HEART Practitioner

URBAN ALCHEMY•Birmingham, AL

6d•$18•Onsite

About The Position

The HEART Practitioner will respond to non-emergency 911 calls involving unhoused individuals to be a proactive on-the-ground presence. The HEART Practitioner must establish positive relationships with individuals in unhoused communities and encampments in the target areas. These relationships are critical to leverage effective communication and de-escalation when responding to emergency calls. The HEART Practitioner must possess highly attenuated emotional intelligence to accurately assess individuals they are responding to, understand and regulate their own emotions and triggers, and quickly develop a strategy to respond to the crisis in a calm and warm manner that de-escalates the situation and results in satisfactory resolution of the presenting issue. The HEART Practitioner is expected to work collaboratively with members of their team to implement evidence-based strategies that contribute to the well-being and successful resolution of unhoused individuals experiencing distress.

Requirements

Has good communication and people management skills
Has ability to follow instructions in a manner that demonstrates that the instructions are understood
Has ability and desire to come to work on time and be in proper uniform at all times
Has ability to learn how to do timekeeping using Paycom
Enjoys being a team player
Has genuine and demonstrated interest in Urban Alchemy’s mission, values, and model
Must be able to work compassionately and respectfully with people from all backgrounds
Must be prepared to deal with challenging circumstances related to serving people struggling with poverty, mental health, addiction, and/or homelessness
Must be able to obtain and maintain background clearance based on Urban Alchemy’s policies
This position requires the ability to use a smart phone or tablet to enter data
Must be able to and be willing to travel in vehicles with others between crises
Ability to lift and carry 5 to 25 lbs
Walking: 7+ hours
Standing: 7+ hours
Sitting: 0 hours

Nice To Haves

Lived experience with incarceration and/or homelessness strongly preferred
Driver’s license and a good driving record preferred

Responsibilities

Work collaboratively as part of a co-responder model team to address non-violent, behavioral health crisis calls triaged by the city’s 911 system
Provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, gender-responsive, harm reduction, and person-centered mental health and substance use crisis assessment, intervention, de-escalation, and appropriate follow up as part of the HEART team, specifically for individuals experiencing non-violent, behavioral health crisis
Engage with individuals in distress to assess the cause of their distress, determine strategies that will be useful in decreasing distress, support individuals to resolve any identified issues, de-escalate potential or existing conflicts and/or heightened emotions, and support individuals to connect to supportive services, as appropriate
Work collaboratively with other team members and person in crisis to quickly assess the needs of the person experiencing mental health crisis; and create a response plan
Show competency in use of Narcan for opioid overdose reversal
Practice self-awareness and cultural humility as member of diverse team; be conscientious and sensitive to power and other interpersonal dynamics with other team members
Ability to engage and connect with individuals in crisis, a strong ability to remain calm and attentive during crises, as well as to work through several separate crises during a single shift
Demonstrate a high level of resilience and self-care as part of maintaining wellness in a high crisis and first responder position
Know and adhere to Urban Alchemy’s critical incident policies, including reporting requirements
Will treat all Urban Alchemy guests, staff and stakeholders with compassion and respect
Use emotional intelligence to effectively engage and connect with others
Adhere to established procedures to provide a safe working environment including complying with OSHA, state, and local regulations as well as Urban Alchemy’s policies
Attend orientation and any additional training required by Urban Alchemy or our funders
Must wear an Urban Alchemy uniform and ID badge
Must carry all required safety and communications equipment
Follow all Urban Alchemy’s policies and procedures, including all safety guidelines
Perform other duties as assigned by the direct supervisor