Crisis Response Clinician

Health Solutions West is the Western slope’s largest behavioral health care organization, covering more than 23,000 square miles across 10 counties.  With over 250 employees in Western Colorado, you would be joining a mighty team of support and administrative staff, case managers, clinicians, physicians, nurses, and others in our efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of our community.

Position: Crisis Clinician 

Location: Grand Junction, Building A

Pay dependent upon experience, educational level, and licensure. 

Differentials are received for on-call coverage and for Crisis Response calls in the community.

• $6/hour on Weekdays (Monday-Friday)
• $8/hour on Weekends (Saturday & Sunday)
• $12/hour on Holidays (10 designated company holidays)
• Holiday pay begins at Midnight of the Holiday and ends at 11:59 PM
• $150 Face to Face (if called in) 
• $75 Face to Face (Crisis Response Second Responder)
• $15 per Documented Phone Call

Position qualifications:  Bachelor’s degree required/Master’s degree in a recognized mental health profession preferred.  Previous training in the mental health field required, with a minimum of six months of experience in crisis intervention desired.

Job purpose:  Provides mental health and substance abuse emergency services to individuals in crisis or to community agencies with individuals in crisis. Assesses level of risk and immediacy of the service needed.  Conducts mental status examinations to establish provisional diagnosis and evaluates need for legal holds and level of care. Provides behavioral interventions as needed. Refers for appropriate follow up services.  Collaborates with client, family, law-enforcement and community agencies around disposition planning. 

Knowledge, Skill & Ability (include materials and equipment directly used):

• Ability to quickly develop rapport with individuals to resolve crisis situations.
• Ability to assess individual’s potential for dangerousness to self, others and/or grave disability.
• Ability to make a differential diagnosis between substance abuse and psychiatric emergencies.
• Working knowledge of community and hospital resources.
• Thorough working knowledge of the DSM-IV TR or the most current version of the DSM.
• Ability to appropriately and immediately document interactions with patients and potential patients.
• Ability to utilize Colorado West’s computer technology as required for admission, documentation and other uses.
• Ability to perform duties required by CPI training to provide verbal de-escalation and physical and mechanical restraints if necessary.
• Working knowledge of Windows based computer applications to include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and Internet access.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment including calculator, copy machine, fax and multi-line telephone.
• Interpersonal and communication skills to develop and maintain effective working relationships with all internal and external customers.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload in a sometimes hectic environment with frequent interruptions.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands: Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Employee is frequently required to walk, sit, stand or kneel and occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop.  Must have ability to sit for longer periods of time at a computer. Employee must be able to travel between Health Solutions West sites. May be exposed to stressful situations that involve enraged, distraught and/or intoxicated individuals with possible mental disorders. Possible potential for exposure to communicable disease. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must already be authorized to work in the US; sponsorships not available.