• Crisis Intervention Specialist for the CARES Program

Job Type:

·Full-time, Crisis Intervention Specialist

Job Summary:

El Centro de Libertad is a non-profit agency in Redwood City and Half Moon Bay that provides numerous community-based services to adults and youth living in urban centers and rural communities of San Mateo County. One of those programs is the Crisis Assistance Response and Evaluation Services (CARES) Program in Half Moon Bay. The City of Half Moon has contracted with a local nonprofit service provider, El Centro de Libertad, to pilot an alternative response to mental health-related 911 calls traditionally answered by fire, ambulance, or law enforcement. Service calls appropriate for the CARES team include welfare checks, suicidal ideation, other mental health distress, substance abuse, and low-level, nonviolent concerns related to behavioral health. The CARES team will be responding to calls across the entire Mid-Coast, from Devil’s Slide to Moonridge Farmworker Housing Community, and be staffed by a 2-person mobile unit. The Crisis Intervention Specialists will be responsible for using the latest mental health interventions to deescalate individuals in crisis and ensure they are connected to appropriate resources in the community.

This position will work 40 hours a week, with fixed days off and no overnight work!

Responsibilities:

• Respond to crisis situations in a timely and appropriate manner
• Provide assessment, support, and referrals to individuals experiencing mental health crises
• Use evidence-based techniques to deescalate crisis situations and ensure the safety of all parties involved
• Work collaboratively with law enforcement and emergency medical personnel as needed
• Provide education and support to families and caregivers of individuals in crisis
• Maintain accurate and thorough documentation of all crisis intervention activities
• Participate in ongoing training and development to maintain knowledge of current mental health interventions and best practices
• Develop and maintain working relationships with outside treatment and other social services agencies to ensure clients have maximum access to community resources
• Promote integrated primary/mental health care in coordination with medical providers and other interdisciplinary team members
• Coordinate client transportation to various sites throughout the city.
• Work with the other outreach team members to help clients connect to resources that support their mental health, including shelter, food, and other medical care.

Required Skills:

• Empathy: The ability to understand and relate to the experiences and emotions of those in crisis is essential for effective crisis intervention. A crisis intervention worker should be able to demonstrate genuine care and concern for the people they are assisting.
• Active Listening: Active listening involves paying attention to the person in crisis, asking questions, and showing that you are present and engaged in the conversation. Crisis intervention workers should be skilled at active listening to effectively assess the situation and provide appropriate support.
• Cultural Sensitivity: A crisis can impact people from all walks of life, and it’s important to respect and understand cultural differences to provide effective support. The ability to communicate and empathize across cultural and linguistic barriers is an important skill for crisis intervention workers.
• Crisis Management Skills: The ability to manage a crisis situation calmly and effectively is essential for crisis intervention workers. They should be able to remain calm under pressure, think critically, and make decisions quickly to ensure the safety of those in crisis.
• Flexibility: Crisis intervention workers should be able to adapt to a variety of situations and respond to changing circumstances. This may include working outside of normal hours, responding to emergencies, or adjusting their approach based on the individual needs of the person in crisis.
• Confidentiality: Crisis intervention workers often deal with sensitive and private information. It’s important that they maintain confidentiality and protect the privacy of those they are assisting.
• Teamwork: Crisis intervention often involves working with other professionals such as emergency responders, mental health professionals, and social workers. The ability to collaborate effectively with others and communicate clearly is essential for providing effective crisis intervention.
• Self-care: Providing crisis intervention can be emotionally taxing. It’s important for crisis intervention workers to practice self-care and prioritize their own mental health and well-being to avoid burnout and remain effective in their role.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Basic Life Support Certification
• Degree in Psychology/Social Work or in the process of completing a Degree in Psychology/Social Work
• At least 2 years of experience working in crisis intervention or a related field
• Knowledge of mental health disorders, crisis intervention techniques, and community resources
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team and provide support to individuals in crisis
• Comfortable working in high-pressure, fast-paced environments

Benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Schedule
• 403b retirement
• Paid Time Off (Holidays, Vacation, Sick, etc.)
• Along with compensation based on experience, education, and/or proven abilities.

CARES Shifts:

· Monday-Sunday; 8:00 am-6:30 pm

· CARES teams will work 4 days a week for 10 hours a day

Salary:

· Starting pay is $28-$30 per hour

Additional Information:

· Please note that all staff will be required to complete LiveScan fingerprinting following an offer of employment.

· Criteria for approval or denial of a position include the individual cannot currently be on parole, mandatory supervision, PRCS or probation, or under any structured supervision as a result of criminal conduct; not required to register per Health and Safety Code Section 11590, Penal Code Section 290, and/or Penal Code Section 451.

ECDL is an equal opportunity employer, committed to embracing diversity and consider all qualified applicants without regard to color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

El Centro De Libertad/The Freedom Center

www.elcentrodelibertad.org

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $28.00 – $30.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift 4×10
• Wednesday-Saturday or Sunday-Wednesday

Work Location: In person

KEYWORDS: Crisis, Crisis Intervention, Crisis Intervention Specialist, CIT, Counselor, Outreach, Outreach worker, Psychology,

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift

Experience:

• Crisis intervention: 1 year (Preferred)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Half Moon Bay, CA 94019