Designated Crisis Responder

Pend Oreille County is a great place to live, work, and play!

Pend Oreille Country is located in Northeastern Washington, on the border of Northern Idaho and Canada, with Newport, Washington being the County seat. We are just miles from major cities such as Spokane, Washington and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We offer rural living, fantastic recreational opportunities, and beautiful scenery.

** Warning: we are currently having technical difficulties with our online application submission. If you would like to apply and are having issues, you can call our office or email your resume and application to HR [at] pendoreille.org (HR[at]pendoreille[dot]org). **

Open Position: Designated Crisis Responder

Full-time; Exempt; Benefits Apply

Hiring Range: $5,746.52 - $6,456.79 per month DOE

Benefits include: Subsidized medical insurance for the employee. Optional dental, vision, and medical coverage for dependents. Washington State retirement pension is applicable, plan choices vary. County-paid benefits such as life insurance, long-term disability, Employee Assistance Program, and 12 Company-paid holidays. Pend Oreille County offers a wide range of optional benefits, we are sure that there is a plan to suit your needs.

JOB SUMMARY:   Provides behavioral health services and emergency evaluations. Works cooperatively and effectively with the public, community partners and other employees.      

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

1. Abide by ethical and professional standards developed by this County and Agency, and as applicable, appropriate professional associations.
2. Be familiar with and follow federal and Washington State laws, as they pertain to agency services.
3. Be familiar with and follow Agency and County Personal Policies and Procedures, DCR Protocols, and provider agreements.
4. Maintain high confidentiality, security, and safety measures.
5. Complete all training required by the WAC and RCWs within the required time frames.
6. Serve as DCR during business hours, as well as provide on-call shift work.
   1. Provide crisis services and emergency evaluation as required by the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA), RCW 71.05, and RCW 71.34.
   2. Employ an expert level working knowledge of WA State ITA, RCW 71.05, 71.34, and DCDR protocols.
   3. Provide high-level competency in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, substance use/abuse disorders, behavioral disorders, and situational crises.
   4. Maintain and effectively utilize a thorough knowledge of crisis theory, mental status field examinations and risk assessment techniques.
   5. Maintain an up to date, working knowledge of psychiatric medications, street drugs and their side-effects.
   6. Employ effective skills in case investigation, evaluation of facts, management of the interview, integration of facts found and decisive decision for safe and secure disposition.
   7. Effectively triage and perform multiple simultaneous investigations, consults, and responsibilities, in a high stress environment.
   8. Employ effective de-escalation and rapport building techniques.
   9. Represent the agency in a professional manner that is courteous, ethical, informed and collaborative with individuals, community, intra- and interagency contacts.
   10. Provide notifications to individuals being detained or their guardians, E&Ts and other entities, as required by statute, contracts and agency policies.
7. Coordinate E&T admissions and transportation.   
8. Provide education to family members or other collaterals per statutes or as requested.
9. Identify least restrictive alternatives to involuntary detentions and develop appropriate plans. 
10. Maintain and demonstrate a working knowledge of available resources to facilitate appropriate and relevant referrals and care coordination.
11. Provide professional level documentation to meet legal, clinical and data reporting requirements, within the requisite timeframes.   
12. Be available for court hearing for possible commitment of a detained person.
13. Provide hospital liaison and discharge planning services.
14. Provide monitoring services for individuals on LRA court orders.
15. Provide crisis stabilization and outreach services.
16. Perform other duties as directed by the Crisis Services Manager or Director.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

1. Must be a mental health professional per RCW 71.05 definition or receive a State waiver.
2. Is not a State or Federal (OIG) or System for Award Management (SAM) excluded provider, in any capacity for the Medicare, Medicaid, and all Federal health care programs.
3. Must possess a valid driver’s license.
4. Must successfully pass a background check and a driving record check.
5. Possess a valid National Provider Identification Number (NPI), or proof of application must be provided within sixty (60) days of beginning of employment.
6. Possess cultural competency and willingness to work respectfully with people of all diversity. 
7. Hold understanding of applicable civil and disability rights.
8. Be detail oriented with strong time management, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
9. Possess ability to communicate effectively (written and oral).
10. Must be able to exercise discretion and independent judgment in all areas of job performance including adherence to appropriate professional boundaries and strict confidentiality practices.
11. Possess education, training or experience, which clearly demonstrate knowledge and skills related to crisis response services, Lesser Restrictive Alternatives, the Involuntary Treatment Act statutes (RCW 71.05 & 71.34), DCR Protocols, and working with crisis cross systems (e.g., hospitals, jails, law enforcement, schools, etc.). 
12. Possess ability to quickly deescalate, interview, assess, and mediate in hostile and volatile environments, while maintaining composure, situational awareness, and clinical control of the situation.
13. Have ability to work across disciplines with professionals and other community members, in a variety of environmental contexts. 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL ABILITIES:  Work in a variety of settings supporting individuals, families and groups within the community, to include office, client’s residence, schools, hospitals, jails and other public venues; regular contact with the public.  Standard risks associated with community behavioral health services, to include possible exposure to volatile behaviors and/or contagious diseases, such as hepatitis. Expect periods of sitting, standing, and walking.  Routine travel required throughout the county and region, in all seasons. Hand-eye coordination and fine manipulation skills are necessary to operate computers and various office machines, as well regular manual signing of name to required documents. This position also requires handling of client charts, up to 30 pounds and variable after-hours crisis services.   

Pend Oreille County is a great place to live, work, and play!

Pend Oreille Country is located in Northeastern Washington, on the border of Northern Idaho and Canada, with Newport, Washington being the County seat. We are just miles from major cities such as Spokane, Washington, and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We offer rural living, fantastic recreational opportunities, and beautiful scenery.