Emergency Telephone Worker (4445)

Job Summary:

The Emergency Telephone Worker position is responsible for providing a wide array  of culturally sensitive, recovery oriented, trauma sensitive, direct clinical services in  conjunction with other staff. Services provided by this position may include assessment,  treatment planning, referrals, and case management.

The Emergency Telephone Worker is responsible for a variety of tasks related to telephone screening, assessment, intervention, counseling, referral and follow-up with persons who are experiencing a mental health emergency. These services are based on an understanding not only of the consumers’ symptomatology, but also of his/her strengths and social/cultural resources.

This position on the emergency services team involves working rotating shifts as needed, including evenings weekends and holidays to ensure that the clinical needs of the program are being met and to enable the program to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The Emergency Telephone Worker reports directly to the assigned supervisor with overall program supervision provided by the Director. Minimum annual service hours are TBD.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Journey Mental Health Center upholds a strong commitment to People, Opportunities, Community, and Access (POCA) that guides our daily operations. We foster a caring community for all individuals to feel a sense of belonging. We prioritize delivering services that are centered around ensuring fairness and inclusivity for all. We are dedicated to demonstrating courage and initiative within our agency and community to actively dismantle structural oppression for all affected communities.

Duties/Responsibilities:

A. Provision of Clinical Services

- Performs accurate assessments to initially evaluate mental health, as well as alcohol and other drug use issues in a culturally sensitive, recovery oriented, trauma sensitive manner.

- Provides a range of clinical services in conjunction with program staff including outreach, assessment, treatment planning, referral, and case management in a context that is supportive of the consumer’s culture, values, and perspectives.

- Completes accurate clinical records including intakes, assessments, treatment plans and updates, progress notes, discharge summaries, and other information in a timely manner.

B. Program and JMHC Participation

- Attends staff meetings, in-services and other program activities as requested.

- Participates in JMHC committees, trainings and activities as directed and/or approved.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Education/Licensure

ESSENTIAL

- Associates, or bachelors degree in a Behavioral Health field (Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, Social Work, etc.)

Experience

- Commitment to working towards culturally sensitive/culturally humble services relevant to each colleague.

- Strong commitment to principles of recovery and to facilitating consumer participation in treatment/service planning and provision.

- Knowledge of evidence-based practices for treatment of mental health and co-occurring disorders.

- Ability to communicate effectively (both orally and in writing).

- Ability to work effectively with an interdisciplinary team with a positive and creative attitude.

- Ability to work independently and remain organized and efficient.

- Superior ethics and interpersonal boundaries as supported by related professional references.

PREFERRED

- Experience in a related behavioral health field.

- Experience in community-based mental health and substance abuse assessment, case management, treatment planning and crisis resolution.

- Experience with use of evidence-based practices in mental health, and substance abuse.

- Bi-lingual, and/or bi-cultural (Spanish/Hmong/Cambodian).

- Fluent in American Sign Language.

Physical Requirements:

- Requires driving, sitting, standing, light lifting, bending, and reaching, and the ability to use and operate standard office equipment, including computer, calculator, phone, printer, cell phone, facsimile, etc.

Working Conditions:

- May require evening or weekend hours depending on program and consumers needs.

Population Served:

- JMHC consumers have a wide array of different backgrounds and experiences. Staff is expected to be comfortable working with Individuals with the following.

Mental Health &/or Substance Use Disorder Diagnosis

- Current Substance Use

- Criminal Backgrounds

- Multi-cultural Identities

- LGBTQIA+ Identities

- Varied Levels of Engagement in Services

Training Requirements:

- Orientation training requirement. DHS 31.21(8)(b)

1.   Each newly hired staff person who has had less than 6 months of experience in providing emergency mental health services shall complete a minimum of 40 hours of documented orientation training within 3 months after beginning work with the program.

2.   Each newly hired staff person who has had 6 months or more of prior experience in providing emergency mental health service shall complete a minimum of 20 hours of documented orientation training within 3 months after beginning work with the program.

3.   Each volunteer shall receive at least 40 hours of orientation training before working directly with clients or their families.

(d)   Ongoing training requirement.

1.   Each professional staff person shall participate in at least the required number of hours of annual documented training necessary to retain certification or licensure.

2.   Staff shall receive at least 8 hours per year of Inservice training on emergency mental health services, rules and procedures relevant to the operation of the program, compliance with state and federal regulations, cultural competency in mental health services and current issues in clients rights and services.

Hiring Requirement:

- All potential candidates will need to successfully pass the Background Information Disclosure (BID) for entity employees and contractors. Wisconsins Caregivers Law requires background, and criminal checks are required by the Department of Health Services and Wis. Stat. 50.065(6)(c) and Wis. Admin Code DHS 12.05(4)

Journey Mental Health Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training