PRN Triage Counselor

Ranked one of Tennessee’s top places to work, MHC is a rare and special place where outstanding company culture is intentional. Where clients and associates are treated the same, as equals.

Mental Health Cooperative, Inc. (MHC) was formed in 1993 to serve individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.  Since then, we have expanded our services to children and adolescents with severe emotional disorders across Middle and East Tennessee.

Our sole purpose is to support and treat those challenged with serious mental illness and poverty. Although based out of Nashville, we serve several communities across middle and East Tennessee with satellite offices in Antioch, Gallatin, Dickson, Columbia, Cleveland, Murfreesboro, Clarksville, Cookeville, Chattanooga, and Memphis. 

If you are interested in joining a team that is caring, collaborative, innovative and energizing this might be a great place for you!

Position Summary: Answer incoming calls to the Crisis Department,determine the nature and necessary response to the calls, and route the calls to the appropriate team.   

PositionResponsibilities:   

Provide telephone counseling to consumers, their families and other concerned persons involving a psychiatric emergency. 

Assess for a response to the scene by the Crisis Counselor. 

Maintainaccurate records and adhere to confidentiality requirements. 

Link client toappropriate community resources. 

Enter information into computer systems. 

Assist community agencies with information and/or disposition. 

In consultation with Crisis Counselors, triage cases in order to determine priority of each call that will require a face-to-face encounter. 

Provide assistance to callers on the Statewide Line and ensure that callers get routed to appropriate team forassistance. 

Provide follow-up calls to consumers seen in crisis as set for in Title 33. 

Maintain appropriate customer service skills at all times. 

Assist in gathering information andproviding assistance on walk-in cares in the Crisis department. 

Assist teammates as needed. 

Attend staff meetings. 

Assist in trainingnew staff asappropriate. 

OtherResponsibilities: 

●Responsibleforattendingallmandatoryin-services,continuingeducationandannualhealthrequirements 

●Complywith allCorporateCompliancepolicies,practicesand procedures 

Reportallunethicalactivitiestosupervisor, CorporateComplianceOffice, ValuesHotlinenumber or HumanResourceDirector 

●Complywith allOSHAandsafetypolicies, practices,andprocedures. Reportallunsafe practicesor accidentstosupervisor,SafetySupervisorand/or OSHA Coordinator 

●Willbecompliantwiththerelevantregulationsconcerningtheprivacyand securityofconsumer’sprotectedhealthinformation(PHI)asestablishedby theHealthInsurancePortabilityand AccountabilityAct of 1996(HIPAA) 

●Participatein proactive teameffortstoachieve departmentalandcompanygoals 

●Performotherdutiesasassigned 

●Provideleadershipto others through exampleandsharing ofknowledge/skill 

• Followallpoliciesand procedures setbythe Agency 

EssentialSkills andExperience: 

• A mental health professional with specialized training in crisis intervention and 

     a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a related field (counseling, psychology,  

     social work) and one-yearmental health experience. 

EssentialRequirements for thePosition: 

• Valid Tennessee Driver’s License 

• Acceptable Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) 

• Acceptable Criminal Background Investigation 

• Personal Automobile Insurance 

CoreCompetencies: 

Interpersonal Skills 

• Demonstrates the ability to work independently to make critical decisionsand to work collaboratively as an integral part of a team (crisis team andagency wide team) 

• Assists teammates when needed 

• Has the ability toinitiate, develop andmaintain effective working relationships with Consumers, families, law enforcement and otherreferral sources. 

• Understands andis able to use conflict resolution and negotiation skillsin order to defusedifficult situations 

• Demonstrates professionalism and empathy with Consumers and referralsources 

Assessment and Intervention Skills 

• Ability to evaluate risk factors and potential risk factors during triageassessments 

• Ability to thoroughly and accurately explain and document triageassessment and plan of action for each triaged call 

• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of community resources andutilizes knowledge toassist Callers 

Customer Service 

• Internal and external customer service indicative of mutual respect & trust 

    Joint Commission Competencies: 

• Consumer Engagement –establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship via effective,appropriate communication and behaviors with consumers.  

• Suicide Specific Triage Assessments – use of C-SSRS and suicide specific assessment.  

• Appropriate use of Therapeutic Options De-escalation and Restraint.  

• Appropriate Triage Disposition for supported by clinically based rationale.  

• Professional and complete communication and coordination of care.  

• Appropriate use of Therapeutic Options De-escalation.  

• Activelyparticipates in consultation process.  

• Maintaintimely availability for calls throughappropriate logging in and logging out.  

• Establish further care by scheduling and completing follow up calls.  

• Complete all clinical documentation in specified time periods.  

• Complete all Crisis Management System documentationin a timely manner.  

• Demonstrates ability to workindependently to make critical decisions and to work collaboratively as an integral part of a team.  

• Demonstratesappropriate infection prevention and control through proper hand hygiene.  

• Demonstrates evidenced informed practice related to substance use disorders.  

• Demonstrates evidenced informed practice related to clinical care of children and youth.  

PhysicalDemandsandWorkEnvironment: 

Thephysicaldemandsandwork environmentcharacteristicsdescribedhereare representativeofthosethatmustbemetbyanemployeetosuccessfullyperform theessentialfunctionsofthisjob.Reasonable accommodationsmaybemadetoenableindividualswith disabilitiestoperformtheessentialfunctions. 

• Physical demands: While performing duties of job, employeeis occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger,handle or feel objects,tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear.Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. 

• Work environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

 Mental Health Cooperative embraces inclusion, diversity and equal opportunity. We're committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Mental Health Cooperative is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.