Mobile Crisis Clinician – Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

For more than 70 years, the Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) at Carnegie Mellon University has been addressing the mental health needs of the university community by providing confidential treatment to students and collaborating with the CMU community. CaPS services help students improve their psychological health by facilitating insight and fostering deeper understanding of their personal struggles, with a goal of supporting students in the moment and in their personal growth and maturation. CaPS aims to be an advocate for social justice and believes that part of mental health work includes taking action to build care systems which are sensitive to historically underrepresented populations.

To this end, Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) has launched a brand-new Mobile Crisis Team (CMU HEART), to be staffed by licensed mental health clinicians. HEART clinicians will respond to CMU Pittsburgh-based students experiencing mental health crises. The Mobile Crisis Team will co-respond to crises in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University Police Department (CMUPD) during assigned shifts. In our inaugural year, the Mobile Crisis team will operate in late afternoon and evening hours. When needed, HEART clinicians will transport students to hospital facilities utilizing team vehicle.  

Carnegie Mellon University’s Counseling and Psychological Services is searching for two mental health clinicians who are interested in becoming change-makers within this field.  Mobile crisis units are a new and innovative concept within university counseling centers, and the individuals hired for these positions will have the opportunity to make a significant shift in how mental health crises are responded to by enhancing a partnership with the police department. 

These Mobile Crisis Clinician positions are full-time, 12-month positions reporting to the Program Director for Triage, Case management and Consultation Services. 

Core Responsibilities will include:

Mobile Crisis Response 

• 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 who present with behavioral health concerns and/or in crisis.

• Conducts in-depth mental health assessments, determines the level of risk to the individual and/or others, noting contributing environmental, medical, psychiatric, and/or interpersonal factors using Columbia C-SSRS + SAFE-T assessment tool.

• Works closely with CMUPD in the field to intervene in response to calls received through CMU PD dispatch. As needed, consults with CMUPD lead, CaPS leadership, Student Affairs on-call personnel, and colleagues to determine appropriate intervention(s).

• Arranges transportation to emergency and crisis facilities, and back from these, when appropriate.

• In consultation with clinical supervisor, issues 302 (involuntary commitment) petitions when a higher level of care is clinically indicated and necessary

• Accompanies clients in need of hospitalization to the emergency room and provides collateral information to hospital/facility staff and confirms disposition of care. 

• Provides or secures emotional and resource support for bystanders and others impacted by critical incidents.

• Communicates and collaborates with other campus department resources to facilitate continuity of care for students in crisis.

Case Management and Clinical Activities 

• Provides ongoing case management and follow-up to clients to facilitate stabilization and transition to counseling, psychiatry, or other appropriate community resources.

• Consults and collaborates with campus partners including CMUPD, EMT, student affairs staff, and other relevant resources.

• Consults and collaborates with hospital staff as needed to support students admitted for inpatient services.

• Provides clinical assessment of students and recommendations to relevant student affairs offices in accordance with CMU policies.

Collaborative & Other Activities 

• Participates in ride-alongs with CMU PD to develop relationships with officers and CMU community members, and to maintain knowledge of service areas.

• Maintains collaborative relationships with CMU PD officers and participates in joint training, meetings, and team-building activities.

• Participates in CaPS multi-disciplinary clinical and administrative teams, including committees and other meetings as needed.

• Participates in triage activities and assessments as needed.

• Remains abreast of current literature and research on student behavioral health and evidenced-based intervention strategies.

• Facilitates outreach and educational activities including Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), CMU Campus Connect, and other training to CMU faculty, staff and students.

• Contributes to professional development of CaPS staff and trainees through provision of didactic training, consultation, and seminars.

• Other duties as assigned.

CaPS is seeking staff members who are adaptable, team-oriented, take initiative, and have a positive outlook and attitude. We value colleagues who are committed to continued personal and professional growth, can contribute through their work/life experiences to the diversity of our community, and can work with a diverse and international student body. They demonstrate culturally responsive communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to manage conflict with cultural humility, clear professional boundaries, and ability to work collegially and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team. 

Qualifications: 

• Master's in counseling, psychology or social work from an accredited institution required

• 3-5 years clinical experience delivering mental healthcare in a setting in which both trauma-informed care and crisis assessment were required

• A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.

• Excellent interpersonal, listening, verbal and written communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

• 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.

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in clinical work and all professional activities.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience working on a mobile crisis team.

• Experience in a university/higher education setting.

• Familiarity with research on mental health needs of college students, including suicide prevention and trauma informed care.

• Licensed as a mental health provider in Pennsylvania or license-eligible (licensed as a mental health provider in another state, licensed in Pennsylvania within 6-months).

Requirements:

• Successful background check

• Child protection clearances

• Valid PA Driver’s license

• Walking and/or standing for extended periods of time, with or without reasonable accommodations, and travel for work between properties on and around campus.

• Ability to work late afternoon/evening shifts on site at CMU Pittsburgh Campus, which may include weekends, some university holidays and closures.

• Clinicians may provide occasional, pre-assigned remote on-call coverage on a rotating basis.

• When covering remote on-call, clinicians must be able to arrive on campus within 30 minutes.

• The successful candidate must become licensed as a mental health provider in the state of Pennsylvania within two years of hire.

Sponsorship: Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for CMU in the United States. CMU will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity.

Are you interested in this exciting opportunity?! Apply today!

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Counseling and Psychological

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full Time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information: 

• Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon ” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world. 

• Click here to view a listing of employee benefits

• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran. 

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