Discharge Planner, AM (Crisis Center) - AltaPointe Health

Overview

The Behavioral Health Crisis Center is strategically placed in Mobile County with easy access for the area with the highest need and the most frequent use, the midtown/downtown area of Mobile. This Crisis Center operates a 24/7/365 with a full complement of staff to provide crisis de-escalation and resolution no matter the time or the day.

A study of mental health related law enforcement calls shows that, as one of Alabama’s largest cities, Mobile has the highest demand for police and EMS within the I-65/I-165 corridor. Stationing the Diversion Center in this area will allow expeditious access from Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, Monroe, Conecuh, and Escambia Counties, which will also utilize the Diversion Center. Mobile Metro Jail is the second largest jail in Alabama. The annual number of individuals booked into the jail is just under 20,000. Since the Stepping Up Initiative began last year, all inmates are screened for mental illness and substance use disorders. Last year 6,828 individuals screened positive for serious mental illness. This is a serious over-representation of mentally ill individuals per capita when compared to statistics for the general population. Most individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders are arrested for petty crimes. These individuals could be diverted from arrest with the addition of more Mobile Crisis response and a Behavioral Health Crisis Center. Based on data collected from Crisis Response Team calls, Access to Care, law enforcement, local emergency departments, and a Community Health Needs Assessments, the size and structure of the Crisis Center must consist of a large living room model staffed by peer specialists, an 18 recliner temporary observation unit, and a 6 bed extended observation unit.

Responsibilities

General Responsibilities:

• Serves as liaison between unit’s physician and treatment team members, families and outside agencies
• Assists consumers and families with discharge planning and provides referral information as necessary
• Facilitates admission to AltaPointe program services or other agencies as appropriate
• Advocates on behalf of the consumers to secure community resources
• Reviews progress of consumers with assigned therapist and assists with discharge planning for consumers.
• Provides warm handoff to outpatient services or the next level of care
• Effectively communicates with unit therapist, nurses, doctors, coordinator of social services, supervisor and other members of the treatment team
• Ensures clinical information is forwarded to other AltaPointe programs and agencies as appropriate for continuity of care and provision of aftercare services
• Coordinates with treatment team to obtain releases of information for medical records
• Requests/tracks receipt of records from other treating facilities/outpatient physicians
• Obtains aftercare appointments – including sending records to outpatient providers
• Distributes and collects consumers surveys
• Maintains a resource list of various outside providers for the purpose of coordinating aftercare services
• Scans and emails referrals for group home screenings
• Provides Unit census to treatment team members
• Facilitates Nursing Home/Home Health referrals as necessitated completing necessary releases with consumers
• Documents daily discharge planning efforts.
• Effectively demonstrates the application of adult specific competencies listed above
• Adheres to professional code of ethics

Supervision and Consultation:

• Seeks supervision and consultation as needed
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
• Actively works to enhance skills

Record Keeping:

• Documents in a timely fashion per AltaPointe policy
• Documents appropriate, complete, and comprehensive reports
• Documents in a clear and concise manner
• Documents legibly

Courteous and respectful attitudes towards consumers, visitors, co-workers and outside agency staff:

• Treats consumers with care, dignity and compassion
• Respects consumer’s privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Assists consumers and visitors as needed
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the consumer’s needs, expectations and individual differences
• Is gentle and calm to consumers and families

Administrative and Other Related Duties as Assigned:

• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Accesses appropriate community resources according to consumer needs
• Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures
• Attends regular workshops and in-services as appropriate

Physical Requirements of the Job: 

• There is frequent standing, sitting and walking which are in bursts of 5-10 minutes;
• however, extended sitting could be up to 1 hour
• There is occasional forward bending from the hips while kneeling to reach to the side
• There is an occasional need to be able to assume a full squat/lunge from a standing
• position
• There is an occasional need to maintain back extension while being on stomach with
• one’s own body weight on hips and legs, this position is maintained for several minutes
• Occasionally, be able to put one’s own body weight on one knee and one elbow on the
• same side of one’s body
• Occasionally, be able to kneel and reach to same side toward floor
• Strong grasp is needed to use keys to open doors throughout the facility and to maintain
• constant contact with a consumer during a take down procedure
• Pushing/pulling force up to 25 pounds occasionally during shift
• Fine manipulation/dexterity to handle medical records and complete documentation
• Occasional step ladder climbing to retrieve medical records that are on higher shelves
• Lifting various ranges from the floor to overhead with weights up to 10-15 pounds when handling medical records
• Carrying up to 10-15 pounds various distances throughout the facility

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree preferred in Social Work (BSW). Hospital Case Management and/or discharge planning experience preferred.

Must be 23 years of age or older with a valid Alabama Driver’s License and proof of current liability insurance.

Knowledge in adult specialty, outlined below, to be attained within (6) months of employment:

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the adult population
• Knowledge of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Knowledge of Substance Use Disorders
• Knowledge of Housing programs
• Knowledge of VA programs
• Knowledge of area shelters
• Knowledge of Intellectual Disability placement services
• Knowledge of inpatient substance abuse services
• Basic knowledge of the nature of addiction for referral purposes
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and interventions common toacute psychotic consumers, as well as to non-violent crisis intervention practices
• Knowledge of community resources
• Knowledge of nursing home and assisted living facility admission requirements
• Knowledge of cultural diversity
• Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to adults with psychiatric disorders
• Knowledge of psychiatric rehabilitation principles
• Knowledge of involuntary commitment laws, procedures and court policies