Coordinator of Crisis & Acute Care Services

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Coordinator of Crisis & Acute Care Services reports to and works closely with the Assistant Director for Crisis and Acute Care Services of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Health (CCPH) in planning and participating in overall clinic response to students at high risk, including providing supervision and consultation in this area to crisis clinicians, case managers, and trainees. Participates in the on-call rotation and carries a small clinical caseload, including evaluation and treatment of wide range of clients presenting to the clinic.

Essential Functions

• Coordinates and helps lead the Crisis and Acute Care Services (CACS) Team including development of programming, consultation, supervision of staff and trainees.
• Provides consultation to professional staff and trainees around clinical issues via individual meetings, and team meetings. Responsible for clinical and legal liability around professional practices and patient care. Uses professional clinical judgement, deep understanding and compliance with professional ethics codes, and knowledge of state and federal laws.
• Regularly reviews client records to assure quality and compliance with professional ethics codes, state, and federal laws. Reviews programmatic data, team feedback, and client satisfaction information to guide program recommendations and decisions.
• Meets regularly with the Assistant Director of Crisis and Acute Care Services to establish priorities, discuss personnel issues, and to evaluate effectiveness of acute care services. Is actively involved in decision making in all of these areas.
• Coordinates a variety of special projects.

General Clinical Activities

• Provides culturally responsive and identity-informed evaluations, crisis interventions and brief psychotherapies with individuals, couples, families, and groups that affirm the complex ways in which culture and identity affect therapeutic service delivery.
  
  
  
  • On-Call responsibilities in regular rotation for a variety of urgent and emergency situations in 24-72-hour stints that include nights, weekends, and holidays.
  • Collaborates with students to increase their capacity and skill in accessing resources that promote wellbeing and academic success.
  • Actively works to dismantle systemic oppression as it shapes workplace policies and practices.
  • Promotes and supports flourishing across the lifespan through a developmental lens.
  • Recognizes the impact that racism, oppression, and other systemic inequities have on student access to care. Demonstrates the capacity and skill to increase access and promote student success.
  • Provides and supervises related group clinical programming as outlined in the Acute Care Team structure.
  • Provides timely written documentation of all related activities, as required.
  • Actively participates in departmental and program meetings, such as conferences, administrative meetings, training, program development, and other special committees.
  • Maintains licensure, including earning of required CEUs, and adhering to all other practices and policies as outlined by UMASS, Title IX, Clery, mandated reporting guidelines, and professional code of ethics.
  
  
  
  

Other Functions

• Performs related duties as assigned or required. Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.
• Demonstrates capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.
• Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with law and with University policy.
• Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace. Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure) Education/ Experience

• Master's Degree or higher in Social Work.
• Licensure in Massachusetts as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) by start date.
• Five (5) years of relevant professional experience, including 1 year supervising trainees and/or staff.
• Experience working in crisis or acute care setting or substantial experience working with high-risk clients.
• Demonstrated competence in assessing and facilitating involuntary hospitalization for individuals at imminent risk to self or others.
• Demonstrated experience and competence with administrative functions.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience and competence.
• Well-developed understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion in clinical care, including attending to the unique needs and advocating for individuals experiencing marginalization, such as first-generation college students, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ individuals, neuro-diverse individuals, individuals with disabilities, and individuals at the intersection of multiple identities.
• Recognizes the impact that racism, oppression, and other systemic inequities have on student access to care, especially in emergency situations.
• Demonstrated ability to use complex computer systems such as electronic medical records and databases.
• Superior intercultural communication skills.
• Impeccable organizational skills.
• Strong ability to communicate clearly and concisely, especially with regard to complicated information, in written and oral formats.
• Solid decision-making abilities, using consultation and data to inform the process.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Initiative and follow through in tackling various challenges.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

Candidates fluent in Mandarin, Spanish, and/or other languages spoken by UMass students.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical mental health clinic environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 8 :30am - 5:00 pm,
• On-call rotation requires evenings and weekends, occasionally available for consultation after hours.

Salary Information

Level 30

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Upload your resume and cover letter along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional references. This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first. Early submissions are recommended.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.