Crisis Clinician (Licensed)

Children's Home of Jefferson County; City of Watertown (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Children's Home of Jefferson County is seeking a full-time Clinician to join their Mobile Crisis Team in Watertown, NY. This role involves providing crisis intervention services to individuals in behavioral health crises throughout Jefferson and Lewis counties.

The Clinician will engage with emergency services and deliver immediate support, emphasizing a community-based approach. Candidates must possess relevant licensure and demonstrate excellent organizational and communication skills to thrive in a team-oriented environment.

Qualifications

• Licensure as MD or health care provider in New York State.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Effective communication skills in a team setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide crisis response services in the community.
• Interact with emergency systems and crisis hotlines.
• Evaluate and assess needs of individuals and families.

Job description

Summary and Objective

As part of a Mobile Crisis Team, the Clinician works within the community setting performing interventions designed to stabilize children, families, and adults when they are in crisis.

Description

Mobile Crisis Services are provided to children and adults who are experiencing, or at imminent risk of experiencing, a behavioral health crisis. A behavioral health crisis includes instances in which a person cannot manage their primary psychiatric and/or substance use related symptoms without de‑escalation or intervention. The mission of the Clinician and Mobile Crisis Team is to deliver person‑centered, trauma‑informed, culturally linguistic competent services that are high quality, effective, and integrated community‑based services promoting resilience, rehabilitation, and recovery. These services are available telephonically and face‑to‑face in the community and are aimed at providing immediate support and offering alternatives to hospitalization when appropriate.

Essential Functions

• Provides mobile and telephonic crisis response services throughout Jefferson and Lewis counties and delivers services in the least restrictive available setting.
• Interacts with local emergency systems (e.g. 911, local crisis hotlines), hospitals, law enforcement, and certified Peer Advocates to include co‑response in order to provide safe and coordinated crisis response.
• Provides immediate, short‑term clinical interventions to stabilize individuals, their families and/or caregivers in the home, community, office, and natural environments.
• Employs flexible, person‑centered interventions, calming techniques and models positive, soothing behaviors.
• Evaluates and assesses the holistic needs of individuals and their family, including the predictors of safety risks in the home and community.
• Utilizes effective clinical judgement utilizing evidence‑based clinical tools (SBIRT, C‑SSRS, PHQ‑9, QPR) and safety plans as appropriate.
• Assists recipients through the introduction and reinforcement of crisis management skills and identification of community resources and supports.
• Coordinates with recipient’s current treatment provider(s) and other identified supports to resolve the current crisis and to aid in preventing future crises.
• Works in consortium with the Crisis Case Manager to provide follow‑up services and efforts to appropriately link and refer individuals to support services within the community.
• Values and protects the rights, privacy, and confidentiality of recipients, with the understanding that whenever necessary, contact will be made with collaterals who may have information to inform the assessment.
• Collects data and maintains client records according to agency and standard guidelines.
• Other duties as assigned to support the program objectives.

Work Environment

The clinician works in a community environment, including client homes, counseling spaces, and other community settings. Exposure to noise and occasional physical activity may occur. Travel between community locations is required. May have contact with service recipients that are agitated and/or confused. Some risk is involved working with service recipients with serious mental illnesses. May occasionally work in a standard office environment with minimal exposure to noise, blood, and/or bodily fluids.

Physical Demands

This position requires standing, walking, memory, concentration, sitting, hearing, carrying, writing, bending, pulling, problem‑solving, lifting, reaching, kneeling, running, seeing, reading, climbing, and pushing. Reasonable accommodation can be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Position Type / Expected Hours Of Work

This position is full‑time and requires participation in an on‑call rotation schedule. The on‑call work involves:

• On‑call shifts are scheduled for 24‑hour periods, with a rotating cycle that ensures fair and equal distribution among team members.
• 24‑hour on‑call shift operated on a “ready and wait” basis. Staff are expected to be available if needed, but not actively working for the entire 24‑hour period.
• During your on‑call rotation, the ability to respond to calls or emergencies is expected.
• It is team‑oriented coverage and is designed to maintain consistent support while respecting work‑life balance.
• Flexibility is appreciated to help accommodate the rotation and ensure smooth operations.
• The rotation is planned to allow for predictability and shared responsibility across the team.

Travel

Travel is required throughout the service area (Jefferson, Lewis County). A valid NYS driver’s license and the ability to drive legally are mandatory.

Requirements

Licensure by the New York State Department of Education as Physician (MD), including Psychiatrist and Addiction Specialist, Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry (NPP), Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Psychoanalyst, Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMHT), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Strong organizational abilities and office skills are essential for this position. This person must also have excellent people skills and be a team player. Must be able to work with privileged information in an unbiased and ethical manner. Ability to work with diverse populations. Must demonstrate effective and excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to work cooperatively with others. Must be detail‑oriented and possess excellent time‑management skills. Requires self‑direction, tact, diplomacy, and the ability to be clear, courteous, and professional. Able to react to change productively and handle other duties as assigned.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Must maintain privacy of confidential information. Successful completion of routine pre‑employment requirements as mandated by the New York State Department of Health, Office of Mental Health and Office of Children and Family Services along with ongoing clearances and exclusion checks. These requirements are to include employment health requirements, reference checks, criminal background checks/fingerprinting, State Central Registry clearance and eligibility to work in the United States. A valid NYS driver’s license is required. Corporate Compliance, HIPAA Privacy Security, Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Training, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, First Aid and CPR will be required following date of hire.