Relief Crisis Intervention Specialist

The Opportunity Alliance is hiring Relief Crisis Intervention Specialists to join our Mobile Crisis Response Program.

The Relief Crisis Intervention Specialist is a professional social work position for Cumberland County Crisis Response program (CCCR).  This person provides direct service and immediate intervention as identified and appropriate to the provision of crisis intervention and stabilization services; both in the field and through the Crisis Telephone Response system.  

This staff person supports individual, family and community efforts to stabilize individuals experiencing a mental health crisis by: 

• Providing crisis assessment, immediate intervention, direct planning, risk determination for harm to self or other and general mental health consultation.  
• Coordinating with individuals, family members, community members and both formal and informal (professional and non-professional) supports as available to provide assistance to address, directly, emergency psychiatric needs and short-term follow-up.   
• Advocating for needed Mental Health, Substance Use, Intellectual Disability and Co-Occurring disorder services 
• Works to achieve good communication within collaborative relationships between crisis services staff, agency programs and staff, police, community providers and members and anyone interested in or able to receive benefit from crisis intervention services.  

All work is performed with the goal and intention of maintaining a trauma informed, trauma sensitive, and recovery-oriented framework. These services are provided both directly (face to face) as well as through alternative systems (e.g., phone and electronic media.) The person in this position attends staff meetings as needed to ensure continuity of care, participates in other meetings as needed, establishes and maintains positive work relationships, engages fully as a member of the team, proactively demonstrates constructive conflict resolution skills and employs helpful self-care tools that recognize and safely attend to issues of secondary traumatization.

• An Associate’s Degree and two years of relevant experience is required.  Relevant experience is identified as follows:  work performed in a behavioral health or human services setting, can also be as a paid volunteer or as a student/intern and includes crisis work, child protective services, warm line volunteer, residential care, case management, special education or work with people with developmental disabilities.  One year of relevant experience is defined as; the equivalent of 1,200 hours of work, volunteerism, or internship or a combination of these areas. 
• An Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, human development, social sciences, Health/Human Services, Social Work, or Law Enforcement and two to three years of relevant experience is preferred. 
• MHRT/CSP certification or the ability to obtain MHRT/CSP certification within 30 days of employment (on-site training is provided) is required.   
• Technical literacy- electronic documentation, solid oral and written communication skills and strong organizational skills, and flexible schedule are required. 
• Demonstrated competence with critical thinking especially as it relates to assessing information, ethical decision making, and problem solving is required. 
• Technical literacy, knowledge of DSM-V, solid oral and written communication, strong organizational skills preferred. 
• Must demonstrate ability to work across differing systems, within a team framework, which encompass different rules, governing policies and leadership styles across cultural perspectives.  
• Must be able to demonstrate a belief that recovery is possible and maintain agency perspectives of recovery and treatment that is guided by the needs of the client. 
• Flexible schedule is required.
• Demonstrated computer proficiency in Microsoft Office, E-mail, and the Internet required.  
• Must be able to successfully pass a criminal background, child protective service check & sex offender check. 
• Must not be on the state or federal suspension and disbarment list. 
• Normal office conditions such as sitting, with occasional standing, walking, reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, typing and lifting up to 10 pounds. 
• Driving may be necessary to attend meetings and trainings and for the occasional need to meet with clients offsite and within the program service area.  This may include transportation of clients or driving to agency location to complete work.  A good driving record is required. 

The Opportunity Alliance is “Helping People Reach for a Brighter Future”.

Mission: The Opportunity Alliance works with people to build better lives and stronger communities. We provide advocacy, leadership, and support to identify the goals and address the needs of individuals, families, and communities.

The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) is a dynamic, results-focused Community Action Agency providing approximately 50 integrated community-based and clinical programs serving more than 20,000 people annually throughout the state of Maine. With over 50 years of experience, TOA draws from a comprehensive set of programs which address issues such as mental health, substance use, homelessness, lack of basic needs, and access to community supports. Through an extensive array of services, TOA provides opportunities for individuals to stabilize fragile situations and then works with them to achieve self-sufficiency. TOA is client-focused with extensive experience working with diverse client populations. TOA programming includes four key sectors of service:

• Mental Health & Wellness
• Community Building
• Family & Early Childhood Education
• Economic Resources

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