5E08
MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY SERVICES SUPERVISOR

This is supervisory mental health work directing, on an assigned shift, the activities of subordinates engaged in the consultation and intervention of suicide and mental health crises through public crisis phone lines. An employee in this class also supervises a staff providing facilitative services to medical and mental health professionals and other city personnel on matters pertaining to client evaluation, placement and treatment management.

Insuring the compliance to the Mental Health Procedures Act and other related laws and regulations for mental health professionals and the general public is a significant aspect of the work. Work is performed under the direction of an administrative superior.

• Supervises a mental health crisis intervention staff; acts on behalf of the county administrator to monitor and review subordinates' evaluations of clients for involuntary psychiatric commitments; assesses and prioritizes psychiatric emergencies; resolves disputes related to clinical or operational determinations to ensure minimal risk to client and public safety; insures subordinates' recommendations for client treatment management, referral and placement services conform to federal, state and city mandates, and departmental policies and procedures; instructs subordinates in evaluation, referral, placement and treatment strategies; investigates complaints concerning mental health emergency advisory, procedural and technical services; consults with subordinates on problem cases; provides technical direction.
• Supervises a staff providing crisis intervention counseling and informational services; schedules counselors to provide twenty-four hour crisis hotline coverage; instructs crisis intervention staff in counseling strategies; dispatches mobile emergency team, police and fire rescue to the site of psychiatric emergency.
• Develops and improves operational manuals and data collection forms used by subordinates; investigates and resolves complicated client and systems issues; writes reports with recommendations for future handling of similar cases; revises manuals, procedures, training materials and guidelines to reflect current standards in the field; directs the maintenance of various emergency services records and reports; prepares summary reports and documentation for superiors; access client history from computer database of users for various statistical purposes.
• Interfaces with medical and mental health professionals performing similar functions with other jurisdictions to keep abreast of new developments in handling clients with acute emotional stress.
• Lectures and conducts seminars for groups on specific mental health topics such as federal, state and local mandates, legal implications for implementation of mandates and general information concerning office services; explains provisions of mental health emergency services to medical and mental health professionals.
• Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE OF:
• the fundamental types of mental health illness and associated symptoms
• the functions and resources of public and private social, medical and mental health agencies with emphasis on psychiatric emergency systems and other acute care mental health services
• the theories, principles and techniques of working with people with emotional, mental and social problems
• the laws governing treatment and commitment of the mentally ill
• the basic policies and procedures governing psychiatric social services in clinics and hospitals
ABILITY TO:
• supervise and plan a twenty-four hour work schedule for astaff of subordinates providing facilitating emergency mental health services to medical and mental health professionals, other city employees and the public
• recognize symptoms of mental illness
• assess and interpret an individual's emotional and social problems and to make a sound evaluation and recommendation for a solution
• assemble, evaluate and interpret pertinent data, and make viable recommendations based upon such information
• determine the need for commitment of individuals
• function under pressure and in stressful situations
• present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals with emotional, mental and social problems, and their families, mental health and other involved workers and subordinates
• show empathy in behavioral crisis situations

EDUCATION
• Completion of a master's degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in psychology, nursing, sociology or social work.
AND
EXPERIENCE
• Five years of counseling or administrative experience handling psychiatric emergencies, which has involved the processing of voluntary and involuntary psychiatric commitments, two years of which have been at the advanced performance level.

OR

Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Personnel Department, which has included the completion of a bachelor's degree as an educational minimum.

• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.