Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team Clinician

We are seeking PRN Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team Clinicians (casual role) to join the BHCSTs clinical staff as we expand the coverage service area. BHCST clinicians report to the BHCST Assistant Director and are part of a team of nine clinical staff that provides in-person and on-call coverage to the Charles Village and East Baltimore campuses.

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 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. 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 Charles Village and East Baltimore campus footprints and in select off-campus residential locations. In general, JHPS transports clinicians to clients in crisis.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

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 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.
• Works closely with JHPS in the field to intervene in response to calls received through JHPS dispatch or the BHCST Access Line. As needed, consults JHPS lead, clinical team leaders, and colleagues to determine appropriate intervention(s).
• Provides referrals to appropriate internal resources for JHU faculty and staff, and community resources to non-affiliates.
• Arranges transportation from JHPS or local law enforcement partners to emergency and crisis facilities, when appropriate.
• In consultation with BHCST Assistant Director or lead clinician, issues emergency petitions when a higher level of care is clinically indicated, and the individual in crisis is unwilling to enter a higher level of care on a voluntary basis.
• Accompanies clients in need of hospitalization to the emergency room or community facility and provides collateral information to hospital/facility staff and confirms disposition of 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.

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.
  
• Consults and collaborates with campus partners including Student Outreach and Support, student affairs staff, and other relevant resources.
• Provides clinical assessment of learners and recommendations to relevant student affairs offices in accordance with JHU policies for leaves of absence.
• With supplementary training, provides assessment and consultation as part of the Student Threat Assessment Team process.

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 join