Crisis Specialist; Overnights

Join to apply for the Crisis Specialist (Overnights) role at Ozark Center

Minimum starting salary $19.06 / hour. Crisis Specialist is a member of the Ozark Center Crisis Intervention Team and is responsible for providing crisis intervention and resolution twenty-four (24) hours per day, every day. Crisis Specialists connect with a 24‑hour emergency hotline and have access to a physician for consultation and emergency face‑to‑face intervention when appropriate. They provide services to individuals impacted by a variety of behavioral health (addiction/substance use and mental health) issues and demonstrate a warm, welcoming, empathic, hopeful attitude, conveying a philosophy of dual recovery.

Crisis Specialists are trained in trauma‑informed care and work to ensure a sensitive and responsive environment that prevents victimization, abuse, or trauma as a result of care received. They are supervised by a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP).

• A master’s degree in behavioral health or a related field, meeting the criteria as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) as outlined by the Missouri Department of Mental Health, having completed a practicum or one (1) year of experience in behavioral health.
• A Qualified Additional Professional (QAP) as outlined by the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
• A bachelor’s degree in a human services field with at least one (1) year of experience in behavioral health or a social service related field.
• A high school diploma with any combination of four years of higher education and/or qualifying experience in behavioral health.

• Experience is considered as a combination of direct work experience, approved graduate‑level education, and/or graduate‑level clinical internship.
• One (1) year of experience in crisis intervention work is preferred.

• Provide direct clinical service in managing crisis intervention and hospitalization in emergency situations.
• Assure that the following basic principles of crisis intervention underlie delivery of these services:
  • Assistance must be easily accessed and immediately available.
  • Crisis should be viewed in systems terms, suggesting the need to involve significant others to resolve the precipitating event, if possible.
  • Crisis services should focus on the present and reduce stress and tension.
  • Medication may be a necessary strategy to reduce stress.
  • Active intervention including advocacy, supportive guidance, and identification of adaptive responses are generally required to resolve the crisis.
• Evaluate all identified Ozark Center patients at the Crisis Services Office by phone only. This shall include Ozark Center patients whose case manager is unavailable during regular business hours.
• Provide phone consultation for all emergency room patients who are requiring some type of referral or deposition from the hospital staff.
• Be knowledgeable in involuntary detention laws and procedures and consult with the area Mental Health Coordinator and/or Community Behavioral Health Liaison.
• The Crisis Specialist shall report to the Crisis Services Supervisor for program specific supervision and shall be under the administration of the Director and Assistant of Crisis Services.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

• Normal office environment.
• Ability to stay awake and be responsive throughout shift.
• Typical demands include prolonged sitting, frequent standing, bending, stooping, and occasional lifting up to 25 pounds.
• Requires normal range of hearing and manual dexterity sufficient to operate keyboard, telephone, photocopier, calculator, and other office equipment as needed.
• Requires ability to work under stressful conditions and to work irregular hours and deal with irate individuals.
• TB test upon hire.