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Salary Range $72,500.00 - $72,500.00 Salary/year

Position Type Full Time

Education Level Graduate Degree

Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Co-Responder Clinician is a licensed mental health professional embedded within a local law enforcement agency as part of the Mobile Response Team. This role involves working alongside law enforcement officers and a peer specialist to deliver on-site crisis intervention and behavioral health support to individuals experiencing emergencies. The clinician plays a key role in promoting safety, de-escalation, and access to appropriate mental health services in the community.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

+ Co-respond with police officers to emergency calls involving individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

+ Respond to behavioral health crisis calls that may require a mental health evaluation.

+ Conduct on-site behavioral health assessments, risk evaluations, and safety planning.

+ Provide consultation and mental health training to police officers to enhance crisis response capabilities.

+ Advocate for trauma-informed approaches in law enforcement settings to improve client experiences.

+ Provide de-escalation support, crisis intervention, and resource linkage in real-time.

+ Complete required assessments/evaluations.

+ The Baker Act must be completed when it is clinically determined

+ Completes mandatory documentation within timelines established by applicable regulations.

+ Facilitates the social and psychological well-being of clients and their families.

+ Mediates issues that arise among clients and their support system.

+ Participate in outreach activities.

+ Ensure that all shift duties are completed in a timely manner and in accordance with WestCare procedures.

+ Participate in clinical staffing decisions regarding the patient’s current strengths and resources and their need for additional resources.

+ Assists other WestCare staff as needed in a collaborative manner to promote cooperation and portray a professional image to the community.

+ Must embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals of WestCare Foundation; and

+ Perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the duties and responsibilities satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Experience and Competencies:

+ Excellent communication skills.

+ Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion.

+ Ability to work well in a team environment.

+ Adherence to the highest standard of ethical conduct, especially to standards governing confidentiality.

+ Professional appearance and demeanor.

+ Must be culturally/linguistically sensitive to the populations served.

+ Ability to obtain and maintain clearance from DCF.

+ Ability to pass a background check and clearance process by the local police department.

+ Bilingual English/Spanish or English and/Creole is required.

+ Valid driver’s license and ability to obtain and maintain WestCare’s vehicle insurance is required.

+ During your tenure with WestCare there may be new requirements, including, but not limited to vaccinations that are issued by local, State, Federal, and/or Funders that WestCare may have to comply with. Should this occur Human Resources or appropriate personnel will inform you.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

+ Two (2) years of experience in behavioral health crisis services.

+ Two (2) years of supervised social work experience in a health care setting, working directly with individuals is preferred.

+ Knowledge of Miami-Dade County behavioral health resources and systems.

+ Graduation from an accredited master’s program with a degree in Addiction Counseling, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology, or related field is required.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:

+ Must hold a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Mental Health Counselor or Licensed Marriage Family Therapist and be in good standing.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

+ Field-based role; daily work in the community, including high-stress situations.

+ Collaborative team setting with both mental health professionals and police personnel.

+ Primarily in a police patrol vehicle.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

+ Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 10 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files). Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations using approved physical de-escalation techniques.

+ Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.

+ Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.

+ Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employees’ essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility.

+ The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

+ Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels to exchange ideas, information, instructions, and opinions.

+ Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.

+ Skills to advocate for both the client and oneself during crisis situations that result in intense verbal conflict, utilizing approved de-escalation techniques.