Portland Street Response Mental Health Crisis Responder II

City of Portland • Portland, OR

388d

About The Position

The City of Portland is seeking two Mental Health Crisis Responders for the Portland Street Response (PSR) program. This full-time position involves responding to non-emergent 911 calls related to mental health and behavioral health crises. The role emphasizes compassionate, trauma-informed care and aims to provide an alternative response to traditional emergency services for individuals experiencing low-acuity behavioral health issues. Responders will work collaboratively with community health medical responders and engage with diverse clients to assess and address their needs effectively.

Requirements

• Knowledge of related privacy rules and laws, including HIPAA and mandatory reporting requirements.
• Experience assessing clients' risk of harm to self or others and effectively mitigating identified risks.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and experience with medical record systems.
• Ability to recognize and respond to client reactivity and de-escalate issues effectively.
• A valid state driver's license and acceptable driving record.
• One or more active licenses: LCSW, LPC, LMFT, or QMHP with at least two years post-graduate clinical experience.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor of Science in a Behavioral Health field or equivalent.
• Five years' experience in direct behavioral health service or equivalent.
• Understanding of Trauma Informed Care principles and practices.
• Experience facilitating groups and trainings.
• Experience providing individual and group clinical supervision.
• Experience as a first responder or frontline community-based crisis responder.
• Bi-lingual fluency in qualifying languages.

Responsibilities

• Provide immediate mobile crisis response to service calls dispatched through the 911 system in Portland.
• Effectively engage with diverse clients across social, cultural, and economic differences.
• Identify and assess risk factors for harm to self or others through client interviews and collateral information.
• Articulate potential outcomes of various interventions and discuss their risks and benefits.
• Implement behavioral interventions such as collaborative problem-solving and safety planning.
• Coordinate responses to crisis situations with community agencies and service providers.
• Document and maintain electronic medical records (EMR) in compliance with regulations.
• Participate in continuous quality improvement efforts by maintaining accurate documentation of client care outcomes.
• Conduct Mental Status assessments and formulate clinical impressions based on DSM criteria.
• Provide case consultation and clinical supervision to Mental Health Crisis Responder I positions.

Benefits

• Language Pay Premium Eligible
• Union Representation by Professional Technical Employees, Local 17 (PROTEC-17)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree