Mobile Behavioral Health Crisis Specialist

Position Summary :

The Philadelphia Fire Departments (PFD) division of Mobile Integrated Health (MIH), in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual DisAbility Services (DBHIDS) and the Criminal Justice Division of the Managing Directors Office (MDO), has developed a behavioral health Alternative Response Unit (ARU-3) for community risk reduction in Philadelphia.

City services are shifting away from its current all-police response to involuntary commitments (302s). The shift would have members of ARU-3 engaging those who are high utilizers of EMS 911 calls, CRC transports, primary care clinics, and special population 302s.

PFD MIH and DBHIDS will provide alternative responses and management of behavioral health calls and special population 302s. The Division of PFD MIH, DBHIDS, and the MDO are natural partners in an innovative model to improve behavioral healthcare outcomes, decrease trauma in the community, and provide services in a strength-based, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive approach.

The ARU-3 unit will consist of one MIH Fire Paramedic Captain, one MIH Fire Paramedic Lieutenant, two MIH Fire Service Paramedics, four MIH Fire Service EMTs, one COC Director, one COC Assistant Director, one Clinical Coordinator, four Mobile Behavioral Health Crisis Specialists, and one Epidemiologist / Data.

The Mobile Behavior Health Crisis Specialist (MBHCS) works with individuals, and their community supports to assess and de-escalate a crisis, suggest a level of care necessary to meet the individual's needs, offer alternatives to involuntary hospitalization through treatment planning, and coordinate community care with the other members of ARU 3.

The cross trained MBHCS provides liaison to community agencies to facilitate communication and service provision for clients requiring multiple services who are clinically complex and high risk. The MBHCS may also need to provide emergency crisis intervention services to individuals who are high risk, e.g., suicidal, homicidal, psychotic, with the goal of stabilization and finding creative and safe community treatment alternatives. This includes rendering the above services to all presenting patients including the perinatal population, those requiring family oriented services , and individuals engaged in substance use including facility in responding to individuals who have overdosed. The MBHCS will consult with the other members of the ARU-3 regarding the need for referrals to psychiatrist, a primary care physician, hospital emergency department, crisis response center, or placing individuals in substance use treatment per determinant of the ASAM Level of Care. The primary goal of this team is engagement and improving individuals' quality of life through linkage to treatment, rehabilitation, and support services that promote wellness, recovery, integration, and community safety.

Duties and Responsibilities :

• Engage with community members who are in jeopardy of presenting for psychiatric admission, decompensation, and / or substance use relapse.
• Collaborate with partners / providers, including but not limited to Police and / or CIRT, in addition to all other mobile crisis units across the city to improve behavioral health outcomes for individuals in the community.
• Focus on low acuity 911 calls and 302 means of transport for special populations (children, pregnant, geriatric, etc.)
• Provide behavioral health assessment only for de-escalation (if needed) during encounters.
• Discuss with other ARU 3 members possible interventions for individuals and families.
• Provide connection to behavioral health resources
• Provide follow-up on recommended services
• Coordinate linkage to behavioral health, medical and social services
• Work in the community in collaboration with PFD-Emergency Medical Services when dispatched; this includes riding along with PFD personnel in PFD vehicles.
• Complete documentation for follow-up and data collection
• Assist individuals and or family members to "navigate" the multiple systems involved in addressing their behavioral health needs
• Ability to work a flexible schedule (likely non-traditional morning / evening hours and potential evenings) weekends required
• Work along with multi-agency partners with a willingness to report to a unified command structure
• Maintain current information on available resources and appropriate Evidence-Based Practices (EBP)
• Collaborate with hospitals (ER / CRCs) to ensure continuity of care (warm handoff)
• Provide outreach, engagement, and assessment to individuals identified by ARU 3 in need of services.
• Remain physically mobile to provide aggressive outreach in the community to engage individuals and their families.
• Help stabilize and resolve crises while functioning under pressure in challenging situations.
• A willingness to accept training and additional certifications provided as necessary.

Skills Required :

Education and Experience :

Bachelor's Degree required in social work, psychology, or a related field. This position must have five years of experience with a strong emphasis on behavioral health / crisis. Knowledge of substance use, crisis response, and field experience is a plus.

Physical Demands :

Essential Functions :

Equal Opportunity Employment :

PMHCC, Inc. is committed to equal opportunity. It is our policy to support equal employment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual preferences, age, national origin, disability, behavioral health status, military status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Americans with Disabilities Act :

Employees as well as applicants who are currently, or become disabled, must be able to perform the functions of the job with either reasonable accommodation or unaided. PMHCC, Inc. will examine reasonable accommodations on a case by case basis in accordance with the law.