Crisis Worker Job at Loretto Hospital in Chicago

Job Summary:

The Crisis Worker provides immediate support and intervention to individuals experiencing acute emotional, psychological, or situational crises. They are responsible for assessing needs, offering emotional support, and developing intervention plans to stabilize the situation and connect clients with appropriate resources.

Under the supervision of the Supervisor of Crisis Intervention Services or respective manager, the crisis worker recognizes components of individuals who present at Emergency Department of Loretto Hospital. Because the crisis worker must relate to individual, families, inquires, police and social service agencies, under varied circumstances, the crisis worker must have an excellent understanding of the community resources available to persons served as well as an excellent understanding of treatment interventions. Functions under the mandates of the Division of Mental Health grant related to job duties, continuity of care, and Community Hospital Inpatient Psychiatric Services (CHIPS) guidelines. Completes assessments and coordinates treatment interventions with the Emergency Department physician. Identifies the treatment needs of persons presenting in the Emergency Department and coordinates services for an array of persons served. Acts a viable member of the Emergency Department treatment team. Documents interventions based on standards developed by regulatory bodies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned

1. Recognize patients suffering from acute symptoms of suicidality, homicidally, agitation, psychosis, mania, intoxication, anxiety, and other presentations, and be able to identify the need for hospitalization
2. Works closely with the on-call psychiatric provider to determine appropriate disposition, and the ED attending at Loretto Hospital to provide immediate stabilization (as needed) in the emergency department.
3. Must be able to facilitate a medical evaluation to determine if the patient is medically stable and be familiar with psychotropic medications.
4. Must be knowledgeable and/or familiar with legal documents such as: voluntary admission forms, certificates, and petitions.
5. Is required to facilitate transfers from and to other private and state hospitals.
6. Must be familiar with and be able to understand DSM diagnoses and assist a licensed clinician in formulating a psychiatric diagnosis for the patient's related visit.
7. Provides patients with appropriate referrals to community agencies and substance abuse treatment programs and follow up with external referrals as needed.
8. Performs other related duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed must be representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensure, experience, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Is required to facilitate transfers from and to other private and/or state hospitals.
  • Must be familiar with and be able to understand DSM diagnoses and assist a licensed
  • clinician in formulating a psychiatric diagnosis for the patient's related visit.
  • Provides patients with appropriate referrals to community agencies and /or substance abuse treatment programs and follow up with external referrals as needed.
  • Is familiar with Medicaid, Medicare, MCO's, and other commercial insurances and
  • complete pre-certifications when needed.
  • Communicates effectively with all persons involved in patient's treatment from
  • family/friends and ED staff to outside agencies such as: CPD, CFD, SASS, nursing homes, etc.
  • Position prescreens patients in crisis in a busy hospital emergency room
  • Intervention focuses on clinical assessment, Hospitalization, and appropriate referrals to community resources.
  • Candidate will pre-screen patients in crisis in the field and the Emergency Department and provides open access to support for human service needs like food insecurity, resource assistance, emergency housing, transportation assistance, etc.
  • Intervention focuses on clinical assessment, appropriate referrals to community resources, engaging difficult-to-engage clients using the emergency room over routinized community care.
  • Serve as one of two mobile crisis response team members. (SAMHSA, 2020)
  • May be required to work flexible schedules and be available to work on including weekends or evenings as required.
  • May be required to be on call.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

For purposes of the Americans with Disabilities Act, "Job Duties" are essential job functions.

While performing this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, and walk and occasionally stoop, kneel or crouch. Normal or corrected vision, hearing, and ability to speak are necessary. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, sharp eye focus and the ability to distinguish colors. There may be periods of stressful, intense concentration with more than average pressure used in various problem-solving situations.

Standing - 20% Sitting -50% Squatting - Occasional Kneeling - Occasional Bending - Occasional Driving

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in psychology/social work/human services is required (Licensed,
• Master's degree or master's student strongly preferred).
• Preferred one year of experience working with mentally ill patients, counseling, crisis intervention, case management, and Psychology research assistant.
• Intervention, case management, and Psychology research assistant. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in reading and writing.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Ability to work with a wide range of clients and client needs.

Must possess cultural competence.