Co-Responder

About the role

The purpose of the Co-Responder position is to support law enforcement on mental health calls for service in Lafayette. Co-Responders divert individuals with behavioral health disorders or symptoms from involvement in the criminal justice system and instead engage them in treatment. They manage crisis intervention, de-escalation, and referral to treatment at the scene of police contact and provide follow-up resources.

Responsibilities

• Provides mobile response to a variety of community settings upon law enforcement request, including homes, street corners, offices, assisted living facilities, and shelters
• Conducts mental status exam, suicide, and risk assessment to determine if people in distress meet criteria for involuntary treatment
• Ensures adequate time is spent with each community member to ensure accuracy of assessments
• Makes appropriate level of care decisions on scene and communicates and collaborates with and creates relationships with multiple collateral agencies, including schools, hospitals, family members and significant others to facilitate referrals for needed community-based services and treatment
• Documents all phone and face-to-face contacts and supplies documentation consistent with clinical and administrative policies and procedures and research related to the provision of services
• Attends monthly team meetings and clinical supervision
• Accepts referrals from law enforcement for case management and brokers service delivery to community members
• Performs related work, as required
• May be reassigned during emergency situations

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in counseling, social work, or psychology
• 2 (two) years of experience in motivational interviewing, crisis counseling, verbal de-escalation, working with diverse and at-risk populations, community networking and resource delivery
• Driver's License

Qualifications

• Resumes and other attachments are not accepted in lieu of completed applications and will not be reviewed in the initial screening process
• Any personally identifiable information (PII) such as name and address will be redacted from applications that meet the minimum screening requirements and are forwarded to the hiring manager
• Microsoft Office (i.e. Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook) proficiency at the time of the pre-employment screening process

Skills

• Culturally responsive with the ability to work with various identities in an inclusive and nonjudgmental fashion
• Effective development and sustaining cooperative and collaborative working relationships, demonstrating sound judgment, diplomacy, and tact
• Fostering effective and strategic relationships with diverse stakeholders including mental health professionals, law enforcement, medical first responders and community partners
• Facilitating discussions in high-risk/high-conflict environment while working with law enforcement
• Coaching others to foster positive relationships, negotiate effectively, resolve conflicts, and otherwise manage difficult situations
• Working with individuals in crisis, experiencing mental health related symptoms and substance abuse addiction
• Excellent organization, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Benefits

• Outstanding options of comprehensive health plans that include vision and dental coverage
• Family-forming benefits- infertility treatment, adoption and surrogacy reimbursements
• 12 weeks Paid Caregiver leave
• Breast feeding friendly-work environment
• Sick child care, an infants-at-work policy
• Access to LifeMart discount hub, including discounts on childcare centers, event tickets, travel and more!
• Access to a nationally-recognized wellness program
• Employee Assistance Program
• PERA 401k
• Social Security retirement plans
• Additional Life and Disability Insurance
• Critical Illness and Accidental Insurance
• County-paid tuition assistance
• Eligible for PSLF- Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Free EcoPass
• Hospital Indemnity
• ID Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• 8 Hours of Paid Public Service Leave
• Generous paid time off
• Holidays
• Vacation
• Medical

Pay

Tentative Hiring Timeline
Phone Screening: Week of August 10th
First Round Interviews: Week of August 17th
Second Round Interviews: Week of August 24th
Language Proficiency Test (if applicable): Week of August 31st
Reference Check: Week of August 24th

Schedule

This position will work Sunday - Wednesday 12:00pm - 10:00pm.