JOB TITLE: Behavioral Health Co-Responder

MUSTS: Master s level degree in one of the recognized mental health professions required. Associate or independent licensure as a LAC/LPC or LCSW is strongly preferred & compensated at a higher pay grade. One year of behavioral health or law enforcement and crisis experience is preferred. Must be able to pass a law enforcement background check and obtain a Fingerprint Clearance Card. Must pass a required drug test. Experience in de-escalating clients in crisis situations. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Works extended hours in front of a computer monitor. Required to talk and hear. Often requires sitting and use of hands and fingers, to handle or feel. Occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. May need to provide services in noisy and unclean locations in the community. Must have the ability to drive to meetings out of the area. Must have a valid Colorado driver's license.

SKILLS: Ability to communicate and work with other service agencies in the community. Working knowledge of the individual, group, family, and crisis treatment approaches and their application to clients with emotional, behavioral, and/or substance use disorder problems. Ability to provide services in the mental health center, schools, jails, emergency rooms, and client homes. This may necessitate travel within the community. Ability to do differential diagnoses based on the DSM, service planning, case management, and treatment. Ability to assess the level of risk and make an appropriate clinical judgment for the resolution of client emergencies to effect a safe outcome. Ability to produce written documentation of clinical work in a manner readily understood by other service providers. Ability to communicate program needs and services to individuals and groups. Ability to communicate performance expectations and company policy to staff. Ability to deliver services where the clients' needs are. This necessitates travel within the community. Basic computer and keyboarding skills. Ability to travel to other locations. Ability to interact with people in a professional, friendly manner. Ability to work independently as well as cooperatively and constructively as part of an interdisciplinary team. Ability to think critically and independently. Ability to realize and activate the potential in every interaction, every day. Ability to adapt to change in the workplace.

DUTIES: The Co-Responder model pairs law enforcement and behavioral health specialists to respond to behavioral health-related and substance use-related calls for service. These teams utilize the combined expertise of the officer and the behavioral health specialist to de-escalate situations and help link people with behavioral health issues to appropriate services. There are three ways a co-responder team interacts with an individual: 1) active call responding to police dispatch, or police requesting co-responder clinicians on scene, 2) a referral made from law enforcement or other community partners to the co-responder team, or 3) a follow-up contact where the co-responder team reaches out to the individual after the previous contact. Follows directions from Law Enforcement (LE) partner with respect to on-scene safety immediately and without fail. Assists LE whenever they come into contact with suspected persons with a mental illness or substance use disorder (SUD). Prevents unnecessary hospitalization or emergency department use of a pers n with a mental illness or SUD. Responds to calls quickly, conducts an assessment, offers effective and efficient interventions, and coordinates care to allow LE to quickly return to duty. Interviews natural supports to elicit relevant information. Assesses individual's treatment needs related to psychiatric, medical, social, and emotional care and follow-up after the event for 72 hours to ensure engagement and access to services. Adheres to professionally recognized ethical standards of care. Determines when to involve medical personnel when medical safety is an issue. Assesses the individual's risk for danger to self, and danger to others, and intervenes accordingly. Exercises sound clinical judgment in determining the individual s ability to remain safely in the community Develops a clinically sound safety plan in the least restrictive setting,