School Based Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Specialist

Job Code: CITSPEC - 113
Revision Date: October 19, 2023

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

FLSA: Non-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 position of Crisis Intervention Team Specialist will be assigned to assist a police officer assigned from the Police Departments within the current Independent School Districts enrolled into the program. The Specialist will respond, both face-to-face and virtually, to mental health crisis calls within the District. The specialist will offer crisis intervention, stabilization, and assessment services while in the field. This unit is operational five days out of the week from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and may be required to work Saturdays for follow-up. Work involves developing short-term contact with children, adolescents, their families, and school district staff to include principals, counselors, teachers, service providers for medical, social, educational, and related service needs.

The position works under general supervision, under police guidance and protection, and with moderate to higher latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment while operating in the field and will serve as part of the clinical support component within the unit.

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.

• Responds to calls, or if necessary, at the home of a student, and provides onsite and offsite face-to-face, emergency screening assessments and rapid crisis intervention with the potential for life threatening behavior and/or acute psychiatric crisis. Must be able to deploy to the school or designated location as indicated by team management and in accordance with Emergence Health Network (EHN) response time.
• Required to respond to any school shootings in the District, assist with debriefing staff and students after a completed suicide or death of a student or District staff.
• Staff all screenings with Administrator on Duty, the clinician, and/or Practitioner on call, to provide the most appropriate disposition based on the client's individual needs.
• Communicates disposition to the manager on shift and the Crisis Hotline for onsite and offsite assessments.
• Will assist mental health response police officer in transporting consumers to service facilities when required.
• Links consumer to immediate crisis stabilization and intervention services under the Crisis & Emergency Services (CES) division when required.
• Provides client tailored community referrals and linkage to assist the client in meeting all individual needs utilizing psychosocial/psychiatric methods.
• If inpatient stabilization is needed, provides ongoing coordination with psychiatric facilities, the school, and parent/guardian.
• Documents any service delivery, intervention conducted, communication with others to include outside agency personnel with rationale for intervention, and other pertinent details. Reviews clinical documentation for quality, completeness, and timeliness.
• This position requires flexibility for work scheduling purposes and requires on-going cross training that involves changes in police or clinical operating procedures to effectively accomplish position duties and meet performance outcomes.
• This position will also require staff to assist with educating staff in the District about mental health and de-escalation techniques.
• Acquires and maintains credentialing requirements in accordance with local, state and federal requirements.
• Complies with all additional unit training as designated by unit and center management.
• Exemplifies teamwork through effective communication, cooperation, respect and dignity towards clients, co-workers, collaborating agency staff, outside agency personnel, and EHN staff.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Requires a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Sciences or related behavioral field supplemented by two (2) years of progressive clinical services, crisis intervention services, crisis counseling, field casework; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Required Knowledge and Abilities

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

Physical Demands

This is field work where EHN staff will be assigned with a police officer. While in the field there may be physical demands that are beyond what is required in a typical office environment. While in the field you may be required to respond physically in the following manner: rapid physical response to protect oneself, strenuous physical exertion resulting from an altercation or exigent circumstance, running and or sprinting, assuming a bodily defensive posture, and the need to exercise PMAB response measures.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25-35 pounds Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Must be able to operate a vehicle.

Unavoidable Hazards (Work Environment)

CIT specialist must accept and acknowledge that this is a work environment usually reserved for police officers that presents a higher risk for physical bodily harm, mental anguish, and in rare or extreme cases death. While in the field extreme physical exertion, personal defense response, and physical efforts involving the prevention and management of aggressive behavior all are real factors in performing your field duties.

• 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.
  • Toxic/caustic chemicals; Explosives; Violence.
  • Other extreme hazards not listed above.

Special Certifications and Licenses

• Must be able to be credentialed as a Qualified Mental Health Practitioner Community Service (QMHP-CS) within the time limit designated by EHN.
• Employees must be able to pass an extensive and detailed background investigation to be considered for CIT through the El Paso Police Department or Sheriff's Department.
• 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 (ADA) Compliance

Emergence Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Americans with Disabilities Act (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.
• Must be able to wear a ballistic vest and flashlight when required.
• Responsible for adhering to the EHN common purpose and service framework to continuously provide exceptional care to all constituents.

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