Mobile Crisis Counselor - Marcus Alert

Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 30,686 - 43,704; Part time

Job summary

Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board seeks a Part-time Mobile Crisis Counselor to provide rapid crisis response for behavioral health and homelessness-related calls routed through 911 or the Marcus Alert system.

The role requires a Master’s in human services and QMHP eligibility, with field co-response duties, rigorous assessments, and linkage to care across partners. Training, dispatch coordination, and documentation are part of the weekly workflow.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in human services plus 1 year in a psychiatric care setting.
• Board of Counseling registration as QMHP (or QMHP-trainee within 30 days).
• Completion of pre‑admission screener certification modules within 30 days of hire.
• Strong knowledge of crisis intervention, human/patient rights, confidentiality, consent, DSM‑5 conditions, psychotropic medications, and involuntary admission procedures.

Responsibilities

• Co‑respond in the community with first responders, completing preliminary mental status and risk assessments.
• Co‑respond in the community with first responders, completing preliminary mental status and risk assessments.
• Co‑respond in the community with first responders, completing preliminary mental status and risk assessments.

Skills

Crisis intervention knowledge

Confidentiality & consent

DSM-5 knowledge

Education

Master’s degree in human services

QMHP registration or QMHP-trainee within 30 days

Pre-admission screener certification within 30 days

Job description

Part‑time Mobile Crisis Counselor - Marcus Alert 988

Hourly Rate: $27.77

Available Schedules and Hours

• Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
• Friday and Saturday 10 pm to 6:30 am
• Saturday and Sunday 8 am to 4:30 pm
• Saturday and Sunday 3 pm to 11:30 pm

The Mobile Crisis Counselor - Marcus Alert provides rapid, clinically sound crisis response for behavioral health, substance use, and homelessness‑related calls routed through 911 or the Regional Crisis Call Center (988). This role exists to deliver timely assessment, stabilization, and linkage to care in coordination with community partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Co‑respond in the community with first responders, completing preliminary mental status and risk assessments.
• Co‑respond in the community with first responders, completing preliminary mental status and risk assessments.
• Co‑respond in the community with first responders, completing preliminary mental status and risk assessments.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Master’s degree in human services plus 1 year in a psychiatric care setting.
• Board of Counseling registration as QMHP (or QMHP‑trainee within 30 days).
• Completion of pre‑admission screener certification modules within 30 days of hire.
• Strong knowledge of crisis intervention, human/patient rights, confidentiality, consent, DSM‑5 conditions, psychotropic medications, and involuntary admission procedures.

What Your Shift Looks Like

You begin by checking in with dispatch pathways and reviewing any updates to Marcus Alert protocols, then stage with your co‑response partner as calls come in. The shift involves moving between community locations, meeting individuals where they are, de‑escalating in real time, and aligning next steps with the Regional Crisis Call Center and receiving facilities. Between field contacts, you document clearly and promptly, complete follow‑up outreach by phone or in person, and coordinate handoffs so care continues after the immediate crisis. You’ll also have periodic touchpoints with clinical leadership to review challenging situations, refine decision‑making, and support consistent, safe practice across partners. Shifts vary, but the focus remains the same: timely stabilization and effective linkage to the right level of care.

Mandatory Background Checking

The selected candidate must successfully pass a criminal history fingerprint background investigation, DMV record check, Child Registry search, drug screening test, and employment reference checks.