UMass Amherst·Amherst, New York
Provide direct clinical support, risk assessment, and crisis intervention for students in acute distress. Facilitate the Acute Care Program through intake evaluations, therapeutic group sessions, and collaboration with campus and external healthcare partners.
Title: Crisis & Acute Care Services Clinician
Executive Area: Student Affairs & Campus Life
College/School/MBU: Campus Life & Wellbeing
Department: Ctr Counseling & Psych Health
Work Location: Amherst
Schedule: Full Time
Work Arrangement: Onsite
The Crisis & Acute Care Services Clinician reports to the Coordinator for Crisis and Acute Care Services (CACS) of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Health (CCPH), providing support, assessment and direct intervention to students experiencing acute clinical distress, mental health crises, and other urgent situations. This is a split position where the clinician will act as a part of the Crisis Team and the Acute Care Team within the clinic.
Providing direct clinical services to students in crisis, including risk evaluation, safety planning, biopsychosocial evaluation, mental status assessment, crisis intervention, counseling, and referral to appropriate resources.
Reviews applicable records and consults collateral contacts to gather information.
Makes clinical recommendations regarding level of care and involuntary hospitalization as necessary.
Responsible for clinical and legal liability around professional practices and patient care using professional clinical judgement, deep understanding and compliance with professional ethics codes, and knowledge of state and federal laws (Section 12, Tarasoff Warning).
Failure to adequately assess risk and respond appropriately may result in harm to the student and/or larger community.
Crisis and risk assessment involves potential harm to clinician in the course of working with individuals experiencing psychosis, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, homicidal, or suicidal in a 1:1 setting.
Providing clinical care to students in Acute Care Program, including completing an intake evaluation, determining clinical appropriateness/eligibility, safety planning, group and individual therapeutic support sessions, and discharge paperwork.
Facilitating Acute Care Group offerings including community conversations, workshops, and group therapy.
Applying substantial knowledge of psychology, social work, and clinical practice to effectively assess and deliver evidence-based interventions in multiple treatment modalities.
Collaborating with and assisting students in solving complex problems spanning a range of academic and/or administrative areas via direct outreach, advocacy, provision of documentation, and referrals. Collaborating with students to increase their capacity and skill in accessing resources that promote wellbeing and academic success.
Consulting, collaborating, and liaising with campus partners and external entities to triage and assess the needs of students in crisis. This includes working closely with hospitals and healthcare emergency departments, mental health providers, crisis services, community therapists, law enforcement personnel, family/friends of student, Dean of Students Office, Residential Life, University Health Services, UMass faculty/staff and other campus partners in the goal of optimizing student care and safety.
Responding to critical incidents on campus such as community member death, natural disaster, campus threats, or anything else that presents threat to safety, security, and health of the campus.
Delivering training curriculum for suicide prevention, risk reduction, and crisis response on and off campus. Participating in crisis response and emergency management training and planning and supporting the development and implementation of crisis management protocols and procedures.
Preparing accurate and timely clinical documentation in an Electronic Medical Record system, maintaining compliance with HIPAA guidelines and medical billing standards.
Actively participating in departmental and program meetings, such as conferences, administrative meetings, training, program development, and other special committees.
Maintaining 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.
Performing related duties as assigned or required. Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.
Demonstrating capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.
Understanding responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent with state and federal laws, professional ethics, and University policy.
Contributing toward creating a positive and respectful workplace. Using 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.
Master’s Degree or higher in Social Work, Clinical/Counseling Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy
Independent Licensure or License-Eligible and working toward Independent Licensure (LCSW, LICSW, or LMHC)
Three (3) years of relevant professional experience.
At least one (1) year of experience working in crisis or acute care setting or substantial experience completing risk evaluations/providing direct intervention to 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, including ability to use complex computer systems such as electronic medical records and databases.
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 competence in providing services in a culturally responsive and identity-informed manner that affirms the complex ways in which culture and identity affect therapeutic service delivery.
Superior intercultural communication 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.
Impeccable organizational skills.
Candidates fluent in Mandarin, Spanish, and/or other languages spoken by UMass students.
Additional Details: Typical mental health clinic environment
Work is primarily performed in an indoor university environment and involves lifting and transporting materials or equipment and general physical activity, including prolonged standing, walking, or assuming low postures.
Required to work some nights and weekends, to facilitate Acute Care groups and to assist in critical incident response
Clinician may choose to participate in rotation of after hours on-call shifts at their discretion
Pay Grade: PSSAP Grade 29
Click here to view the Professional Staff Hiring Ranges [https://www.umass.edu/hr/documents/exempt-hiring-ranges]
Special Instructions for Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.
This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.
Requires a Master's degree in a clinical mental health field and independent licensure or eligibility. Candidates must have at least three years of professional experience, including one year in a crisis or acute care setting.
Market context
In New York, crisis and acute care clinician roles are typically driven by ongoing behavioral health demand in hospitals, emergency settings, and community response programs. These positions are competitive because employers often look for a master’s degree, independent licensure or eligibility, and direct crisis experience, especially when teams need clinicians who can assess risk and respond quickly. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your licensure status and highlight any acute care or crisis work in your application.