Boston Emergency Services Team/Boston EMS Alternative Response Clinician

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Boston Emergency Services Team (BEST) Mobile Clinician will work jointly with Boston Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to provide direct services and patient-centered care to children, adolescents, and adults experiencing a behavioral health emergency or crisis. This clinician will work collaboratively with Boston EMS and be available to assist EMTs and Paramedics when responding to individuals experiencing 9-1-1 behavioral health emergencies. Such work will include assignment to an alternative response model SUV vehicle, jointly staffed with a Boston EMS EMT, responding with Boston EMS to 9-1-1 incidents to conduct assessments on-scene (in the community) and deliver rapid access to community mental health, substance abuse and psychiatry services, including urgent linkage to other components of the BEST system.

Position: Boston Emergency Services Team/Boston EMS Alternative Response Clinician

Department: Psychiatry

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Provides behavioral health assessments; initial crisis intervention services to individuals in need, along with crisis case management; and short-term crisis counseling and/or follow up care, when appropriate.
• Serve as a collaborative partner to Boston EMS EMTs while operating in a 9-1-1 alternative response unit
• Serve as primary BEST liaison to Boston EMS
• Maintain linkages with Boston EMS and community partners by providing case consultation, and problem resolution.
• Provide information and referral services to individuals in crisis.
• Develop and maintain a thorough knowledge of managed care and health insurance systems; provide other clinicians with managed care information and resources pertinent to the crises being managed.
• Complete and maintain necessary documentation, data entry, and records in accordance with program requirements.
• Comply with program procedures and policies to include HIPAA and data privacy standards.

Preferred Qualifications / Experience:

• Masters degree in mental health field (social work, psychology, or relevant field); by start date; clinical licensure preferred.
• Experience in delivering mental health services to traumatized children or families is a plus.
• Clinical counseling experience with families affected by violence or trauma.
• Experience working with crisis intervention services desirable.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and comfort with a wide range of racial and ethnic populations.
• Experience in health or hospital settings desirable.
• Preference given to applicants who reflect the cultural and language diversity of the Boston Medical Center patient population.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of BEST resources, community resources and partners that serve families affected by trauma or homicide.
• Ability to function and make decisions in a fast-paced environment while working with an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Must possess excellent assessment and interviewing skills.
• Must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily while adhering to professional ethics.
• An organized work style, good follow through skills and ability to keep organized written documentation.
• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills (beyond that of English) appropriate to the patient population served is a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans