Intellectual Developmental Disability (IDD) Crisis Specialist

Job Code: IDDCRS - 113
Revision Date: November 15, 2022

Starting Salary: $20.50 hourly; $42,636 annually
FLSA: Exempt

Overview

We are an agency committed to innovative behavioral health services in trauma-informed care that promote healing and recovery to instill a sense of empowerment and foster a lifelong sense of resilience.

General Description

The purpose of this job is to provide immediate response through the Assessment, Intervention and Monitor "AIM Model", to individuals diagnosed with IDD/MH who need immediate crisis services such as community and/or hospital placement.  Ability to triage cases within a hospital placement with psychiatrists, medical professionals, and paraprofessionals for assistance with appropriate treatment and placement planning. Evaluate and identify service gaps and strengthen the system that is involved with the individual.  Provides trainings for dually diagnosed with IDD/MH consumers, to community law enforcement, community providers, families, and community partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the position as necessary.

•  Provides immediate response to individuals diagnosed with IDD who need immediate crisis services such as community and/or hospital placement, as identified in the AIM Model 
• Ability to triage cases within a hospital placement with psychiatrists, medical professionals, and paraprofessionals for appropriate treatment and placement planning.
• Focuses on being a step-down service to divert psychiatric hospitalizations.
• Evaluates and identifies service gaps and strengthen the system that is involved with the individual
• Complete Comprehensive Service Evaluations that involved acquiring extensive amounts of medical, school, psychological records/assessments/evaluations to create a well-rounded service plan and recommendations for effective continuity of services.
• Ensure the coordination of support meetings and crisis plan development for individuals enrolled in CIS- IDD/MH program
• Participate in recurring meetings with CIS- IDD/MH leadership, Interdisciplinary team, and Lead Crisis Intervention Specialist
• Provide outreach visits to the individuals' home, day and vocational settings regularly
• Provide 24- hour, on-call support or shift rotation on a rotational basis as part of a crisis team.
• Continuously participate in trainings to mental health professionals and caregivers in topics specific to dually diagnosed with IDD/MH complex and behavioral health needs.
• Provide trainings for dually diagnosed with IDD/MH consumers about safety, coping skills, social skill, and crisis management strategies.
• Train mental health providers, emergency responders, legal professionals, medical professionals, and direct care service workers on appropriately implementation of crisis plans/crisis management strategies, and biopsychosocial/systems approaches when working with this population.
• Engages in intensive research to gather answers for onset, frequency and duration of symptomology that lead to challenging behaviors in individual with IDD.
• Attends behavioral support workshops to assist in working with IDD population.
• Provide on-going support to family members, the individual, and the treatment team involved
• Participates in group and/or individual supervision weekly
• Provides information about IDD programs and services to individuals with IDD, their families; and IDD providers in the local service area.
• Collaborates with the service coordinator, other members of the service planning team, paid provider, if any, and natural supports regarding crisis follow-up and relapse prevention activities.
• Collaborates with an MCOT to develop criteria for referring an individual with IDD in crisis to CIS- IDD/MH.
• Collaborates with appropriate LIDDA staff and Transition Support Team members to identify individuals with IDD in the LIDDA's local service area who are at risk of requiring crisis services, such as individuals who exhibit repeated and severe behavior disturbances that jeopardize the individual's safety or current living arrangement.
• Collaborates with service coordinator, other members of the service planning team, and paid provider, if any, to identify prevention strategies to avoid potential crisis events and promote the individual's coping skills.
• Support the service coordinator's provision of on-going follow-up and monitoring activities, including assisting the service coordinator, other members of the service planning team, and paid provider, if any, in addressing concerns and issues identified during follow-up and monitoring visits, such as involvement with law enforcement or emergency room visits.
• Is available to provide consultation to an MCOT as needed or as clinically indicated regarding a crisis event involving an individual with IDD.
• Assists with an individual's transition from crisis respite/hospitalization/incarceration back to his or her home or other appropriate setting; addressing concerns and issues identified during follow-up and monitoring visits, such as involvement with law enforcement or emergency room visits.
• Participate in recurring meetings and Psychiatric Consultation with leadership and clinical team.
• Maintain an active caseload of individuals referred for CIS ? IDD/MH Services (variability occurs depending on identified risk level).
• Complete weekly outreach visits to clients and/or caregivers/direct care staff to monitor progress and ensure stability.
• Provide weekly updates to Lead Crisis Intervention Specialist and Program Manager
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience Requirements

Master's degree required in Health or Human Services, Social Services, Behavioral Health, Rehabilitation or related field, a qualified intellectual disability professional as defined in 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR); and at least two years of experience working with individuals with IDD who have mental health and behavior support needs or linking people with IDD to mental health supports, in addition to the one year of required experience of a qualified intellectual disability professional described in 42 CFR. 

Experience with trauma-informed services; cognitive behavioral therapies, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT); and motivational therapies including the use of incentives, preferred.

Required Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of trauma-informed theories, principals, and practices (includes multi-faceted understanding of concepts such as community trauma, intergenerational and historical trauma, parallel processes, and universal precautions), preferred.

Physical Demands

Performs sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or sustained keyboard operations.

Unavoidable Hazards (Work Environment)

• Involves routine and frequent exposure to:
• Bright/dim light; Dusts and pollen.
• Extreme heat and/or cold; Wet or humid conditions.
• Extreme noise levels, Animals/wildlife.
• Vibration; Fumes and/or noxious odors.
• Traffic; Moving machinery.
• Electrical shock; Heights.
• Radiation; Disease/pathogens.
• Toxic/caustic chemicals; Explosives; Violence.
• Other extreme hazards not listed above.

Special Certifications and Licenses

• Must complete START coordinator certification within one year of employment.
• Must be able to be credentialed as a Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional (QIDP) in the timeframe designated by EHN.
• Must possess and maintain a valid state Driver's License with an acceptable driving record.
• Must be able to pass a TB, criminal background and drug screen.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance (ADA)

Emergence Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  ADA requires Emergence Health Network to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.

Other Job Characteristics

• Staffing requirements, including criteria that staff have diverse disciplinary backgrounds, have necessary State required license and accreditation, and are culturally and linguistically trained to serve the needs of the clinic's patient population.
• Credentialed, certified, and licensed professionals with adequate training in person-centered, family centered, trauma informed, culturally-competent and recovery-oriented care.

Note: This Class Description does not constitute an employment agreement between Emergence Health Network and an employee and is subject to change by the Emergence Health Network as its needs change.