The YCOT Specialist provides immediate crisis intervention, screening, and follow-up services for youth and families experiencing behavioral health crises. This role involves conducting assessments, developing safety plans, and collaborating with community partners to ensure stabilization in the least restrictive environment.
Requirements summary
Candidates must hold a Master's degree in counseling, social work, or a related field and possess a valid driver's license. Professional licensure or associate-level licensure in counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy is required.
The LPHA Youth Crisis Outreach Team (YCOT) Specialist works under the direction of the YCOT Supervisor. The YCOT Specialist will play a vital role in the implementation of the YCOT program, offering immediate support to youth along with their caregivers and families experiencing crisis situations. The purpose of the YCOT Specialist is to provide crisis intervention, screening, referral, relapse prevention, and follow-up/case monitoring services for youth and family who are experiencing crisis situations within LifePath Systems catchment area. This role involves trauma-informed interventions, crisis resolution, and ongoing support to ensure the well-being and mental health stability of the individuals served. Work involves developing and maintaining professional contact with youth and their families, and service providers for medical, social, educational, psychiatric and related service needs to specifically reduce youth crisis experience. This position’s actions and work must align with LifePath Systems values and goals, regulations, and policies and procedures, and meet all documentation standards and regulatory requirements.
Conduct psychosocial and diagnostic assessments
The LPHA YCOT Specialist identifies behavioral health needs, assesses for behavioral health crises, and coordinates access to appropriate treatment options based on least restrictive environment (LRE) and in collaboration with the youth, family/support system, and law enforcement.
Develop and maintain professional contact with youth served and their families, as well as partner providers for medical, social, educational, psychiatric and related service needs to specifically navigate crisis resolution. The YCOT Specialist Provides on-site and off-site emergent/urgent screening assessments with rapid crisis intervention and crisis management to youth experiencing a behavioral or emotional crisis with the potential for life threatening behavior and/or acute psychiatric crisis.
Provide trauma-informed interventions and strategies to de-escalate youth in psychiatric crisis.
Collaborate with the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT), Crisis Intervention Services (CIS), Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) to facilitate stabilization in the least restrictive environment.
Benefits
Sign-on bonus
Coordinates and provides appropriate referral and linkage services after staffing with YCOT supervisor/or designee. Develop and implement relapse prevention and safety planning strategies for youth in crisis.
Ensure ongoing communication with the individuals served and their families to provide support and guidance.
Collaborate with Emergency Department, Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) or Local agencies for youth to divert from inpatient and law enforcement interventions.
Ensure a seamless connection and coordination with community mental health resources and clinics to facilitate continued support beyond the crisis period.
Responsible for coordination, planning, and implementation of the Safety Plan as required for appropriate level of care.
Seek clinical consultation as needed from the YCOT Supervisor and/or supervisor identified.
Provide accurate and timely reporting metrics to the YCOT supervisor
Make accurate and effective assessments and recommendations regarding the youth's mental health needs in compliance with rights and preferences as well as all relevant State and Federal statutes, and Lifepath Systems policies and procedures.
Develop and maintain rapport with persons in crisis using modalities such as Motivational Interviewing and other relevant and appropriate methods to communicate and relate with callers in order to resolve crises.
Hours and shift assignments: Position requires a flexible schedule due to a variety of rotating shifts including evenings.
Duties and projects may be assigned or changed to meet program and community needs. Travel is required and can vary from 20% to 100% per day within LPS catchment area. This role may be required to use a fleet vehicle and and/or a personal vehicle for program needs. This may include, but not limited to field & home visits, off-site meetings, co-located sites and/or pick up items for program needs, etc. If your program requires transport of individuals, this would only be allowed with a company vehicle and approval from management.
Specific
Targets: Include completing assessments as soon as possible and within the required response time based on the urgency level of each case. Ensure documentation is completed concurrently and signed by the end of shift. Assigned follow ups are completed at 24 hours, and up to 90 days if clinically necessary, but no less than 30 days. Shift report is communicated at the end of each shift. 90% of full chart reviews receive a score of 80 or higher. If Bilingual and receiving stipend, employee will be available to translate for other staff as needed and will utilize approved language in the provision of services as needed.
Qualifications
Master’s degree in counseling, social work, or related field required.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) preferred but will accept Licensed Professional Counselor – Associate, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy – Associate, or LMSW Under Supervision.
English/Spanish bilingual preferred.
Must have reliable transportation and valid driver’s license.
Experience in providing psychosocial education, skills training, or assessments, particularly with the target population.
Experience with participating in a treatment team that develops and monitors treatment plans for persons with severe persistent mental illness and substance use disorders.
