PT Crisis Clinician

Village Behavioral Health (VBH) is a licensed behavioral health organization providing crisis services. Our mission is rooted in the belief that it takes a village to foster healing, stability, and recovery. We are dedicated to delivering high quality, person centered, trauma-informed care to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises throughout Virginia.

The Part-Time Mobile Crisis Clinician/Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP) for the Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) Program is responsible for providing rapid behavioral health crisis assessment, intervention, safety planning, and clinical oversight in accordance with DMAS and DBHDS crisis system standards. The LMHP ensures that individuals experiencing acute behavioral health crises are assessed quickly, stabilized safely, and linked to appropriate follow-up services. The LMHP functions as the clinical lead within the MCR team and oversees compliance with all regulatory requirements for crisis assessments, documentation, care coordination, and clinical decision-making.

The Clinician (LMHP) may be scheduled to work evenings, weekends, and on-call shifts as crisis demand requires.

Essential duties & responsibilities:

Rapid Crisis Assessment & Diagnostic Determination

• Provideimmediate crisis assessments(in-person or telemedicine-assisted when appropriate), assess for: suicide risk / homicide risk, risk of harm to self or others, substance intoxication or withdrawal risk, cognitive functioning and decision-making capacity, trauma history relevant to the current crisis, housing, environmental, and safety issues.

• Determine whether the individual meetsMCR medical necessity criteria.

• Make diagnostic determinations within scope of licensure.

Crisis Intervention & Safety Planning

• Develop and implementsafety plans
  using 988 dispatch notes

• Provide crisis stabilization strategies including: emotional regulation techniques, de-escalation, safety coaching, grounding and coping skills.

• Determine whether additional crisis services (e.g., CSB emergency services, hospitalization, law enforcement) are required.

Crisis Care Coordination

• Coordinate care with: DBHDS regional crisis hub, MCOs and FFS service authorization contractors, CSBs, hospitals, law enforcement, EMS, natural supports and family.

• Facilitatewarm handoffsto step-down levels of care, including: community Stabilization, outpatient therapy, psychiatric care, RCSU or inpatient care if medically necessary.

• Ensure transitions meet Medicaid and DBHDS standards.

Documentation & Compliance

• Complete all MCR documentationwithin one business dayas required by DMAS.

• Ensure all content reflects individualized, non-boilerplate, clinically accurate information.

• Maintain readiness forutilization review and DBHDS licensing audits.

Clinical Oversight & Team Collaboration

• Provide consultation and real-time clinical guidance to QMHPs, PRS, CSACs, and crisis responders on scene.

• Support staff in performing care coordination, stabilization, and follow-up functions.

• Participate in crisis team meetings, case staffing, and post-incident debriefings.

Regulatory & Agency Compliance

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of: DMAS Mental Health Services Manual (Appendix G), DBHDS Licensing (2024 Crisis Regulations), 12VAC35-105 and 12VAC30

• Meet all requirements for DBHDS Crisis Data Platform submissions.

• Maintain competency in trauma-informed, culturally responsive crisis practices.

Quality & Safety

• Participate in internal quality assurance reviews.

• Support the agency with crisis data analysis, trends, and improvement initiatives.

• Ensure all clinical decisions prioritize safety, stabilization, and least-restrictive interventions.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in required trainings and continuing education.

• Participate in crisis program readiness, drills, or mock reviews.

• Complete other crisis-related duties assigned by supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong working knowledge ofMobile Crisis Response standards, including safety planning, risk assessment, and crisis documentation.

• Ability to interpret and apply DMAS/DBHDS crisis service regulations.

• Expertise in suicide risk assessment, lethality assessment, and crisis triage.

• Ability to make rapid, clinically sound decisions in high-pressure situations.

• Excellent communication skills for collaborating with hospitals, law enforcement, CSBs, and community partners.

• Ability to supervise crisis team clinical tasks and documentation performance.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be anLMHP(LCSW, LPC, LMFT, LCP, or equivalent under Virginia law).
• Minimum2 years of experienceworking in crisis services, emergency services, mobile crisis, acute psychiatric settings, or community mental health.
• Experience with trauma-informed, culturally responsive crisis work preferred.
• Must be able to use GPS-enabled smartphone/tablet during MCR service delivery.
• Strong working knowledge ofMobile Crisis Response standards, including safety planning, risk assessment, and crisis documentation.

• Ability to interpret and apply DMAS/DBHDS crisis service regulations.

• Expertise in suicide risk assessment, lethality assessment, and crisis triage.

• Ability to make rapid, clinically sound decisions in high-pressure situations.

• Excellent communication skills for collaborating with hospitals, law enforcement, CSBs, and community partners.

• Ability to supervise crisis team clinical tasks and documentation performance.
• Valid Virginia driver's license, automobile insurance, and reliable transportation.

Village Behavioral Health (VBH) offers a comprehensive benefits package to all full-time employees including medical, dental, and vision coverages, 401k, life insurance, paid time off, professional development assistance, and more

Village Behavioral Health is an equal opportunity employer.

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