Job Description

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

Mental health first responders serving Salt Lake County residents for on-demand, in-person crisis intervention, de-escalation, suicide risk assessment, and connection to behavioral health resources. Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) clinicians engage with key community stakeholders such as law enforcement, fire/EMS, shelters, businesses, and private citizens. Receive dispatch referrals for in-person response from the Utah Crisis Line (988) and directly from 911 partners for immediate deployment. Operate in teams of 2 for community-based safety and required billing purposes. Act as the behavioral health first responder on scene (and often only responder on scene) with the goal of avoiding law enforcement/EMS response to behavioral health emergencies unless there is a physical safety concern present on scene. This position is partnered with and offers on-scene supervision to a peer specialist (Certified Peer Support Specialist, Family Peer Support Specialist, or bachelor’s level Certified Crisis Worker).

Corporate Overview: University of Utah Health is an integrated academic healthcare system with five hospitals including a level 1 trauma center, eleven community health centers, over 1,600 providers, and a health plan serving over 200,000 members. University of Utah Health is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. In addition to our clinical delivery system, we have a School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, and College of Health providing education and training for over 1,250 providers annually. We have over 2 million patient visits annually and research grants exceeding $350 million. University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics represents our clinical operations for the larger health system.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Immediately responds to deployment request from Utah Crisis Line (988) dispatchers and/or 911 dispatchers for in-person, crisis and behavioral health emergency situations. Expected response time is arriving on scene within 30 minutes of law enforcement requests and within 60 minutes of community member requests.
• At the direction of MCOT dispatchers, triages and prioritizes community response based on highest acuity behavioral health emergencies.
• Following provided training and certification, acts as a mental health officer of the Salt Lake District Court to assess patients’ risk of harm to self/others and determine if involuntary commitment criteria is met for further assessment and/or hospitalization.
• Engages with the patient, family/friends, other first responders (to include law enforcement/EMS), and other individuals on scene to coordinate crisis intervention and collaborative emergency care.
• Follows all behavior management, de-escalation strategies, and crisis intervention protocols and procedures.
• Develops and implements individualized crisis response and safety plan to meet the needs of each patient (and their families as applicable) and coordinates with applicable community partners on contingency plans in case of behavioral health crisis escalation.
• Asses ses and provides for the patient’s behavioral health and social needs through connection to the appropriate level of behavioral health care and community referrals based on departmental training, as well as hospital and State policy and emergency service protocols.
• Attends safety training which involves local law enforcement and/or University of Utah Health Safety and Security, as well as required training around situational awareness, risk assessments for both the patient and others, and appropriate response to potential on scene weapons or illegal substances.
• Provides practicing oversight of Social Service Workers, Certified Social Workers, Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselors, and/or interns in accordance with Utah state law.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Ability to communicate verbally as well as in writing.

• Must be able to work effectively in a team environment and demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively with external partners while abiding by all confidentiality laws and pertinent codes of conduct.

• Maintain clinical competency and resource knowledge required to meet changing services/supports, community, and industry trends.

• Must have strong problem-solving skills.

• Must be detailed oriented and organized.

• Demonstrated flexibility and adapts well to change.

• Is able to assess and stabilize different ages and stages of development/lifespan and different cultural backgrounds and experiences.

• Ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.

• Demonstrate effective de-escalation techniques and utilization of crisis intervention skills.

• Ability to assist patients and their families with treatment adjustments including but not limited to working closely with local, state and federal agencies to ensure the patient receives the appropriate assistance.

Qualifications

Required

• Hazmat Training within 30 days of hire

Licenses Required

• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.

• One of the following
  • Current Licensed Clinical Social Worker (L.C.S.W.) certificate for clinical practice in the State of Utah.
  • Current license to practice as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor in the State of Utah.

* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Qualifications (Preferred)

Preferred

• Experience working with community resources, instructing and supervising Social Service Workers, Certified Social Workers, Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselors, interns and/or other caseworkers.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This position involves intermediate work that may exert up to 50 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects while providing patient care to those requiring psychiatric care.

• Requires manual dexterity, balance, eyesight, and hearing.

• Incumbents in this position may be subjected to hazardous chemicals, adverse weather conditions, communicable diseases and possible verbal and physical abuse due to people being under the influence of illicit drugs or having undiagnosed/diagnosed mental health condition(s).

• Outreach and engagement may take place in locations not intended for human habitation.

• This position will drive a mobile unit vehicle or other vehicle (that is provided by the department). In the off-chance department vehicles are under maintenance, staff may be asked to drive their personal vehicles and may submit mileage reimbursement for shift-related driving.

Physical Requirements

Carrying, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Walking