Suicide Prevention Specialist - 132680

Job code and salary range subject to change based on license of hired individual.

The mission of the Student Health & Well-Being (SHW) cluster is to promote a culture of health and well-being for the student community, deliver equitable high quality innovative services, incorporate inclusive approaches, and celebrate diversity, with the goal of adoption and maintenance of healthy behaviors contributing to the academic success and personal development of all students.

The Student Health and Well-being cluster of the UC San Diego, which reports through UC San Diego Health System, plays a leadership role in creating a strong and active well-being culture that enables all students to flourish in body, mind and spirit. Under the oversight of the executive director, the SHW cluster includes the departments of Student Health Services (SHS), Health Promotion Services (HPS), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and SHW Administration.

CAPS delivers campus-based mental health services to over 43,000 registered UCSD undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students. CAPS' multicultural, multidisciplinary, and student-centered staff strives to deliver trauma informed, culturally proficient counseling and psychiatric services, psycho-educational preventive outreach and early intervention programming, consultation, research, and training opportunities.

In collaboration with Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, CAPS services support the academic mission of the University aimed at student success, retention and well-being, and works toward the maintenance of a just, inclusive and healthy living and learning environment for individuals to flourish as they pursue their academic, career, and personal goals. CAPS is accredited by the International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS) and the Post-doctoral Resident Training Program is affiliated with the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Center (APPIC). CAPS is fully committed to self-examination, peer review, and quality improvement through the utilization of metrics, data, clinical outcomes, client experience measurements and feedback.

UCSD CAPS is seeking a skilled equity-minded mental health professional, experienced in reducing barriers to student mental health care in a multicultural university environment, to provide counseling and clinical services for a diverse student population. Primary responsibilities for this position will be addressing the mental health needs of students to foster their matriculation and academic success at UCSD. This position requires proven knowledge, training, expertise with suicide prevention, risk assessment and crisis management, as well as demonstrated sustained engagement working with under-represented students and young adults, towards their personal development, well-being,and academic success, through culturally proficient individual, group and community interventions.

This position provides intake and crisis assessment within CAPS Urgent Care system to students experiencing emotional/psychological distress through both in-person contacts and phone interactions and subsequent referral to clinically-indicated services. The position will also interface with the UCSD community to provide psychoeducational outreach and consultation to students, faculty, staff and others who are concerned about the distressed, unusual, problematic, or potentially harmful behavior of others. Further, the position may provide training and clinical supervision. Also participates in after hours, on-call, and urgent care coverage.

Provides assessment, counseling, treatment recommendations, care management, services and referrals for students with severe and persistent mental health concerns and/or who are experiencing high acuity/risk

• Licensed in behavioral health counseling discipline.

• Six years of related experience, education/training, OR an advanced degree in related area.

• Advanced training and experience managing mental health crises, completing risk assessments and disposition planning to address safety risks.

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of clinical counseling principles, methods, procedures, and standards.

• Ability to work in a highly collaborative manner with a diverse client group. Demonstrated ability to conduct culturally proficient and focused individual and group counseling and psychotherapy

• Ability to evaluate the progress of therapeutic approach and modify as necessary.

• Ability to relate warmly, humanely, sensitively and empathetically to others. Demonstrated ability to actively foster a positive, welcoming climate, and value, include and support all in the UC San Diego community

• Knowledge of clinical supervision, organizational consulting techniques, systems and community psychology models and approaches with demonstrated skills in consultation work with professional and non-professional colleagues

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion to foster the best possible working and learning environment

• Ability to develop and present educational programs and / or workshops. Proven ability to develop and implement effective culturally responsive outreach programs and provide consultation, mental health promotion, and preventative psycho-educational outreach services.

• Demonstrated commitment and ability to acknowledge, advocate and support the efforts to dismantle structural racism and divisive biases based on race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and political beliefs

• Highly effective problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

• Highly effective verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.

• Thorough knowledge of legal and ethical issues related to patients' rights.

• Demonstrated commitment and ability to acknowledge, advocate and support the efforts to dismantle structural racism and divisive biases based on race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and political beliefs

• Knowledge of business software and specialized applications / systems used in behavioral health settings. Working knowledge of electronic medical/mental health records systems (EMR or EHR).

• Must complete all required training assigned by UCOP, UCSD and SHW/CAPS on a timely basis

• Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality of client, students, faculty, and staff disclosures, and comply with all requirements in use of computer systems and access to any and all patient, student, employee and University data, in electronic and hard copy formats, in compliance with University, state and federal guidelines, including, but not limited to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

• Unrestricted California license to practice psychology.

• University Counseling Center experience preferred.

• Bilingual preferred. Fluent to provide therapy in English and Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, Arabic, Farsi, or Hindi languages

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

• Bilingual preferred. Fluent to provide therapy in English and Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, Arabic, Farsi, or Hindi languages. Must successfully complete UC San Diego Health Language Proficiency Assessment.

• Must successfully complete credential verification and background check in order to be granted practicing privileges.

• Must work evenings, weekends, holidays, and as needed, for after-hours emergency coverage.

• Various work locations, if needed and deemed necessary by the department.

• Must work on campus with ability to telecommute for work, if/when needed and operationally feasible, as determined by department.

• Completion of the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) form will be required, because this position is listed as a mandated reporter under (CANRA).

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

• TB screening required per COEM schedule.

• Flu vaccination required annually.

• COVID vaccination required.

• Job descriptions are reviewed periodically and may be revised, if deemed necessary.

• This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive.

• Employee may perform other related duties commensurate with the level and scope of this position as required to meet the ongoing needs of Student Health & Well-being.