Direct Response Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

We're expanding our Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) to provide 24/7 coverage and are seeking compassionate professionals to join us!

Hiring for Multiple Shifts!

• Full-time and part-time opportunities available
• Overnight shift: 8:00 p.m.–8:00 a.m.

Why Prairie Ridge?

When someone is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, every moment matters. As a Community Crisis Response Specialist, you'll provide compassionate, person-centered support that helps individuals stabilize, navigate challenging situations, and connect with the care they need.

As part of Prairie Ridge's expanding 24/7 Community Crisis Response Team, you'll work alongside local law enforcement, 43 North Iowa, Mobile Crisis, and other community partners to provide coordinated, community-based crisis intervention. Together, you'll help bridge individuals to the most appropriate behavioral health services while improving access to care and strengthening outcomes throughout North Iowa.

Depending on your assigned shift, you may also support operations at the Prairie Ridge Downtown Drop-In Center by engaging with individuals, assisting with recovery-focused activities, and building meaningful relationships that foster hope, connection, and recovery.

At Prairie Ridge, you'll join a collaborative team that values compassion, professionalism, innovation, and community partnerships. We believe in investing in our employees while empowering them to make a lasting difference every day.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

PRIMARY DUTIES:

1. Treat all individuals with dignity and respect while maintaining agency standards of confidentiality, professionalism, and objectivity.
2. Adhere to all confidentiality requirements and regulations as outlined in CARF policies and procedures.
3. Provide crisis support to engage in successful participation in becoming stable and seeking appropriate program engagement in moving through a mental health or substance use crisis.
4. Assist individuals in connecting to programs that promote rehabilitation skills in areas including but not limited to symptom management, medication management, personal hygiene and health, housekeeping and laundry, budgeting and money management, meal planning and preparation, transportation, and applications for entitlements or other services.
5. Facilitate the effective use of services that are offered in the area to maintain stability.
6. Assess issues of concern with immediate need and the reason for contacting 911.
7. Advocate for patient right and facilitate effective use or services through individual choice.
8. Ensure that all necessary medical, psychiatric, therapy, and other service-related appointments are passed on to the team providing services to the patient.
9. Engage in communicate between partners of the Community Crisis Response team in a professional and growth minded manner/
10. Maintain appropriate documentation consistent with agency policies and procedures.

SECONDARY DUTIES:

1. Be assigned to the Prairie Ridge Downtown Drop-In Center during its operating hours. Outside of operating hours, report to the designated Prairie Ridge work location unless responding to a Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) call or otherwise directed by the supervisor.
   1. Provide drop-in center staff assistance with developing activities and groups.
   2. Co-facilitate activities and groups unless dispatched out for a CCRT call. 
   3. Engage in conversation and assist with patients who come to the drop-in center unless dispatched out for a CCRT call.
2. Develop and maintain a working knowledge of the Electronic Health Record, CARF policies, Feedback Informed Treatment, Nurtured Heart Approach, licensure standards and other parts of Prairie Ridge processes as needed.
3. All other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED FOR POSITION

1. Associate of arts degree in human services preferred. Or a combination of education and relevant experience.
2. Two years relevant experience in a related field.
3. The employee must possess a valid driver’s license, liability insurance policy, and a reliable means of transportation. (Required.)
   
4. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee is often required to stand, reach with hands and arms, and climb or balance.
5. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.