Legacy Health logo
Legacy Health
Portland, Oregon

Crisis Intervention Specialist I/II (CSWA / LCSW)

Social WorkerFull-Time

Listed compensation

$41.24-$58.96/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

In times of crisis, you are there for our patients, their family members and our practitioners. With a supportive approach, you offer short-term, urgent behavioral health services that are focused, effective and patient-driven. Through your use of evidence-based behavioral interventions, you diffuse an often tense situation to bring hope and healing. In short, you exemplify the Legacy mission of making life better for others.

Unity Center for Behavioral Health is a one-of-a-kind center for people facing a mental health crisis. Unity Center features a Psychiatric Emergency Service (PES), where patients receive care by specialists in behavioral health in a calming, non-hospital-like setting. Unity also has inpatient care for adults and teens. It is a collaboration between Adventist Health, Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health and Oregon Health & Science University.

Responsibilities

Provides primarily patient-centered, trauma-informed, short term, urgent and emergent behavioral health (mental health and addictions) services in adult and pediatric emergency settings across the health continuum.

  • Works both independently and collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Provides behavioral health consultations by supporting or assisting practitioners, family members and patients.
  • Provides focused, effective, and evidence-based behavioral interventions.

Key Services Include But Are Not Limited To

brief psychosocial assessment brief drug and alcohol assessment crisis intervention hold assessment supportive counseling

ED diversion care coordination and communication with medical team, family, referents, access workers and other community-based providers transitions of care/ discharge planning.

  • Incumbents in this job provide a variety of key services in guiding the patient through the continuum of care.
  • This position is specific to Unity Center for Behavioral Health.

Qualifications

Education:

Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling or other behavioral health field as required by licensure or credential.

Experience

Crisis Intervention Specialist I: Experience assessing and diagnosing adults experiencing a mental health crisis preferred.

Crisis InterventionSpecialist II: Two years’ relevant experience in care management, mental health and/or addictions services, medical social work, or social service organization. 3 years relevant experience preferred.

Skills

Broad knowledge of the principles of crisis assessments and interventions and the ability to apply them with individuals, families and/or groups integrating knowledge of normal development and the aging process, changes related to illness, and the needs of patients with acute, chronic, and terminal illness in assessment and intervention with attention to cultural and literacy implications.

Knowledge of medical, mental health and substance use diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology.

Strong organizational, communication and collaboration skills, including an ability to effectively triage patient and family needs, function as member of an interdisciplinary team, identification and collaboration with community stakeholders or resources and written documentation.

Knowledge about social determinants of health, principles of diversity/equity/inclusion and culturally responsive practice with populations who have experience historical marginalization.

Demonstrates ability to locate, utilize and advocate for patient/family access to hospital/ community resources.

  • Ability to navigate electronic medical record and effectively utilize basic computer programs.
  • Knowledge of legal, regulatory and compliance requirements and an ability to be a resource to all team members regarding such issues and knowledge of current health care environment.
  • Implements verbal de-escalation skills, as needed.
  • Clearly document the rational for discharging patients presenting some level of risk.
  • Recognize potentially dangerous situations and seeks assistance from additional personnel to ensure safety.
  • Describes and documents medical necessity for hospitalization.

Licensure

Crisis Intervention Specialist I Licensure:

Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA), Professional Counselor Associate, Marriage and Family Therapist Associate or registered Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) is required at the date of hire.

QMHP is acceptable for hire, however, employees must pursue the clinical license applicable to their degree; LCSW, LPC, or LMFT.

Crisis Intervention Specialist II Licensure

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), required at the date of hire.

Pay Range

USD $41.24 - USD $58.96 /Hr.

Our Commitment to Health and Equal Opportunity

Our Legacy is good for health for Our People, Our Patients, Our Communities, Our World. Above all, we will do the right thing.

If you are passionate about our mission and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply—even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can grow and succeed.

Legacy Health is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion or creed, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

To learn more about our employee benefits click here: legacyhealth.org

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Trauma-informed careSubstance use assessmentInterdisciplinary collaborationMental health diagnosisPatient advocacyClinical documentationRisk assessment

Social Worker Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Oregon is 103.4 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$104k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $101k in an average-cost state. 62.0% of Oregon clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$86k–$123kLicensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) median $102k (middle half $77k–$118k)14 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$101k in purchasing powerOregon index 103.4 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) listings in Oregon81 active7,053 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedUS Social Worker listings: 7% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 5% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Social Work listings2,525 in the last 30 days1,439 the 30 days before (+75%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Jobs

18 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

16 jobs · 12 employers
5
<$105k
2
$120k
5
$125k-145k
3
$145k-165k
1
$175k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

13 jobs · 12 employers
401k / retirement match
100%
Sign-on bonus
46%
CME allowance
38%
Loan repayment
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

LCSW Clinical Supervisor - Leadership Track

Ellie Mental Health - 128 · McLean, Virginia

$61-$84/hr
#2

LCSW Clinician

Crestwood Behavioral Health · San Jose, California

$65-$73.16/hr
#3

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Full Time, Day)

$58.21-$70.76/hr
#4

FFS Clinical Supervisor - LCSW

$62-$70/hr
+ 16 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 1.5
Below most Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 2,010 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Portland

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$523k
Typical market rent
$1,719/mo
Residents’ average commute
24 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
105.4
State income tax
Up to 9.9%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.