Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team Clinician (Mental Health Services, Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team)

The Johns Hopkins University strives to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all who live, work, or visit our campuses. To meet the evolving standards of collaborative mental health crisis response services, Johns Hopkins University (JHU) has launched a Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team (BHCST), staffed by licensed mental health clinicians and specially trained Johns Hopkins Public Safety officers. While the BHCST responds to calls for service regardless of affiliation, most BHCST clients are JHU students and learners.

The JHU Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team (BHCST) is seeking a Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team Clinician  (Casual/PRN) to join the team to provide shift coverage for staff leave, extended absences, university closures, and as needed to maintain 24/7 operations. In general, this position offers pickup of 6–12-hour shifts that could include weekdays, evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnight on call.

The BHCST clinical team is part of the Mental Health Services organization within the division of Student Health and Well-Being (SHWB). SHWB provides primary care, mental health, and health education and promotion services to JHU students and learners across the University's nine schools.

BHCST clinicians co-respond with Johns Hopkins Public Safety (JHPS) officers 24/7/365 to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. Modeled after successful efforts in major cities, the JHU BHCST is one of the first mobile crisis co-responder programs in a university setting in the United States, and the first to launch a 24/7/365 service model. The BHCST clinical team staffs the Access Line, which provides telephone support for individuals in crisis as well as consultation support for faculty and staff. Clinicians triage phone calls and provide mobile crisis co-response with JHPS officers to calls for service within the Homewood, Mt. Vernon and East Baltimore campus footprints and in select off-campus residential locations. In general, JHPS transports clinicians to clients in crisis.

The team operates on a 12-hour shift model, with coverage rotating between all staff to cover weekends, holidays, and evenings. On-site coverage shifts cover the hours of 9:30am – 2:00am, with overnight on-call shifts covering the Access Line. Clinicians are required to respond to campus within 30-minutes for overnight calls that necessitate an in-person mobile crisis response.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

- This position’s direct clinical service responsibilities will be primarily based on and around the Baltimore campuses, as well as virtual services in Washington, D.C.
- See minimum qualifications for required timeframes for licensure. Jurisdictions required, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
- Percentages of duties and responsibilities are given as a general guideline, and will vary depending on time of year, needs of the clinical service, and liaison/program coordination responsibilities.

Mobile Crisis Response (80%)

- Creates a warm and welcoming clinical environment where clients feel supported and respected during times of crisis and as they pursue their personal, academic, and professional goals.
- Provides on-site, in-person, rapid response to students, staff, faculty, and neighbors who present with behavioral health concerns and/or crisis.
- Conducts in-depth mental health assessments and determines the level of risk to the individual and/or others, noting contributing environmental, medical, psychiatric, and/or interpersonal factors.
- Works closely with JHPS on scene to intervene in response to calls received through JHPS dispatch or the BHCST Access Line; consults JHPS lead, clinical team leaders, and colleagues to determine appropriate intervention(s) as needed.
- Provides referrals to appropriate internal resources for JHU faculty and staff, and community resources to non-affiliates.
- Arranges transportation for clients by JHPS or local law enforcement partners to emergency and crisis facilities, when appropriate.
- In consultation with the BHCST Associate Director, senior or lead clinician, issues emergency petitions when a higher level of care is clinically indicated, and voluntary admission is declined.
- Accompanies clients in need of hospitalization to the emergency room or community facility transported by JHPS; provides collateral information to hospital/facility staff and confirms disposition of the case.
- Provides or secures emotional and resource supports for bystanders and others impacted by critical incidents, including family, roommates, friends, other first responders, and the community at large.
- Communicates and collaborates with SHWB and other campus resources to facilitate continuity of care for students and learners in crisis.
- Participates in on-call rotations or Access Line and overnight mobile crisis response as needed for shift coverage.
- Conducts critical incident debriefings and facilitates supportive intervention for the JHU community following deaths or events with significant campus impact.
- Provides ongoing case management and follow-up to clients to facilitate stabilization and transition to counseling, psychiatry, or other appropriate SHWB and/or community resources.
- Provides in-person or virtual bridge appointments to clients when needed.
- Consults and collaborates with campus partners including Student Outreach and Support, non-clinical case managers, student affairs staff, and other relevant resources.
- Receives on-call reports from after-hours contracted service; documents contacts in electronic health record and conducts clinical or case management follow-up as appropriate.
- Completes documentation and administrative duties in accordance with MHS policies and procedures.
- Other duties as assigned.

Collaborative & Other Activities (20%)

- Participates in ride-along with JHPS/JHPD to develop relationships with officers and community members, and to maintain knowledge of service areas.
- Maintains collaborative relationships with JHPS officers and participates in joint training, meetings, and team-building activities.
- Remains abreast of current literature and research on student behavioral health and evidence-based intervention strategies.
- Contributes to professional development of trainees and SHWB staff through provision of didactic training and seminars.
- Participates in case consultation, student risk management, peer chart reviews, and other departmental committees.
- Participates in clinical training programs; board-approved supervisors may provide individual or group supervision to trainees or staff under supervision.
- Facilitates outreach and educational activities including resource fairs, community meetings, and training to JHU faculty, staff, and students.
- Participates in MHS recruitment and hiring processes.

Special Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in clinical work and all professional activities.
- Experience working on a mobile crisis team preferred.
- Experience in a university/higher education setting preferred.
- Language skills in Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin and/or Cantonese) or Korean preferred.
- Excellent interpersonal, listening, verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with teammates, campus partners, and community groups.
- Proven ability to relate effectively to a wide variety of people of various ages and backgrounds, student developmental needs, nationality, culture, faith/religion, language difference, ability differences, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
- Knowledge of DSM-V diagnosis and familiarity with a full range of treatment options and mental health service delivery systems.
- Familiarity with research on the mental health needs of college students, including suicide prevention and trauma-informed care.
- Understanding and appreciation of Baltimore communities and culture.
- Knowledge of Baltimore-area community mental health resources.

Additional Information (Working Conditions)

- Schedule
- Clinicians work on-site during shifts, which may range from 6 – 12 hours in length, as needed.
- The team operates on-site on the JHU Homewood Campus between 9:30 am and 2 am, 7 days a week, and East Baltimore 9:30 am- 9:30 pm 5 days a week, including during university holidays and closures.
- When covering remote on-call, clinicians must be able to arrive on campus within 30 minutes.
- Clinicians are Required Attendance Employees: they are designated as vital to the operation of a workgroup, so their presence at work is required regardless of emergency conditions.

Minimum Qualifications

- Master's in Counseling, Psychology or Social Work from an accredited institution.

- Must be licensed as a mental health provider in Maryland or license- eligible (licensed as a mental health provider in another state, licensed in Maryland within 6-months). Independent licensure strongly preferred (LCSW-C or LCPC).

- Must be licensed in Washington D.C. or license-eligible (licensed as a mental health provider in another state, licensed in Washington D.C. within 6-months). Independent licensure strongly preferred (LCSW-C or LCPC).

- Minimum two years' clinical experience delivering mental healthcare in a setting in which both trauma-informed care and crisis assessment were required.

- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in behavioral health crisis intervention services, including assessment, stabilization skills, and related case management responsibilities including accessing additional resources within an institution or community.

- Training and experience working with individuals from traditionally underserved identities – including but not limited to first generation, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, Latinx, and international learner populations.
- This position does not allow for education or experience substitutions.

Preferred Qualifications

- Crisis intervention, community response experience, and crisis community debriefing experience.
- Critical Incident Stress Management training or certification is strongly preferred.

Classified Title: BHCST Clinician 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team Clinician (Mental Health Services, Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team)   
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/04/ME  
Starting Salary Range: $33.95 - $59.55 HRLY ($42,000 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.) 
Employee group: Casual / On Call 
Schedule: Includes weekdays, evenings, weekends, holiday, overnight and on-call 
FLSA Status: Exempt 
Location: Hybrid/Homewood Campus   
Department name: 60011830-BHCST 
Personnel area: University Student Services