Crisis Clinician I - QMHP

Make an impact when it matters most.

Alleghany Highlands Community Services (AHCS) is seeking a Crisis Clinician I to join our Crisis Receiving Center (CRC) team. This position provides immediate assessment, intervention, stabilization, and care coordination for individuals experiencing mental health, substance use, and co-occurring crises.

Working as part of an interdisciplinary crisis team, the Crisis Clinician helps individuals and families navigate some of their most difficult moments while identifying the least restrictive, clinically appropriate level of care and connecting individuals with ongoing services. 

What You'll Do

• Provide face-to-face and telephone crisis assessment and intervention, including mental status and safety/risk assessments.
• Use de-escalation, brief crisis counseling, safety planning, and other approved crisis interventions.
• Conduct preadmission screenings and participate in Virginia civil commitment processes when certified/authorized, including evaluation for hospitalization, ECOs, TDOs, voluntary treatment, and least-restrictive alternatives.
• Provide observation and stabilization services within the Crisis Receiving Center and continually reassess clinical status and risk.
• Coordinate admissions, referrals, transfers, discharge planning, follow-up, and continuity of care.
• Collaborate closely with nursing and prescribing staff, peers, Emergency Services, Mobile Crisis, hospitals, law enforcement, courts, families, and community providers.
• Complete timely and accurate electronic health record documentation, crisis assessments, prescreenings, safety/crisis plans, and other required records.
• Provide mobile/community crisis response and other crisis coverage when assigned. 

What We're Looking For

Successful candidates will be able to remain calm in high-pressure situations, use sound clinical judgment, manage multiple urgent needs, and work both independently and collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team. Strong clinical interviewing, risk assessment, safety planning, documentation, and communication skills are important for this role. Crisis Clinician I - QMHP

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in a human services field, or other education meeting current Virginia requirements for the applicable QMHP/QMHP-T designation.
• Current QMHP or QMHP-T registration/designation.
• Human services experience sufficient to meet applicable QMHP/QMHP-T requirements; direct crisis experience is preferred.
• Ability to complete required DBHDS-approved preadmission screening evaluator and mobile crisis certification/training within the timeframe established by AHCS.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record when driving is an assigned essential function. 

About the Work

This position is primarily based in the Crisis Receiving Center but may also provide services in hospitals, emergency departments, homes, community settings, law-enforcement or court-related settings, and other locations as assigned.

Because crisis services operate around the clock, schedules may include days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, and approved backup/on-call coverage based on program needs. 

Why AHCS?

At AHCS, Crisis Clinicians have the opportunity to do meaningful work alongside professionals from multiple disciplines while helping build an effective, responsive system of crisis care for our community.

If you are a QMHP or QMHP-T who works well under pressure, values teamwork, and wants to make a direct difference for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises, we encourage you to apply.

Candidates who are offered a position must undergo a background check, including social services review, and drug screen. Virginia has restrictions on hiring individuals with certain convictions. Here is the list: http://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/assets/doc/hr/biu/attachment-2rev072019.pdf - http://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/assets/doc/hr/biu/attachment-2rev072019.pdf