Rapid Responder Clinician

Child Guidance Center; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Starting salary $55,000–$58,000

Discretionary annual bonus

Bilingual pay incentive

Generous PTO

401(k) with employer match

Flexible Spending Plans

Licensure supervision & professional

Licensure reimbursement

Mentorship & training

Career growth

Job summary

Child Guidance Center seeks a Rapid Response Clinician to respond in-person to crisis calls within 60 minutes, assess and stabilize youth, and coordinate care with families and schools.

You will de-escalate, determine if Baker Act criteria apply, provide after-hours support, and develop detailed treatment plans in collaboration with guardians and partners.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or Marriage & Family Therapy
• Current FL LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT license
• 2+ years of experience providing therapeutic services to children and adolescents
• Experience with Florida Baker Act criteria and procedures
• Valid FL driver's license with clean driving record and liability insurance
• Level 2 clearance from DCF Clearinghouse
• Ability to think fast, stay calm, and exercise sound clinical judgment
• Willingness to work rotating shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Proficiency with EHR systems and Microsoft Office Suite

Responsibilities

• Respond in-person to crisis calls within 60 minutes to assess, evaluate, and stabilize clients in real time.
• Distinguish between a mental health crisis and a behavioral emergency based on risk of harm.
• Provide immediate de-escalation, therapeutic insight, and continued stabilization while preserving client dignity.
• Initiate an involuntary examination (Baker Act) for eligible clients, and support unlicensed responders when a supervisor isn't available.
• Provide after-hours and weekend crisis response, by phone or in person.
• Develop a comprehensive client action plan, involving clients and families in treatment planning and decision-making.
• Serve as liaison between clients, families, schools, law enforcement, Foster Care, and Children's Crisis Stabilization Units.
• Ensure appropriate follow-up care through case management or the Immediate Access Clinic, or direct contact with guardians.
• Train community stakeholders on crisis prevention, de-escalation, and Baker Act criteria and procedures.

Job description

Ready to Change Lives—and Your Career?

If you're a licensed clinician who wants to work in the field, respond to real-time mental health crises, and

Description

Ready to Change Lives—and Your Career?

If you're a licensed clinician who wants to work in the field, respond to real-time mental health crises, and do work that truly matters, CGC is the place.

We offer team support, clinical excellence, and the ability to make a lasting impact—all while helping shape the future of crisis care in Florida.

For over 70 years, CGC has been a leader in children's mental health care across Northeast Florida—serving over 5,000 youth and 15,000 family members annually. We pioneered the first mobile crisis team in Jacksonville and continue to lead with trauma-informed, whole-family, whole-health care that changes lives.

What You'll Do As a Rapid Response Clinician

• Respond in-person to crisis calls within 60 minutes to assess, evaluate, and stabilize clients in real time.
• Distinguish between a mental health crisis and a behavioral emergency based on risk of harm to the client or others.
• Provide immediate de-escalation, therapeutic insight, and continued stabilization while preserving client dignity.
• Initiate an involuntary examination (Baker Act) for clients who meet criteria, and support unlicensed responders when a supervisor isn't available.
• Provide after-hours and weekend crisis response, by phone or in person.
• Develop a comprehensive client action plan, involving clients and families in treatment planning and decision-making.
• Serve as liaison between clients, families, schools, law enforcement, Foster Care, and Children's Crisis Stabilization Units.
• Ensure appropriate follow-up care through case management, the Immediate Access Clinic, or direct contact with guardians.
• Train community stakeholders on crisis prevention, de-escalation, and Baker Act criteria and procedures.

What You Bring To The Team

• A Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or Marriage & Family Therapy
• A current FL LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT license
• 2+ years of experience providing therapeutic services to children and adolescents, including treatment planning based on DSM/ICD diagnoses
• Experience with Florida Baker Act criteria and procedures
• A valid FL driver's license, clean driving record, and reliable transportation with liability insurance
• Level 2 clearance from DCF Clearinghouse - https://info.flclearinghouse.com
• Ability to think fast, stay calm, and exercise sound clinical judgment in high-intensity moments
• Willingness to work rotating shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Proficiency with EHR systems and Microsoft Office Suite

Requirements

Perks & Benefits You'll Love

• $55,000–$58,000 starting salary
• Discretionary annual bonus based on individual and company performance
• Bilingual pay incentive
• Generous PTO package
• 401(k) with 3% employer match
• Flexible Spending Plans (medical & dependent care)
• Licensure supervision & professional development stipend
• Licensure reimbursement
• Ongoing mentorship + training with expert clinicians
• Career growth in an agency with deep community trust
• CGC is a Drug Free Workplace *** ADA Disclaimer: In developing this job description, care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.