Assistance, Wellness Benefits, Dependent Care & Long-Term Disability Insurance

DESCRIPTION

Provides culturally competent and appropriate behavioral health treatment to people served by Community Counseling Solutions. The position provides the treatment in accordance with the Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR’s) and the mission and values of CCS. This position provides prompt and thorough services via telephone or in person, and provides written and verbal communication where indicated. The position works closely with other involved community partners and is professional in all aspects of service delivery. Additionally, this position assists administration in meeting the behavioral health needs of the community.

This department is 24 hours a day 7 days a week, shifts are determined by supervisor.

SUPERVISION

Supervision Received

This position is supervised by the Crisis Supervisor.

Supervision Exercised

This position does not supervise other employees.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Demonstrate ability to assimilate data from a wide range of observations, and use various clinical techniques and skills in gathering the client’s personal, family, medical, and psychiatric histories.
• Establish short-term goals with clients, provide follow-up services as needed, and make appropriate/expeditious referrals. Provides support/case management functions in accordance with the goals identified in order to assist the clients in achieving stated goals and objectives.
• Demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of community services and resources and actively encourages clients to access them.
• Provide home visits and other outreach services to schools and other agencies/providers that are necessary and appropriate.
• Thoroughly screen referrals to assure proper utilization of Outpatient Services.
• Promptly and accurately complete clinical records and all collateral forms as necessary and required.
• Arrange for hospitalization of clients, either on a voluntary or involuntary basis, and thoroughly assess to assure that it is the least restrictive alternative. Crisis Worker will act expeditiously in assisting police and all community agencies, including hospital staff.
• Arrange emergency/temporary placement as appropriate.
• Will work as part of a mental health emergency response team and avail themselves to work various non-traditional work hours covering call-offs when feasible.
• Cooperate with all referral sources and will provide assistance, directions, and feedback as necessary and appropriate.
• Provide consultation services to hospital departments and other providers as necessary and appropriate.
• Actively participate in joint case planning and coordination with agency employees and relevant agency contractors. Act as a liaison between clients and other agencies. Act as a client advocate when appropriate.
• Actively participate in group and individual supervision sessions.
• Work with other staff and community representatives to initiate new programs, reviews, evaluates and revises existing programs as necessary.
• Perform joint case planning and coordination in areas of behavioral health with other community agencies including but not limited to: schools, group homes, police organizations, district attorney’s offices, courts, community clinics and hospitals and other agencies in the Department of Human Services.
• Provide behavioral health and addiction education, prevention and information to various interest groups.
• Provide after hours emergency services on a 24 hour, rotating basis to adults and children. This includes telephone consultation and crisis intervention in the community.
• Provides input to staff regarding treatment and discharge planning for clients served by the Crisis team. Arrange services for new clients awaiting placement on treatment team (i.e., appointment with physician, nurse, crisis bed placement, etc.)
• Complete all paperwork in a way that is professional, clinically sound and timely as prescribed by the OAR’s and other pertinent guidelines. Required to ensure that all paperwork is present, and/or the client record is well maintained.
• Attend trainings, meetings, conferences, etc. as directed by administration and use the information gathered to benefit the agency and the customers.
• Assist clinicians in the facilitation of groups as requested.
• Utilize agency software/computer systems to prepare current client records of treatment and reports as necessary and required.
• Transports clients as required
• Provide consultation and services to client’s telephonically when answering 24 hour crisis hotline.
• Establish effective working relationships with clients, clients’ families, and team members.
• Must report all abuse to appropriate legal office, complete all necessary paperwork and investigations, and develop safety plans as required.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and/or Experience

A Bachelor’s degree in a behavioral sciences field, nursing or occupational therapy from an accredited college and licensed by the State of Oregon; or high school diploma and three years of equivalent training and work experience; or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Certifications

Oregon QMHA will be required within 6 months of hire

Other Skills and Abilities

• Must possess, or have the ability to acquire, knowledge of symptoms and challenges faced by people with mental illness and addictions. Must have, or possess the ability to acquire, knowledge about relevant OAR’s.
• Must have the ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing and have the ability to work independently and complete all designated tasks and/or assignments in a thorough and timely fashion.
• Understands the special needs of patients with co-occurring disorders (mental health and substance abuse), and utilizes appropriate assessment and intervention techniques.
• Must have skills to professionally work with the public and the ability to coordinate services across various agencies and community groups.
• Must be able to develop cooperative and respectful relationships with clients and their families.
• Must have knowledge, or the ability to acquire knowledge, about the recovery model.
• Must possess the ability to represent the interest of the customer and the agency in a favorable light in the community.
• Must have the ability to work well with teams and other groups of individuals.
• Must be computer literate and have the ability to type and utilize word processing and other software programs/systems.
• The position requires the handling of highly confidential information. Must adhere to rules and laws pertaining to client confidentiality.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS

Must pass all criminal history check requirements as required by ORS 181.536-181.537 and in accordance with OAR 410-007-0200 through 410-007-0380.

In addition to a pre-employment background check, each employee, volunteer and contractor shall be checked on a monthly basis against the OIG and GSA exclusion lists, as well as other federal and state agency lists. If it is discovered that an employee, volunteer or contractor is excluded or sanctioned it will be the cause for immediate termination of employment, volunteering, or the termination of the contract.

Pre-hire Drug Screen

PERSONAL AUTO INSURANCE

Must hold a valid driver’s license as well as personal auto insurance for privately owned Vehicles utilized for CCS business such as client service purposes, travel between business offices and the community, to attend required meetings and trainings.

Must show proof of $300,000 or more liability coverage for bodily injury and $100,000 or more in property damage, and maintain said level of coverage for the duration of employment at CCS.

The employee’s insurance is primary with CCS insurance being secondary. CCS reserves the right to deny any employee the use of a vehicle owned by CCS.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use office automation including computer and phone systems that require find manipulation, grasping, typing and reaching.

The employee is also regularly required to sit; talk and hear; use hands and fingers and handle, smell or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; stoop; kneel and/or squat when adjusting equipment or retrieving supplies.

The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.

When serving in the on-call rotation, employee may be required to perform on less than optimal amounts of sleep.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in an office environment as well as in the community. The noise level in the office environment is usually moderate, but occasionally one may be exposed to loud noises. The noise in the community, including the homes of customers, is often difficult to predict. Some individuals in this position may be required to drive long distances routinely as a part of their regular job duties. Occasional out of area travel and overnight stays will be required for attendance at meetings and/trainings.

However, the employee also will be required to work in the communities, homes and other living environments, of the clients we serve. Handicap access may not be available at all places where this position must go. There are some situations where this position may be required to respond to environments where a client is in crisis. The environments in these situations are difficult to predict and may be in uneven terrain.

This position exposes the employee to the everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as an office.

This position exposes the employee to the everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as an office.

Community Counseling Solutions IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER