Mental Health Coordinator
City of Boise

Job Info

---

Summary Statement

The Boise Police Department Behavioral Health Response Team (BHRT) will comprise a Mental Health Liaison Officer and the Mental Health Coordinator w orking as a co-responder team. By drawing upon the officer and mental health professional's combined expertise, they will respond together to develop and facilitate follow-up plans to those with repeated mental health interactions with law enforcement or who pose a threat to the community.

Responsibilities Include: Connect individuals to appropriate community resources to reduce the frequency of contact with police. The caseload will comprise proactive enforcement using the information-led policing model, officer referrals, and community referrals. The BHRT will be committed to providing a professional, compassionate, and dedicated specialized police response to mental health consumers, families, and partner agencies. The dignity of all people and strive for collaboration while improving outcomes for reducing demands on police resources; and improving safety for officers, consumers, and the community. If you specialize in helping individuals with mental health problems that affect their everyday lives and want to make a positive and lasting impact on mental illness in the community, this opportunity is for you.

• Crisis Intervention and De-escalation Techniques: Emergency and immediate, short-term intervention to a person in crisis. Partnered with a police officer in a patrol car, the Mental Health Coordinator would be responsible for providing in-the-field psychiatric assessments, safety planning, case management, de-escalation techniques, and other intervention recommendations to avoid violent encounters during crisis intervention.
• Problem Solving: We believe in identifying the underlying issues creating police calls, and reducing them. Proactively respond to address mental health concerns of high-risk and repeat consumers. Provide a resource for patrol officers to refer difficult cases for follow-up.
• Collaboration: We engage with partners from across the government, civil society, families, and consumers to improve systems, relationships, and outcomes. Collaborates with community partners to facilitate mental health services to those facing a mental health crisis. Builds and maintains strong relationships, coordinates resources, and ensures sustainability.
• Customer Service & Continuity: We aim to increase BPD responsiveness by providing consistent, dedicated resources bridging the services gap for those with behavioral health concerns. Educates law enforcement professionals to recognize signs of mental illness, intervening preemptively where possible, and connecting individuals with needed social services as a follow-up to any police response or interaction.
• Diversion: We aim to reduce criminal justice involvement in mental health issues and mental illness criminalization.
• Professional Development: We seek increased knowledge and expertise within the team and share our knowledge and experience with the department. Performs independent work related to educating law enforcement professionals to recognize signs of mental illness, intervening preemptively where possible, and connecting individuals with needed social services as a follow-up to any police response or interaction. Work requires considerable independent discretion in decision-making and initiative. Work requires considerable independent discretion in decision-making and initiative.
• Impact: If you specialize in helping individuals with mental health problems that affect their everyday lives and want to make a positive and lasting impact on mental illness in the community, this opportunity is for you.

Applicants must submit a letter of interest and a current resume to be considered for the position.

Essential Functions

Gathers and assesses behavioral health information to guide the Boise Police Department in data-driven responses. Reviews all mental health crisis calls for service reports to determine cases that require follow-up. Identifies mental health consumers that require repeat law enforcement interventions and independently develops and facilitates follow-up plans and actions. Coordinates with family members and mental health community partners to facilitate the delivery of services to reduce future law enforcement interventions. Develops processes for and communicates with all law enforcement personnel regarding appropriate strategies for responding to mental health crisis calls for service. Independently develops and maintains relationships with community partners to facilitate the delivery of mental health services. (70%)

Leads the community capacity-building efforts with behavioral health and related community partners. Creates and maintains an accurate inventory of community partners and the services they provide. Facilitates delivery of up-to-date resource information to all department personnel. Collects and maintains statistical data on department responses to mental health-related calls for service. Conducts data analysis and trend monitoring to make recommendations to leadership and community partners for service level improvements. (15%)

Develops curriculum based on research and provides training to law enforcement personnel related to recognizing and intervening with mental health crisis consumers. Conducts presentations for community partners regarding mental health issues. Monitors legislative changes related to mental health issues and ensures department compliance with all applicable laws regarding record retention and information sharing. Develops and revises department policies and procedures related to response and intervention with a mental health crisis. (15%)

Performs other duties as assigned. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time. Total Percentage = 100%

Requirements

Required Knowledge, Experience, And Training
Requires education and/or experience to attain the following:

• Must have a Master's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or related field and clinical licensure in that field.
• Candidates should have a minimum of three years of professional work experience facilitating mental health-related programs.
• Functional knowledge of and familiarity with the mental health and social service agencies in the local area and the scope of their services.
• In-depth knowledge of federal, state, and county statutes, codes, and regulations regarding mental health emergency detentions and the retention and sharing of information. Familiarity with law enforcement operations and the criminal justice system.
• Ability to conduct mental health needs assessments, individually and as part of a team; knowledge of public health practices, policy and administration and the ability to lead others in these practices; familiarity of mental health issues common to law enforcement interactions; ability to facilitate, coordinate, and developmental health follow-up plans; understanding of and ability to interpret codes, regulations, and laws applicable to mental health program administration; knowledge of database management systems and related software and ability to conduct data analysis; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; write narrative reports; develop and maintain effective working relationships with individuals at all levels of the organization; display an attitude of cooperation and work harmoniously with community partners, all levels of city employees, the general public and other organizations; communicate effectively in the English language at a level necessary for efficient job performance; complete assignments in a timely fashion; understand and comply with all rules, policies and regulations; maintain prompt and regular attendance; perform all essential and marginal functions as assigned by an authorized employee, supervisor and/or manager with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• Individuals must be capable of riding with a police officer, and operating vehicles safely, and have an acceptable driving record.

Preferred Knowledge, Experience, And Training
Master's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or related field and five years of professional work experience facilitating mental health-related programs.

Licensing And Other Requirements

• Certification as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Marriage and Family Therapist Licensure (LMFT), or other equivalent licensed professionals.
• Valid Idaho driver's license.
• Police background investigation, which may include a requirement to pass a polygraph.

Special Requirements
All applicants must successfully pass the City of Boise background check processes, including reference checks and criminal history checks.

Applicants must be able to pass, or have:

• Driving Record Check
• Education Verification
• Polygraph Exam
• Criminal Justice Information System background check (CJIS)

Working Conditions

The physical effort characteristics and working environment described here represent those employee encounters while performing this job's essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Efforts
While performing this job's duties, the employee is occasionally lifting/carrying up to 10 pounds. Also, the employee is occasionally pushing/pulling up to 10 pounds. The noise level is occasionally moderate. Work includes sensory ability to talk and hear. Work in this position also includes close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision. Employees will sit and stand. Position requires hand/finger dexterity.

Working Environment
The work environment will include inside conditions and outdoor weather conditions, working with a law enforcement officer in a patrol vehicle capacity. Work includes protected exposure to bodily fluids. Additional environmental conditions include: attending fatalities/suicides that include bodily fluids and being present for death notifications to families where reactions may be calm to violent.

This position works: This position works on-call as well as during regular business hours.

#CityofBoiseHR

This job has expired.