Crisis Response Clinician, Associate

City of Durham•Durham, NC

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Durham is seeking a Crisis Response Clinician, Associate to join their Community Safety Department (DCSD). This role is part of the HEART (Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams) initiative, which provides alternative response programs and stabilization services. The position involves working within three program areas: Crisis Call Diversion, Community Response Team, and Co-Response. In Crisis Call Diversion, clinicians embed in the 911 call center to remotely assess and respond to behavioral health calls, and support in-person responses and follow-ups. The Community Response Team program dispatches 2-3 person teams (including a Crisis Response Clinician, Peer Support Specialist, and/or EMT) to behavioral health and quality of life calls without law enforcement. The Crisis Response Clinician acts as a team lead, responsible for behavioral health assessment, crisis intervention, and de-escalation. In the Co-Response model, a Crisis Response Clinician is dispatched with a Crisis Intervention Trained (CIT) police officer to higher-risk calls involving behavioral health, mental health, substance use, and conflict mediation.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or related human services field.
Provisionally licensed or fully licensed professional within any of the following areas: Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS/A), Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC/A), Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW/A), Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT/A).
One year of experience related to assignment.
A track record of demonstrating initiative and sound judgment when handling ambiguity.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, and particularly HIPAA confidentiality, at all times.
Must be able to travel to and from worksite and other locations within Durham.
Must be able to walk/stand up to 75% of any assigned shift.
A commitment to and interest in the mission of the department: to enhance public safety through community-centered approaches to prevention and intervention as alternatives to policing and the criminal legal system.
A commitment to equity, which could include having already attended racial equity trainings.

Nice To Haves

Two or more years of crisis response experience.
Experience working with Peer Support Specialists or other individuals with lived experience with behavioral and mental health, substance use, and/or Intellectual Developmental Disability crises.
Prior experience in outreach/engagement to populations experiencing frequent behavioral and mental health, substance use, and/or Intellectual Developmental Disability crises.
Strong knowledge and experience with service delivery documentation (including counseling/treatment planning), HIPAA/Confidentiality standards, utilization review, and data management.
Ability to speak two or more languages, with a high priority on Spanish.
Familiarity with Durham health systems and community resources/services for physical health behavioral and mental health, substance use, Intellectual Developmental Disability, family dynamics, sexual/physical abuse, Veterans' Services, vocational rehabilitation, housing, justice involvement, and other services.
Advanced collaboration and interpersonal skills with the ability to build consensus and promote the exchange of information among team members and partners.
A commitment to, knowledge of, and affection for Durham and its communities, which could include living in Durham.

Responsibilities

Respond to 911 calls involving behavioral health, substance use, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and quality-of-life crises using people-centered, trauma-informed strategies.
Collaborate closely with crisis response team members to assess needs, de-escalate situations, and provide therapeutic interventions.
Screen and evaluate individuals in crisis, develop care plans, and identify barriers to treatment.
Provide follow-up support to individuals and others affected, ensuring connection to appropriate services through warm handoffs or direct transport when necessary.
Maintain strong knowledge of DSM-5 criteria, particularly for substance use, severe mental illness (SMI/SPMI), and intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Document all interventions accurately and in compliance with program and regulatory requirements.
Build and maintain positive, cooperative relationships with clients, staff, community partners, and agencies.
Participate in supervision, case conferences, trainings, and professional development activities.
Contribute to departmental planning and culture, with a focus on effective crisis response.
Demonstrate resilience, self-care, and wellness practices essential to first responder roles.