JOB SUMMARY

In accordance with agency Mission, Vision, Values and Goals, this position will work to reduce risk factors and suicidality through prevention and early intervention with a focus on outreach, education, and training to increase the awareness and expertise related to evidence-informed suicide prevention practices. The Suicide Prevention Specialist works as team member within the Crisis Department to ensure client needs are met.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS

Will oversee agency risk tracking and ensure follow-up is being made. Will reach out to service providers regarding identified care plans for clients at risk. May go out into the community to attempt face to face contact and communicate with the on-call Mobile Crisis Response Therapist for evening/weekend follow-up. Will ensure that appropriate clinical justification is completed for those clients exiting the risk tracking pathway.

Will provide a bridge to services to include short-term intensive case management/outreach, connection to long-term care and other supports to improve the system of care for those individuals experiencing suicidality who use hospital emergency rooms, in-patient psychiatric facilities and/or crisis hotlines.

Acts as a liaison within the agency and the community. Will collaborate with services providers, treatment teams, hospitals, law enforcement, and other community stakeholders regarding clients who have been or are currently experiencing suicidality or have recently attempted. Will be active with client discharge planning and ensure face to face follow up occurs within 24 hours for those hospitalized for all suicide ideation/attempts.

Works closely with the Youth Engagement Specialist to identify and build collaborative relationships with schools and community partners to promote suicide awareness, prevention, and lethal means restriction to reduce suicide completion rates among the youth population. Empower school faculty and community partners through training in evidence-based best practices to recognize early warning signs of mental health concerns and provide prevention and intervention skills.

Promote and provide education to agency staff and community stakeholders regarding suicidality: lethal means, knowledge of risk factors, warning signs and intervention strategies for suicide prevention. Will work with clinical staff on internal suicide risk assessments within the EMR to ensure accuracy and fidelity.

May serve as the Mobile Crisis Response Therapist, during business hours, by providing immediate crisis intervention services to clients in the Eastern Jackson County area. Will follow up on crisis reports and provided communication to identified providers. Receives calls from the crisis system or CMHS staff and completes assessment as needed.

Works closely with the Quality Management department on tracking outcomes and data aggregation regarding suicidality for both the youth and adult populations.

Will attend Ad-Hoc Risk Management/Death Reviews for suicide attempts and/or any deaths by suicide. Will be an active member of the Zero Suicide Committee.

Follows all agency policies and procedures including emergency and corporate compliance policies/procedures 100% of the time.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS

Provides updated information regarding community resources and procedures for all potentially accessed resources, such as Inpatient and respite care facilities.

Attends related meetings, serves on committees for CMHS and other entities as needed or assigned to ensure smooth program operations. Provides feedback as to the efficacy of the system.

Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Master’s Degree in psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or related field.

Experience:

Minimum of two years’ experience in behavioral health or related field, one-year experience working with adult/adolescent populations.

Minimum of one year working with Crisis and/or Inpatient populations.

Licenses, Certifications, or Registrations:

None required for this position

Special Skills:

Knowledge and skills in assessing, triaging, and treating suicidality

Crisis intervention

Effective communication skills

Problem solving/decision making/clinical judgement

Time management

Computer/electronic medical record knowledge

REQUIREMENTS FOR POSITION:

Minimum of two years’ experiencing in behavioral health, or related field, working directly with individuals experiencing suicidality and/or crisis’. For continued competency, must be trained in Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) and attend a minimum of 6 hours every 2 years of workshop/in-service education related position and/or populations served.

DEGREE OF SUPERVISION:

Is supervised by the Outreach and Access Coordinator and receives a minimum of one hour per week of supervisory counsel.

VII. POSITIONS SUPERVISED:

N/A