Clinician - Co-Responder

Department: Police non-sworn
Reports to: Commander - Support Staff
FLSA Status: Full-Time Exempt

About the role

The Co-Responder Clinician responds alongside law enforcement personnel to behavioral health, mental health, substance use, and crisis-related calls for service within the community. The position provides field-based crisis intervention, emergency behavioral health evaluations, short-term stabilization, referrals to community resources, and follow-up support when appropriate. The Co-Responder Clinician utilizes trauma-informed, person-centered, and strength-based approaches to reduce unnecessary incarceration, hospitalization, and repeat law enforcement contacts while promoting access to appropriate care in the least restrictive environment possible.

The goals of the Co-Responder Service Program are to:

• Prevent unnecessary incarceration and/or hospitalization of individuals with behavioral health needs.
• Provide alternate care in the least restrictive environment through a coordinated system-wide approach.
• Reduce duplication of behavioral health services and improve coordination between agencies.
• Support law enforcement operations by allowing patrol personnel to return to service more efficiently.
• Enhance long-term community wellness through follow-up services, referrals, and collaborative problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Provides operational oversight of the Co-Responder program.
• Supervises all staff assigned to the Co-Responder program, including performance management, hiring and separation recommendations, and assignment of work activities.
• Refers to Consulting Clinician and Support Services Commander, when appropriate.
• Responds to behavioral health, substance use, suicidal subject, welfare check, and other crisis-related calls alongside law enforcement personnel.
• Conducts field-based crisis intervention, emergency behavioral health evaluations, and risk assessments.
• Provides telephone and short-term face-to-face interventions designed to stabilize individuals in crisis.
• Assesses individuals for appropriate levels of care and coordinates referrals to community treatment providers and support services.
• Provides follow-up services and case coordination when appropriate to support continuity of care.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation utilizing case management software and other approved records management systems.
• Works collaboratively with hospitals, schools, behavioral health providers, advocacy organizations, and other community partners.
• Provides consultation and behavioral health resources to law enforcement personnel.
• Participates in multidisciplinary meetings, steering committees, and program development initiatives.
• Assists with community outreach, education, and training related to behavioral health response and crisis intervention.
• Maintains confidentiality and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and professional ethical standards.
• Participates in required meetings, training, and continuing education opportunities.
• Refers appropriate cases to the Co-Responder Administrative Clerk for follow-up.
• Administers Julota, or other integrated case management and communication system(s), to record events and outcomes related to active 911 calls for behavioral health crises, follow-up, community referrals, and case management activities.
• Provides community-based crisis assessment and intervention.
• Provides excellent customer service to external and internal customers.
• Communicates, collaborates, and creates relationships with multiple collateral agencies, including schools, hospitals, non-profits, and family members, to facilitate referrals for needed community-based services and treatment.
• Serves as an information resource to law enforcement.
• Participates in job-related training sessions and seminars.
• Attends required staff meetings.
• Transports, or arranges for transportation, of individuals in crisis, as needed.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two (2) years of experience working with individuals with mental illness or substance abuse.
• Two (2) years completing psychiatric crisis assessments and formulating treatment plans; at-risk assessments and crisis intervention.
• Experience with Trauma-Informed Care.
• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Clinical Psychology, Criminal Justice, or closely related discipline.
• Must have a valid Colorado Driver’s License, or the ability to obtain one within sixty (60) days of hire, with a driving record acceptable to the City of Cañon City.

Disqualifiers from employment:

• Any felony convictions.
• Any misdemeanor crimes involving moral turpitude.
• A fugitive from any jurisdiction.
• Arrest history, despite conviction status, for any crime of moral turpitude.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two (2) years of experience working and collaborating with law enforcement officials.
• Two (2) years of experience with Trauma-Informed Care.
• Doctoral Degree in Social Work, Clinical Psychology, Criminal Justice, or closely related discipline.
• State of Colorado Licensed as Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).

Skills

• Working knowledge of major mental illness, traumatic brain injury, dementia, trauma-informed care, intellectual/developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, suicide assessment, safety planning, and crisis de-escalation.
• Effective organizational skills.
• Knowledge of specific medical/psychiatric illnesses, procedures, and treatments.
• Effective interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Ability to provide effective clinical psychosocial assessments and treatment/management protocols.
• Cultural sensitivity and competency in age-specific behaviors.
• Knowledge of available community resources.
• Ability to interpret police operating procedures with particular reference to emergency response to calls for service involving individuals in crisis.
• Effective problem-solving skills.
• Ability to advocate/negotiate systems for patients.
• Ability to gather and analyze data, draw conclusions, and make recommendations.
• Ability to prioritize decisions based upon multiple criteria and identifiable standards.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of citizens or employees of organizations.
• Ability to maintain objectivity and confidentiality.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, coworkers, and other law enforcement/judicial personnel.

Benefits

Full-time exempt position with benefits.

Pay

$58,385.60 - $71,530.20 annually

Schedule

• Typically works Monday – Friday but may flex to working weekends and evenings based on seasonal, organizational, or event needs.
• May be required to attend occasional City Council meetings and/or other meetings and events after normal work hours.
• Travel within the City of Cañon City and Fremont County will be required.
• Frequent extension of workday to meet deadlines is possible.

Physical Activities

• Travel within the City of Cañon City and Fremont County.
• Potential for contact with blood-borne pathogens and communicable diseases, as well as potential for contact with dissatisfied or abusive individuals.
• Majority of work time will be conducted indoors with low noise levels; however, some work may be performed outdoors or in inclement weather.
• Physical demands include lifting, pulling, carrying, and pushing objects up to 25 pounds.
• Frequent bending, simple grasping, finger/manual dexterity, standing, walking, twisting upper body, stooping, and hearing.
• Occasional climbing on stairs.
• Communicates verbally with City staff, outside agencies, and the public in one-on-one settings, group settings, and over the telephone.
• Routine use of standard office equipment, such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.