The Johns Hopkins University strives to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all who live, work, or visit our campuses. To meet the evolving standards of collaborative mental health crisis response services, Johns Hopkins University (JHU) has launched a Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team (BHCST), staffed by licensed mental health clinicians and specially trained Johns Hopkins Public Safety officers. While the BHCST responds to calls for service regardless of affiliation, most BHCST clients are JHU students and learners.
The JHU BHCST is seeking a Behavioral Health Crisis Support TeamClinician (Casual/PRN) to join the team to provide shift coverage for staff leave, extended absences, university closures, and as needed to maintain 24/7 operations. In general, this position offers pickup of 7.5-12-hour shifts that could include weekdays, evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnight on-call.
The BHCST clinical team is part of the Mental Health Services organization within the division of Student Health and Well-Being (SHWB). SHWB provides primary care, mental health, and health education and promotion services to JHU students and learners across the University's nine schools.
BHCST clinicians co-respond with Johns Hopkins Public Safety (JHPS) officers 24/7/365 to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. Modeled after successful efforts in major cities, the JHU BHCST is one of the first mobile crisis co-responder programs in a university setting in the United States, and the first to launch a 24/7/365 service model. The BHCST clinical team staffs the Access Line, which provides telephone support for individuals in crisis as well as consultation support for faculty and staff. Clinicians triage phone calls and provide mobile crisis co-response with JHPS officers to calls for service within the Homewood, Mt. Vernon, and East Baltimore campus footprints and in select off-campus residential locations. In general, JHPS transports clinicians to clients in crisis.
The team operates on a 12-hour shift model, with coverage rotating between all staff to cover weekends, holidays, and evenings. On-site coverage shifts cover the hours of 9:30am - 2:00am, with overnight on-call shifts covering the access line. Clinicians are required to respond to campus within 30 minutes for overnight calls that necessitate an in-person mobile crisis response.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
This position's direct clinical service responsibilities will be primarily based on and around the Baltimore campuses, as well as virtual services in Washington, D.C. See minimum qualifications for required timeframes for licensure. Jurisdictions required: Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Mobile Crisis Response (50%)
- Creates a warm and welcoming clinical environment where clients feel supported and respected during times of crisis and as they pursue their personal, academic, and professional goals.
- Provides on-site, in-person, rapid response to students, staff, faculty, and neighbors who present with behavioral health concerns and/or crises.
- Conducts in-depth mental health assessments and determines the level of risk to the individual and/or others, noting contributing environmental, medical, psychiatric, and/or interpersonal factors.
- Works closely with JHPS on scene to intervene in response to calls received through JHPS dispatch or the BHCST Access Line; consults JHPS lead, clinical team leaders, and colleagues to determine appropriate intervention(s) as needed.
- Provides referrals to appropriate internal resources for JHU faculty and staff, and community resources to non-affiliates.
- Arranges transportation for clients by JHPS or local law enforcement partners to emergency and crisis facilities, when appropriate.
- In consultation with the BHCST Associate Director, the senior or lead clinician, issues emergency petitions when a higher level of care is clinically indicated, and voluntary admission is declined.
- Accompanies clients in need of hospitalization to the emergency room or community facility transported by JHPS; provides collateral information to hospital/facility staff and confirms disposition of the case.
- Provides or secures emotional and resource support for bystanders and others impacted by critical incidents, including family, roommates, friends, other first responders, and the community at large.
- Communicates and collaborates with SHWB and other campus resources to facilitate continuity of care for students and learners in crisis.
- Participates in on-call rotations or Access Line and overnight mobile crisis response as needed for shift coverage.
- Conducts critical incident debriefings and facilitates supportive intervention for the JHU community following deaths or events with significant campus impact.
Case Management and Clinical Activities (30%)
- Provides ongoing case management and follow-up to clients to facilitate stabilization and transition to counseling, psychiatry, or other appropriate SHWB and/or community resources.
- Provides in-person or virtual brief therapy and bridge appointments to clients when needed.
- Consults and collaborates with campus partners including Student Outreach and Support, non-clinical case managers, student affairs staff, and other relevant resources.
- With supplementary training, provides assessment and consultation as part of the Student Threat Assessment Team process.
- Receives on-call reports from after-hours contracted service; documents contacts in the electronic health record and conducts clinical or case management follow-up as appropriate.
- Completes documentation and administrative duties in accordance with MHS policies and procedures.
- Other duties as assigned,
Collaborative & Other Activities (20%)
- Participates in ride-along with JHPS to develop relationships with officers and community members, and to maintain knowledge of service areas.
- Maintains collaborative relationships with JHPS officers and participates in joint training, meetings, and team-building activities.
- Remains abreast of current literature and research on student behavioral health and evidence-based intervention strategies.
- Contributes to the professional development of trainees and SHWB staff through the provision of didactic training and seminars.
- Participates in case consultation, student risk management, peer chart reviews, and other departmental committees.
- Participates in clinical training programs; board-approved supervisors may provide individual or group supervision to trainees or staff under supervision.
- Facilitates outreach and educational activities including resource fairs, community meetings, and training for JHU faculty, staff, and students.
- Participates in MHS recruitment and hiring processes.
Special Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in clinical work and all professional activities.
- Excellent interpersonal, listening, verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with teammates, campus partners, and community groups.
- Proven ability to relate effectively to a wide variety of people of various ages and backgrounds, student developmental needs, nationality, culture, faith/religion, language difference, ability differences, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
- Knowledge of DSM-V diagnosis and familiarity with a full range of treatment options and mental health service delivery systems.
- Familiarity with research on the mental health needs of college students, including suicide prevention and trauma-informed care.
- Understanding and appreciation of Baltimore communities and culture.
- Knowledge of Baltimore-area community mental health resources.
Work Schedule
- Clinicians work on-site during shifts, which may range from 7.5 - 12 hours in length, as needed.
- The team operates on-site on the JHU Homewood Campus between 9:30 am and 2 am, 7 days a week, and East Baltimore 9:30 am- 9:30 pm 5 days a week, including during university holidays and closures.
- When covering remote on-call, clinicians must be able to arrive on campus within 30 minutes.
- Clinicians are Required Attendance Employees: they are designated as vital to the operation of a workgroup, so their presence at work is required regardless of emergency conditions.
Physical Requirements
- Stooping and bending.
- Reaching and grasping objects.
- Walking and/or standing for extended periods, with or without reasonable accommodations, and travel for work between properties on and around campus, with outdoor travel required.
Minimum Qualifications- Master's degree in Counseling, Psychology, or Social Work from an accredited institution.
- Minimum two years of clinical experience delivering mental healthcare in a setting in which both trauma-informed care and crisis assessment were required.
- Must be licensed as a mental health provider in Washington D.C. within 6 months of hire; LGPC, LMSW or equivalent is acceptable but independent licensure is strongly preferred.
- Must be licensed as a mental health provider in Maryland; LGPC, LMSW or equivalent is acceptable but independent licensure is strongly preferred.
- Psychologist candidates must be independently licensed and meet the relevant clinical experience requirements.
Preferred Qualifications- Crisis intervention, community response experience, and crisis community debriefing experience.
- Critical Incident Stress Management training or certification is strongly preferred.
- Experience working on a mobile crisis team preferred.
- Experience in a university/higher education setting preferred.
- Language skills in Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin and/or Cantonese) or Korean preferred.
Classified Title: BHCST Clinician
Job Posting Title (Working Title):Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team Clinician (Casual/PRN)
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/04/ME
Starting Salary Range: $41.00 - $45.00 HRLY (commensurate with experience)
Employee group: Casual / On Call
Schedule: Varies, 12 hours shifts, nights/weekends and holidays rotated through the team
Exempt Status:Exempt
Location:Homewood Campus
Department name: Mental Health Services
Personnel area: University Student Services
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