Care Team Specialist

Position Title

CARE Team Specialist

Reports To

Director of Crisis Services

Position Summary

Alliance Healthcare Services is seeking a dedicated and compassionate CARE Team Specialist to provide community-based crisis intervention services in collaboration with the Memphis Fire Department (MFD) and Memphis Police Department (MPD). This position responds to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises in the community or within their homes, providing assessment, de-escalation, therapeutic intervention, crisis stabilization, and referrals to appropriate levels of care.

The CARE Team Specialist serves as the on-scene mental health professional, working alongside first responders and community partners to deliver timely, person-centered behavioral healthcare while promoting safety, recovery, and least restrictive treatment options.

Education Requirements

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Human Services, or a related behavioral health field.

Licensure Requirements

• Tennessee LPC, LMSW, LCSW, or equivalent behavioral health licensure preferred.
• Licensed staff must be willing to complete training and certification as a Mandatory Prescreening Agent.

Experience Requirements

• Experience working in a behavioral health or mental health setting.
• Experience providing crisis intervention services preferred.
• Experience collaborating with law enforcement, emergency medical services, or other community partners is preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to effectively assess and respond to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.
• Strong crisis intervention, de-escalation, and clinical assessment skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to exercise sound clinical judgment and make decisions in fast-paced, high-stress environments.
• Ability to establish rapport and build therapeutic relationships with individuals in crisis.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, first responders, and community partners.
• Demonstrated professionalism, self-motivation, flexibility, and accountability.
• Commitment to fostering a professional, healing, recovery-oriented, and restorative environment.
• Ability to maintain accurate and timely electronic documentation.
• Must successfully complete cross-training for Mobile Crisis services.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Respond with Memphis Fire Department, Memphis Police Department Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officers, and other community partners to behavioral health emergencies in the community.
• Serve as the on-scene behavioral health professional by conducting clinical assessments, providing crisis intervention, de-escalation, psychoeducation, brief therapeutic interventions, and referrals to appropriate community resources.
• Conduct telephone crisis assessments when in-person services are unavailable or clinically inappropriate.
• Coordinate admissions and referrals to appropriate levels of care, including:
  • Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU)
  • Crisis Respite
  • Inpatient psychiatric facilities
  • Residential treatment programs
  • Other behavioral health services as appropriate
• Complete insurance pre-certifications and authorization requirements for inpatient and residential admissions.
• Accurately document crisis encounters and services provided within the organization's electronic health record and other required databases.
• If licensed, complete training and maintain certification as a Mandatory Prescreening Agent and complete Certificates of Need (CONs) for involuntary psychiatric admissions when clinically indicated.
• Assist with onsite assessments, Certificates of Need (CONs), Mobile Crisis services, and other crisis-related responsibilities during periods of downtime.
• Participate in all required organizational, departmental, and regulatory training programs.
• Review and respond to work-related email communications each business day.
• Comply with all Alliance Healthcare Services policies, procedures, clinical standards, and documentation requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support crisis operations and organizational needs.

Working Relationships

The CARE Team Specialist works closely with:

• Crisis Leadership and frontline crisis staff
• Memphis Fire Department personnel
• Memphis Police Department Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officers
• Community behavioral health providers
• Hospitals and emergency departments
• Individuals experiencing behavioral health crises and their families
• Other internal and external community partners

Why Join Alliance Healthcare Services?

At Alliance Healthcare Services, our mission is to promote wellness by partnering with individuals and the community to provide exceptional behavioral healthcare. As a CARE Team Specialist, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by delivering compassionate, community-based crisis intervention services while working alongside first responders and community partners to improve outcomes for individuals experiencing behavioral health emergencies.

Alliance Healthcare Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in the workplace.