Mobile Crisis Responder, Husky Assist

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

1d•$80,004 - $100,008•Onsite

About The Position

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. The Division of Campus Community Safety (DCCS) unifies front-line public safety units across the University for a holistic approach to campus community safety, innovation in approaches, and clarity in leadership responsibility and accountability. Key units include UW Emergency Management, SafeCampus, the Seattle Campus UW Police Department (UWPD), and a new behavioral health mobile response team: Husky Assist. Division staff work daily in partnership with units across and outside the UW system to create safer campus environments, prepare for potential natural or human-made disasters, and respond appropriately to incidents. The University of Washington's Seattle Campus is proud to be forming Husky Assist Mobile Response Team, which is an initiative developed by the Division and campus partners. This specialized team is comprised of mental health professionals who will serve as first responders or co-responders to UW students, faculty and staff experiencing an acute behavioral health crisis. Husky Assist will provide timely response and in-person intervention, crisis management, de-escalation and referral using culturally informed practices at all levels. Key campus partners include the UW Housing & Food Services, SafeCampus, the UW Counseling Center, Husky Health, UWPD, and UW Medicine. We have an outstanding opportunity for a Mobile Crisis Responder. Reporting to the Husky Assist Mobile Response Team Program Manager, this position will respond to urgent behavioral health needs across the UW Seattle campus for any students, faculty, staff and visitors, including response to youth & children under the age of 18 who are on campus for a UW-sanctioned purpose. Across the country, campus response programs typically serve students at much higher rates than the other populations on campus, and we anticipate that will be true for this program as well. While encounters could be with unhoused people, UW employs other resources for crisis calls involving unhoused individuals on the Seattle campus. Husky Assist may be mobilized alone or as a co-response with UW Police, depending on the nature of the request. The formation of Husky Assist is an acknowledgment that there are many crisis-related situations that may not require the presence of armed law enforcement, but because of the ambiguous nature of crisis situations it is essential that this position coordinate closely with UW Police. Individuals hired for this role must be comfortable working with police on response activities. As this is a new program, ideal candidates will need a flexible, collaborative mindset, a capacity for innovation, and a willingness to embrace change and process improvement as the program launches and grows to fit the needs of an expansive and diverse campus. As an integral member of DCCS, the Husky Assist Mobile Response team members ensure culturally informed crisis intervention, including connections with support resources. This work will not only enhance the university's immediate response to mental health emergencies but also contribute to long-term improvements in student and employee retention, academic and workplace performance, and overall campus life. By coordinating with existing services and developing strong partnerships, this role will establish Husky Assist as an essential component of the University's support network.

Requirements

Master's Degree in behavioral sciences (counseling, social work, or related).
Agency affiliated counselor registration, licensed (or higher-level credential, e.g. LMCA, LMFT, LICSW, and etc.).
Two years of paid professional experience in the direct delivery of professional mental health care.
NOTE: Unpaid internship or practicum experience will not qualify as paid professional experience.
Must be able to quickly respond to emergency situations – including some running, biking, and climbing of several flights of stairs.
Possession of a valid motor vehicle driver's license; able to meet criteria to drive State-owned vehicles.
Ability to obtain First Aid and CPR certifications (including use of AED) within 6 months of hire.
Ability to obtain counselor registration or licensure within 90 days of hire.

Nice To Haves

Commitment to multiculturally informed care models and experience working with a diverse community.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments.
Experience working with underrepresented communities and individuals.
Clinical experience working with youth/young adults.

Responsibilities

Provide direct crisis intervention, stabilization and resource referral to campus members of all ages who present with a behavioral health concern or are in an active state of crisis while adhering to the parameters of UW policies and procedures.
Husky Assist team members will independently intake, assess, coordinate care and plan for client disposition, apply sound judgement on when to seek supervisory support for ambiguous situations, higher risk clients, or high-profile events.
Coordinate directly with law enforcement, fire/EMS and dispatch to determine who will take the lead on an incident response and adjust role and/or interventions throughout as needed
Maintain strong working knowledge of culturally- and age- appropriate community resources, processes, interventions and requirements, including, but not limited to: o Mental health crisis intervention o Suicide risk assessment o Interpersonal violence o Abuse/neglect of children and vulnerable adults o Crisis intervention o Substance use o Grief counseling o Harm reduction o Trauma-informed care o De-escalation
Assist in the arrangement of transportation to emergency and crisis facilities, when needed, based upon the safety needs of the individual.
Serve as an ambassador for Husky Assist including taking initiative in engaging campus members to market and promote the service, staffing tabling events, and developing and launching presentations for departments about Husky Assist.
Promote effective working relationships across campus partners including staying informed about cross-campus issues and offering Husky Assist support if indicated, and establishing regular communication with higher volume referral sources and potential referral sources who may be more reluctant to engage
Develop and maintain positive relationships with agencies providing care or assistance to clients served by Husky Assist.
Complete clinical documentation in accordance with Husky Assist/UW policies.
Comply with all aspects of RCW 70.02 and FERPA in handling sensitive medical information, and comply with all university policies.
Mentor new staff, as assigned.
Actively participate in the development of yearly performance goals and implementation plan.
Attend and participate in supervision and departmental meetings, including committees as assigned.
Participate in data collection and quality improvement activities as assigned.
Team members may be expected to take the lead on special projects as assigned by the Program Manager.
Husky Assist team members will be expected to take the lead on determining response activities while on shift, including coordinating with UWPD, EMS, and UWPD dispatch as indicated for each call.
Identify new resources that come online that could benefit clients and educate team members about the essential details of those resources.