Mental Health Co-Responder Clinician - Substance Use Disorder na Lakewood

The City of Lakewood is dedicated to upholding City values to include: Performance Excellence, Leadership, Respect and Collaboration. Best fit candidates will demonstrate innovation, customer service, dedication, passion and engagement. All people, citizens and employees, will be treated with respect, relevance, and importance.

HIRING RANGE: $41.61 - $46.23/hour

This role is grant funded through August 2027 with the potential for reapplication. Start date is contingent upon the availability of grant contract funds, projected to be available in early November. Additionally, the hiring process requires a thorough background check and this must be complete before the candidate is hired.

Co-Responders are part of the Lakewood Co-Response Team, which operates within the Community Engagement Section (CES). Under the supervision of the Co-Responder Manager, the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Co-Responder works in partnership with law enforcement to support community members during behavioral health calls, with a focus on individuals experiencing substance use challenges. This role helps connect people to appropriate services and resources while promoting safety, respect, and healing. For Lakewood residents experiencing a behavioral health crisis, SUD co-responders will provide primary on-scene de-escalation of the crisis and aid in linking the individuals and their support nets to community resources and treatment facilities through short-term case management services after the crisis is resolved. Through proactive and preventative efforts by the co-responders, residents will have access to alternative supports to utilize for future behavioral health-related situations, including those involving opiate use disorders along with other substances. In turn, this would allow police Agents to respond to emergent criminal-related calls and reduce the amount of time spent on behavioral health-related calls, allowing the subject matter experts to be involved in the individual’s care.  Objectives of the program are to divert people with mental health needs from a criminal justice system response to a mental health-based response, thus increasing mental, emotional, and physical safety of the individual in crisis, and providing stabilization within the community or through other care options for individuals suffering from behavioral health conditions and addiction, reduce over-utilization of emergency services for behavioral health-related calls, particularly those involving SUD.   

The SUD co-responder’s main duties are to act as first responders to active behavioral health calls for service involving substance use to provide clinical de-escalation and crisis intervention to individuals experiencing behavioral health emergencies. Co-Responders provide immediate assessment of individuals experiencing behavioral health crises and work to divert them from the criminal justice system and emergency departments by recommending appropriate level of care to responding Agents. Co-Responders may respond to low priority level calls without law enforcement, using a structured safety matrix and consulting with their supervisor to guide decision-making and ensure safety. 

Co-responders are responsible for resource navigation and preparing legal documentation for the transfer of individuals to appropriate levels of care such as mental health holds (M1), court-ordered mental health evaluations and court-ordered emergency commitments. 

This position will be a four 10-hour FTE schedule.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential duties of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Respond to behavioral health calls with opiate/substance use component alongside Lakewood Police Department Agents and provide clinical crisis intervention services, assessment, evaluations, problem identification, and referrals to appropriate levels of care. 
• Daily routine requires the ability to get personal administrative tasks done autonomously, work closely with the team and supervisor, with frequent interruptions during periods of high activity and high stress under demanding conditions. 
• Demonstrate knowledge of modern principles, evidence-informed practices and procedures with respect to behavioral crisis situations in a law enforcement setting. 
• Demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively within a police department and alongside community-based professional staff. 
• Responsible for keeping and vetting a network of resources and referral sources to meet the needs of the client population. 
• Ability to multi-task and effectively prioritize situations as they come up appropriately. 
• Assist and/or execute appropriate mental health holds (licensed clinicians).
• Provide care coordination and follow-up with clients who are discharged from community agencies to ensure a smooth transition back into the community. 
• Provide short-term case management with high-utilizing clients to identify problems, look for alternative care options and help problem-solve alongside clients. 
• Maintain accurate and timely case management records. 
• Participate in team meetings, in-service training, and clinical supervision as required. Come prepared to supervision with cases to staff and provide clinical input on other team members’ cases in a strength-based manner. 
• Participate in proactive, preventative community outreach to members of the community struggling with behavioral health concerns. 
• Provide ongoing department training on innovative interventions or improvements to responses to behavioral health calls. 
• Engage in community events to inform citizens of Co-Responder services.
• Safely operate department motor vehicles during shift.   
• Coordinate with jails, hospitals, and other community partners for the purpose of continuation of care and smooth transitions for clients. 
• Attend community partner meetings as a representative of the team.
• Attend community events to raise awareness for Co-Responder services and provide resources to the larger community
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Reporting Relationships

Supervision Received: General supervision from the manager of the Co-Responder team will be available.

Clinical supervision and consultation will be available as needed and according to licensure requirements.   

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates integrity and builds trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, and ethical behavior. 
• Addresses difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner with team or community members receiving services. 
• Supports and promotes change; demonstrates flexibility and brings innovation to the organization. 
• Participates in personal growth opportunities by attending trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the team and the organization. 
• Continuously grows professionally and is well-versed in best-practice models to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered. 
• Values diversity; demonstrates an awareness of differences; demonstrates sensitivity and adapts behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences. 
• Understands medical record-keeping platforms and the federal and state guidelines regarding information collection, retention, and release. 
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage budgets, maintain reporting requirements, schedules, data analysis, and other clerical duties. 
• Ability to respond to telephone inquiries from team members or department personnel after normal working hours.
• Ability to successfully pass a polygraph and psychological examination, reference checks, background investigation and drug test.

Technological Skills

• Ability to operate a department-issued personal computer.
• Familiarity with current computer software applications (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook), Computer Aided Dispatch/Records Management Systems and Health Care Management Systems. 

Education and Experience

A combination of job-related education and experience demonstrating the equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities required to effectively perform the functions of this position may be considered, as determined by management.

• Education:
  • Master’s or doctorate degree in counseling, social work, psychology or related field from an accredited university or college. 
  • Current license to practice in Colorado in the above fields of study; applicants within six months of licensure will be considered.
  • For opiate/substance use disorder (SUD) role:
    • Fully Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) preferred
    • Will also consider applicants actively working toward LAC licensure, with anticipated completion within six months.
• Experience:
  • Minimum 3 years working in a clinical, co-response or related crisis service position, such as but not limited to hospitals, crisis center, withdrawal management, etc.
  • Working and collaborating with law enforcement officials professionally.
  • Working with community behavioral health treatment systems and supportive services. 
  • Case management with strong skills in problem-solving and strength-based, trauma-informed work. 

• Preferred Experience:
  • Extensive knowledge of the criminal justice system. 
  • Knowledge and experience in helping individuals or families navigating serious persistent mental illness (SPMI). 
  • Multidisciplinary teams and coordination of care regarding individuals and their families. 
  • Familiarity with case management and documentation of case notes. 
  • Familiarity with local resources

Certification/Licenses/Specialized Training

• Licensure in good standing with the State of Colorado as a psychologist. LAC preferred.  
• A valid driver’s license and acceptable motor vehicle record.

Must successfully complete and maintain required state or departmental physical standards and certifications.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

 LIGHT WORK: Exerting up to 30 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.  If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Physical Demands

• Co-Responders are required to wear LPD-supplied bullet-resistant vests and carry required equipment when in the field.   
• Bend or position self to move items from higher place to lower place or vice versa
• Sit, stand or be stationary
• Talk, hear, converse, communicate, or exchange information
• Use of hands and/or fingers in a repetitive motion to handle, pinch, grasp, move, feel, inspect, etc.
• Walk, ascend, descend on both even and uneven terrain
• Vision to include distance, depth perception, peripheral and color

Environmental Conditions may include

• Office settings

Physical Requirements – No Physical Needed

• Lift, carry, push, pull, move, or positions from all levels up to 30 lbs with or without assistance

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

Work is performed both in an office environment and in the field. Co-responders will visit camps, hotels, parked cars, residences, and other sites to meet people where they are as well as in-person visits in an office environment. 

Work involves telephone contact, email contact, as well as in-person contact with those experiencing mental health crises of all ages.  

Work involves large caseloads and frequent contact with irate or upset clients.  

EQUIPMENT USED 

• Telephone  
• City Computer  
• Microsoft Windows and Word  
• Various computer software programs 
• Police report writing program 
• Photocopier  
• City Vehicle  
• Calculator  
• Police Radio  

The City of Lakewood is a drug-free workplace that provides employment opportunities in compliance with all pertinent federal, state, and local laws. All Lakewood employees are expected to work and complete all tasks in a safe manner consistent with training, standard operating procedures, City or Department policies, and common sense. Working in a safe manner includes the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and complying with all City and/or Department safety rules. Horseplay on-the-job is strictly forbidden. The failure to work in a safe manner, use PPE, follow standard operating procedure, or comply with a safety rule will result adverse employment consequences ranging from verbal discipline to termination from employment, including any applicable reduction in benefits under the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act. Employees are also expected to encourage safe work practices by all co-employees, and to report any unsafe work practices immediately to a supervisor. 

The City of Lakewood celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion in all areas of our workforce. Accordingly, the city is committed to creating, nurturing and sustaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our community and employees.