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Responsible for providing initial triage and screening of behavioral health services as requested by the Emergency Care Center. Within the emergency setting, provides crisis intervention and assessment to a broad range of psychiatric and substance disordered adults and children, managing patients’ needs to appropriate disposition. Collaborates with emergency care center staff as well as a team of outpatient and inpatient mental health professionals. These services are provided under the general supervision of the Assistant Manager of the Counseling Center and Crisis Intervention, with a collaborative reporting role to the System Director of Behavioral Health.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Provides direct crisis assessment and intervention services to patients
• Provides patient-focused and empathetic care to patients and their families.
• Interviews and assesses the patient and family for suicide lethality and/or dangerousness to others, current mental status, level of functioning, social supports, intoxication and other factors which impact treatment decisions.
• Provides immediate crisis counseling to stabilize a patient and to bring the situation under control.
• Manages to effective disposition: resolution of the crisis situation or facilitation of inpatient admission.
• Provides support and education to family supportive others of patients in crisis.

• Collaborates with the other units of the service line and the hospital
• Provides consultation to the emergency care center staff as requested.
• Assists staff of the emergency care center through therapeutic intervention of acute behavioral emergencies.
• Provides effective communication hand-off's in the transition of patient’s care to the emergency care center, inpatient behavioral health unit and outpatient services.
• Provides cross-program coverage and functions with the behavioral health inpatient unit other duties as assigned.
• Attends and participates in clinical case conferences or departmental staff meetings to ensure effective transition and continuity of care.

• Gathers collateral information and uses in treatment and dispositional planning
• Consults and confers with professional staff, emergency department staff, physicians, nurses, clergy, police officers, and other outside agencies.
• Gathers data, relays information for follow through, and refers to appropriate services.
• Establishes mechanisms for follow up contact and information and exchange with outside agencies.
• Post crisis intervention, establishes post-discharge contact with patients to monitor treatment compliance and reinforce the importance of treatment follow-up.

• Maintains all records and documentation according to policy and procedures
• Documents every assessment and/or intervention in a timely manner as defined by policy.
• Demonstrates quality in documentation, reflecting depth of understanding of elements of risk, the patient’s dynamics, and motivation /readiness for change.
• Demonstrates the ability to succinctly synthesize biopsychosocial data into an integrative clinical summary of the patient.
• Involves and documents the patient’s involvement in the treatment process, initiating crisis safety planning as appropriate.

• Maintains responsibility for own professional development
• Engages actively in clinical supervision and monthly staff meetings.
• Demonstrates achievement towards annual professional goals.
• Maintains /expands professional skills, keeping current with the field of emergency psychiatric medicine.

Educational / Minimum Requirements:

Master’s degree in mental health

State/Federal Mandated Licensure or Certification Requirements:

State of Connecticut licensure required, or must be in process of obtaining licensure, with license to be obtained within timeframe prescribed by supervisor.

Bristol Hospital Mandated Educational Requirements:

General orientation at time of hire. Fire/Safety/Infection Control annually. Clinical supervision as scheduled. Other programs as mandated by Hospital including CPI training.

Special Requirements:

• Considerable knowledge and experience working with a broad range of diagnoses, patient populations, and age groups; substance abuse; psychiatric and co-occurring disorders
• Strong risk assessment skills as well as crisis intervention and management skills
• Working knowledge of community resources and treatment services

Physical Requirements:

Frequent walking, standing and sitting. Occasional physical requirements involve bending, stooping, stair climbing, kneeling and light lifting. Activities such as climbing ladders, crouching, balancing, reaching, twisting and looking at computer monitors are limited. Vision and hearing should be corrected to the normal range.

Work Environment:

High energy professional with ability to work as an interdisciplinary team member in a fast paced work environment

Cognitive Requirements:

• Excellent comprehension, written and verbal skills, able to communicate effectively and to organize and utilize data.
• Strong clinical and problem solving skills with the ability to exercise professional judgment independently and collaboratively

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.