The Qualified Professional (QP) – Crisis Services provides crisis assessment, intervention, stabilization, care coordination, and recovery support across Southeastern Integrated Care's Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) and Mobile Crisis programs. The position is intentionally cross-utilized and may be assigned to BHUC, Mobile Crisis, or both during a shift based on operational needs. The Qualified Professional works under the supervision of a Licensed Professional and supports delivery of trauma-informed, person-centered, recovery-oriented services designed to stabilize individuals in the least restrictive setting, reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization and psychiatric hospitalization, and ensure seamless transitions of care.
Evening, overnight, weekend, holiday, rotating, and on-call schedules may be required to support twenty-four-hour crisis response operations.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Crisis Assessment and Intervention
- Respond to behavioral health crises in the Behavioral Health Urgent Care, community settings, homes, schools, hospitals, emergency departments, and other designated service locations.
- Perform crisis triage, urgency determination, biopsychosocial assessments, mental status examinations, suicide/violence risk assessments, substance use screening and other required clinical tools under Licensed Professional supervision.
- Assist Licensed Professionals with disposition decisions including outpatient referral, Mobile Crisis follow-up, BHUC observation, Facility-Based Crisis, detoxification, residential treatment, inpatient psychiatric admission and emergency department transfer.
- Provide evidence-based de-escalation, crisis intervention, safety planning and crisis stabilization.
- Participate in involuntary commitment activities consistent with scope of practice.
- Maintain awareness of medical conditions requiring EMS or emergency medical referral.
- Support organizational goals for emergency department diversion, reduced psychiatric hospitalization, timely Mobile Crisis response, continuity of care and quality improvement.
- Participate in audits, supervision, competency validation and required training.
Care Coordination
- Develop, implement, and monitor Person-Centered Plans in collaboration with Licensed Professionals and interdisciplinary team members.
- Coordinate services with hospitals, emergency departments, EMS, law enforcement, schools, primary care providers, outpatient behavioral health providers, residential programs, and community agencies.
- Facilitate referrals for behavioral health treatment, substance use treatment, medication management, housing resources, transportation, benefits, and community supports.
- Coordinate discharge planning and ensure continuity of care through timely follow-up services.
- Engage family members, guardians, and natural support whenever appropriate and authorized.
Mobile Crisis Response
- Respond to community crisis calls in immediate real time.
- Provide community-based assessment, stabilization, follow-up and warm handoffs.
- Coordinate with EMS, law enforcement, hospitals and community providers.
- Utilize telehealth when clinically appropriate and consistent with Medicaid policy.
- Participate in rotating on-call schedules and twenty-four-hour crisis response coverage as assigned.
Behavioral Health Urgent Care Services
- Assist with intake, registration, medical screening workflow, observation, stabilization, and discharge activities within the Behavioral Health Urgent Care.
- Support collection of vital signs, urine drug screening, breathalyzer testing and other clinical processes within scope.
- Provide continuous observation, reassessment and documentation while communicating significant clinical changes.
- Collaborate with psychiatry, nursing, peer support, behavioral health technicians and primary care.
- Promote emergency department diversion and least restrictive treatment.
Documentation and Compliance
- Complete all required clinical documentation accurately and within required timeframes.
- Maintain complete and accurate electronic medical records.
- Complete assessments, service notes, Person-Centered Plans, Individual Treatment Reviews, discharge summaries, follow-up documentation, incident reports, and other required documentation.
- Ensure all documentation meets Medicaid, Trillium, BHUC In-Lieu-of-Service, Mobile Crisis, CARF, DHSR and Southeastern Integrated Care standards.
- Protect confidential information and maintain compliance with HIPAA, 42-CFR and organizational privacy requirements.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
May provide clinical oversight, coaching, and day-to-day guidance to Associate Professionals, Paraprofessionals, Behavioral Health Technicians, and Peer Support Specialists in accordance with North Carolina regulations and organizational policy.
Education/Experience
Must meet Qualified Professional requirements under 10A NCAC 27G .0104, including one of the following:
- Bachelor's degree in a human services field and two years experience serving individuals with mental health, substance use, or intellectual/developmental disabilities.
- Bachelor's degree in a non-human services field and four years of qualifying experience.
- Registered Nurse with four years of qualifying behavioral health experience.
- Master's degree in a human services field and one year of post-graduate qualifying experience.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
- Valid North Carolina driver's license.
- Reliable transportation with proof of current automobile insurance.
Work Environment:
This position functions in a variety of clinical and community settings, including Behavioral Health Urgent Care facilities, homes, hospitals, emergency departments, residential programs, community agencies, and other locations where behavioral health crises occur.
The work environment frequently involves exposure to emotionally charged situations, unpredictable behaviors, and rapidly changing circumstances. Employees must exercise sound judgment while maintaining professionalism, compassion, and personal safety.
May require you to work embedded in emergency rooms, sheriff departments, magistrates’ office, drop-in centers etc. and/or co-respond with first responders.
This position requires frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, driving, and moving throughout clinical and community environments. Employees must be able to safely respond during crisis situations, assist individuals when appropriate, and occasionally lift or move up to fifty pounds.
Frequent travel throughout the assigned service area is required.
