Crisis Support Specialist - Maine Crisis Line - full time, remote optional (inME)

The Opportunity Alliance; Augusta (ME); Hybrid; USD 46,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

9 holidays per year

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

PSLF program

Job summary

The Opportunity Alliance is hiring full-time Crisis Support Specialists for the Maine Crisis Line. The role supports adults, families, and youth in mental health crises, with an option to work remotely within Maine and a mandatory in-person orientation in South Portland.

Ideal candidates have strong communication, empathy, and crisis intervention skills, plus a willingness to learn MHRT/CSP certification within 30 days of starting. This is a 40-hour work week with varied schedules.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree required; one year of relevant behavioral health or crisis work preferred.
• Ability to work remotely in Maine; in-person orientation in South Portland may be required.
• MHRT-CSP certification must be earned within 30 days of employment; onsite training provided.

Responsibilities

• Build rapport with help seekers via an empathetic, non-judgmental approach.
• Conduct risk assessments to ensure caller safety and well-being during crises.
• Develop crisis stabilization plans with clinical support to use least invasive interventions.
• Collaborate with community partners to ensure connected, continuous care for individuals in crisis.
• Receive comprehensive training to become MHRT/CSP certified.

Skills

Empathy

Active listening

Crisis intervention

Communication skills

Education

Associate degree

Job description

Crisis Support Specialist

Maine Crisis Line

Pay rate: $23 per hour (Remote optional - in Maine)

The Opportunity Alliance is hiring Full-Time Crisis Support Specialist(s) to join the team with our Maine Crisis Line (MCL) program.

You will learn how to answer calls and text/chat messages on the crisis line, with the option to do all of this remotely! You will have opportunities for growth and development, and the skills you learn in this job will be valuable for any career path. We look forward to bringing you on board! The Maine Crisis Line is part of our continuum of crisis intervention and stabilization services, providing 24-hour telephone response for adults, families, and children during a mental health crisis. This role offers invaluable experience to candidates with a background in social work, excellent communication skills, the ability to remain calm in stressful situations, and a genuine desire to help others.

The ideal candidate will have a desire to help people in crisis, with the ability to establish rapport and engage in a calm manner while engaged with callers. Do people seek you out for your ability to listen without judgment and offer compassionate support? Are you interested in learning new skills to make a positive impact on others' lives? Have you ever worked in a contact center? We can help you expand that experience into supporting individuals with their mental health. Are you eager to grow your knowledge and skills to better support individuals with mental health challenges?

Key Responsibilities

• Work to build rapport with help seekers by showing empathy and creating a safe, non-judgmental space
• Complete risk assessments to ensure the safety and well-being of callers experiencing a crisis
• Develop crisis stabilization plans with callers, utilizing clinical support to ensure the implementation of the least invasive interventions possible, prioritizing their well-being and autonomy
• Work collaboratively with community partners and service providers to ensure comprehensive support and continuity of care for individuals in crisis
• You will receive training to become certified as a Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician Crisis Service Provider (MHRT/CSP) from some of the best licensed clinical supervisors and certified in-house trainers in the State of Maine

Schedule: This is a full-time, 40 hours/week position. Hiring for multiple 2nd shift and weekend schedules. 2nd shift/Weekend; Friday - Monday, 10 hour shifts. Various schedules available and will be discussed in the interview process.

Location: Office is located in South Portland, but this position has the ability to work remotely (in Maine). Must have the ability to attend an in-person orientation in South Portland.

Qualifications: An Associate’s degree is required. One year of relevant experience is preferred, but not required. Relevant experience is identified as follows: work performed in a behavioral health or human services setting, can also be as a paid volunteer or as a student/intern and includes crisis work, child protective services, warm line volunteer, residential care, case management, special education or work with people with developmental disabilities. One year of relevant experience is defined as; the equivalent of 1,200 hours of work, volunteerism, or internship or a combination of these areas.

This position is fully remote, requiring a dedicated workspace that is quiet and free from distractions. The employee must have reliable high-speed internet access. Employer provides laptop, monitor and headset. The workspace should be ergonomically set up to ensure comfort and productivity. Regular communication with the team and supervisors will be maintained through virtual meetings, email, and messaging platforms. The employee is expected to adhere to data security and privacy guidelines to protect sensitive information.

Ability to earn the MHRT-CSP certification within 30 days of employment required – training onsite provided required.

Must have solid oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly, succinctly, and in a customer friendly manner, along with the competence to communicate with multiple parties during a crisis call. The ability to learn and understand written crisis contact documentation skills. The ability to manage complex tasks effectively. Previous experience working in a call center, customer service environment a plus. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with complex information to address challenging situations. Ability to become familiar with DSM-V information. The ability to work independently as well as in a team environment. A flexible schedule is required. Must demonstrate the ability and willingness to learn and understand the use of documentation software and resource applications proficiently enough to perform documentation while simultaneously engaging with clients on the phone. The ability to use telephone, instant messaging and chat technology. Must be able to successfully pass a criminal background, child protective service check & sex offender check. Must not be on the state or federal suspension and disbarment list. If MHRT is required for the position you must pass CNA registry check. Normal office conditions such as sitting, with occasional standing, walking, reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, typing and lifting up to 10 pounds. Driving may be necessary to attend meetings and trainings but is not a primarily and essential job responsibility.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off accrual (offered to full-time and part-time employees)
• 9 paid holidays per calendar year and up to 3 floating holidays per calendar year
• Excellent medical benefits at very reasonable cost
• Dental and Vision insurance options
• Agency paid basic life insurance and STD & LTD disability insurances
• 403(b) retirement with a generous agency match (all employees are eligible)
• Tuition Reimbursement – offered once per year through an application process
• The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) is a qualified employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

Who we are

…The Opportunity Alliance is “Helping People Reach for a Brighter Future”.

Mission: The Opportunity Alliance works with people to build better lives and stronger communities. We provide advocacy, leadership, and support to identify the goals and address the needs of individuals, families, and communities.

The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) is a dynamic, results-focused Community Action Agency providing approximately 50 integrated community-based and clinical programs serving more than 20,000 people annually throughout the state of Maine. With over 50 years of experience, TOA draws from a comprehensive set of programs which address issues such as mental health, substance use, homelessness, lack of basic needs, and access to community supports. Through an extensive array of services, TOA provides opportunities for individuals to stabilize fragile situations and then works with them to achieve self-sufficiency. TOA is client-focused with extensive experience working with diverse client populations. TOA programming includes four key sectors of service: Mental Health & WellnessCommunity BuildingFamily & Early Childhood EducationEconomic Resources