Mental Health Team Member, B-HEARD Program (Social Worker Level II), MPA BH EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM *Grant Funded*

Empower Every New Yorker - Without Exception - to Live the Healthiest Life Possible

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the United States. We provide essential outpatient, inpatient and home-based services to more than one million New Yorkers every year across the city's five boroughs. Our large health system consists of ambulatory centers, acute care centers, post-acute care/long-term care, rehabilitation programs, Home Care, and Correctional Health Services. Our diverse workforce is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible.

Job Description

The Social Worker II is an integral part of an interdisciplinary, ground-breaking pilot in NYC to send a clinician and FDNY EMS- Emergency Medical Technicians to mental health 911 calls. These Emergency Response Teams will be the first ever NYC teams dispatched to 911 calls for mental health emergencies. The program operates 7 days a week, between the hours of 9am and 1am. Social workers will work during 8-hour shifts.

The licensed Social Worker will be responsible for responding to 911 emergency mental health calls from community members with two Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). This role combines clinical assessment and brief treatment with knowledge of city systems. The teams will work with individuals who are severely mentally ill, and individuals who are chemically addicted, they should be able to use crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques in the midst of a crisis. Training will provide de-escalation and other clinical skills necessary to ensure team members are able to support and connect New Yorkers to appropriate levels of care.

The duties primarily include community-based field work responding to 911 mental health crisis calls. Clinicians will go out in teams with two EMTs. Their role will be to establish communication whenever possible with the person in crisis, conduct crisis assessments, de-escalate situations, and make connections to appropriate care.

Clinicians are responsible for identifying and collaborating with existing support systems, facilitating community referrals as needed, working with interdisciplinary treatment teams to develop appropriate case disposition, and documenting all interventions.

Some of the physical activities performed by this position are: working outdoors in all kinds of weather; climbing stairs; treating patients who may have infectious and communicable diseases; working for extended periods during the day or night in a vehicle; working in confined spaces such as trains and buildings; treating patients at heights such as rooftops, bridges or elevated highways; and carrying a mobile radio for communication purposes. Bullet proof vests are available, but not required.

General tasks and responsibilities will include:

o Participate in ongoing training, group, and individual supervision
o Demonstrate use of learned skills and improvement in patient care
o Maintains professional social work standards of performance concerning interview techniques and methods and practices used in preparing clinical assessments, developing treatment plans and documenting case histories
o Responds as part of a team to individuals and conducts psychiatric and biopsychosocial assessments
o Observe and identify verbal and non-verbal behaviors in clinical assessments.
o Provide crisis intervention to high-risk patients
o Identify and collaborate with existing support systems, facilitating community referrals as needed
o Collaborate with team to develop most appropriate plan, including potential to perform psychiatric removals in the community.
o Mentors and assists less experienced social work staff in social work techniques and serves as a resource in various aspects of advanced social work practice.
o May assist in the provision of clinical services only under supervision of a New York State LCSW, licensed psychologist, or psychiatrist or perform such functions independently as a LCSW.
o Conduct and/or attends individual, unit, departmental, intra/inter hospital, and community meetings as mandated by the administration and or supervisor
o Review Medical Records as indicated by the Social Work Department
o Demonstrate knowledge about departmental, facility, network, city, state, federal and Joint Commission standards and regulations.

Employees assigned to the Program will receive an annual differential amount equal to 6% of their base salary while assigned to the Program.

Minimum Qualifications

For Assignment to Level II
1. Valid license as an LMSW issued by the NYSED; or
2. Valid license as an LCSW issued by the NYSED.

Department Preferences
• At a minimum, 1 year experience working with people with serious mental illness (e.g. mobile crisis team, mobile treatment team, community based health provider, hospital emergency room, in-patient psychiatric care).
• 3 years' experience working with people with serious mental illness in high acuity settings preferred
• Strong clinical and communication skills, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment requires as well as effective time management skills.
• English proficient a must; ability to communicate in Spanish preferred.
• Personal experience with serious mental health challenge yourself preferred or experienced by a family member preferred.
• Field based experience outside a traditional clinic/hospital setting preferred

KNOWLEDGEABLE IN:
• Psychiatric assessment
• Crisis Intervention techniques
• Substance use disorders

Please be advised that proof of Covid-19 vaccination is required prior to hire.

If applying online, please include your cover letter in the same file attachment with your uploaded resume.