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1. Why work for the Crisis Center?

Employment at the Crisis Center can increase your experience working with persons who suffer from a wide range of Mental Illness. If you are employed in an "on-call" position, you have the flexibility to work as is convenient to you. Many employees have used their experiences at the Crisis Center to further develop and attain their educational and occupational goals.

2. Who are the clients typically served at the Crisis Center?

Clients are admitted on Emergency Protective Custody Holds. They are brought in by law enforcement personnel and are alleged to be mentally ill and dangerous to themselves, others, or unable to care for their basic needs. They are evaluated by a Psychiatrist and Psychologist who make treatment recommendations for each client. Civil Commitment Mental Health Board Hearings are held at the facility for less than 50% of the clients admitted.

Demographically they are:

• 25% Major mental illness / 25% Substance abuse / 50% Dual diagnoses
• 60% Male / 40% Female
• 90% from Lancaster County / 10% from other Region V counties (Southeast Nebraska)

3. What duties would I be expected to perform?

Duties of Mental Health Technicians include:

• Administering and scoring psychological testing
• Assisting with daily functions of the unit
• Completing initial client intakes and discharges from the facility
• Monitoring their behavior and documentation of these behaviors
• Obtaining social histories from the client's family and friends
• One-to-one interactions with clients

4. How does the interview process work?

You can apply online or in person through the City-County Personnel Department. A list of qualified applicants will be forwarded to the Crisis Center in 2 to 6 weeks. You will be contacted to schedule an interview, which are typically held on Friday. Up to 4 supervisory staff will conduct the interview, which will last approximately 30 minutes. Applicants are notified with in 1 to 2 weeks.

5. Who works/is hired for employment?

Successful applicants usually have at least some college course work. A bachelor's degree is common as well as experience working with the mentally ill population. The job requires the ability to work in a high stress environment, maintaining working relationships with coworkers while being self motivated and able to work independently. There are about 13 full-time Mental Health Technicians and usually 15 to 20 on-call technicians.

Full time staff are often but not always hired from the on-call pool. This is due to the unique nature of the Crisis Center, and getting equivalent experience in a different facility is uncommon. The staff turnover rate for full-time staff is approximately 20% yearly.

6. What kind of training is given?

During the first three days of employment, new staff will receive Non-Violent Physical Crisis Intervention Training. This training emphasizes recognizing warning signs of agitation and countering it with verbal techniques to decrease the client's level of agitation. This is followed by on-the-job training (shadowing) for a total of 8 shifts. The training of staff will be commensurate with their level of experience.

7. What are the expectations of an on-call employee?

As an on-call employee, you are expected to carry out the same responsibilities as full-time staff.

8. How many hours could I work as an on-call employee?

An on-call employee is expected to work at least 16 hours per month, with the possibility of working more hours. On average, on-call employees work about 60 hours per month. The more availability an on-call employee has, as defined by the ability to work short notice and few conflicts per week, the more hours they may pick up.

9. How does an on-call employee get hours?

There are three ways to pick up hours at the Crisis Center:

• There are a few shifts that are covered using on-call employees and vacation time of staff that on-calls can sign up for about one month in advance.
• Staff may contact on-call employee directly to cover shifts for vacation or holidays with some advanced notice.
• A call for immediate assistance to cover a sick call or to increase staff as acuity dictates. This is the most needed use of the on-call system.

10. What are the shift hours?

The Crisis Center is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week facility. Shifts are 8 hours in duration, but coverage for portions of shifts are possible at times. Change of shift times are staggered, so that not everyone on a shift arrives and departs at one time.