BEST Criminal Justice Diversion Police Co-Responder

The Boston Emergency Services Team (BEST) Criminal Justice Diversion Police Co-responder provides direct services to children, adolescents, and adults in crisis.  This clinician will work collaboratively with the Boston Police and be available to assist BPD officers with calls for individuals exhibiting signs of mental distress, to provide assessments on-site, in the community, or at the police district and deliver rapid access to community mental health, substance abuse and psychiatry services, including urgent linkage to other components of the BEST system.

Position: BEST Criminal Justice Diversion Police Co-Responder/Mental Health Clinician

Department: Psychiatry  

Schedule: Full Time (40 hrs, 7:30AM - 3:30PM, Days/Weekend)

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Under the direction of the Program Director and Clinical Director of BEST, respond to 911 calls with the Boston Police Department, where behavioral health concerns have been identified.

• In collaboration with first responders, identifies the factors contributing to the individuals crisis, and completes a crisis evaluation.

• Determines the most appropriate clinical level of care necessary, and is able to appropriately communicate these recommendations to first responders, and the individual and as relevant, their family or community providers.

• Develops and maintains a liaison relationship with community providers in the area of mental health, substance use, homelessness, etc.

• Refers patients to appropriate outpatient services if appropriate, and engages in a warm hand-off to receiving providers.

• Completes thorough and accurate documentation in a timely manner.

• Provides case consultation as necessary, to first responders and community providers.

• Maintains documentation and records for all cases in accordance with program requirements.

• Attends all individual supervisions, and clinical and staff meetings.

• Maintains competency in the field via ongoing continuing education and by maintaining applicable licenses up-to-date.

• Performs other related duties as needed.

Boston Medical Center (BMC) is more than a hospital. It´s a network of support and care that touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in need each year. It is the largest and busiest provider of trauma and emergency services in New England. Emphasizing community-based care, BMC is committed to providing consistently excellent and accessible health services to all—and is the largest safety-net hospital in New England. The hospital is also the primary teaching affiliate of the nationally ranked Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and a founding partner of Boston HealthNet – an integrated health care delivery systems that includes many community health centers. Join BMC today and help us achieve our Vision 2030 which is a long-term goal to make Boston the healthiest urban population in the world.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Master’s Degree in social work, counseling, or related field required by start date

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

• LCSW/ LICSW or LMHC license eligible required

EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in crisis response across all age ranges is a plus.

• Clinical counseling experience with individuals experiencing behavioral health crises preferred

• Experience working with crisis intervention services and community resources desirable

• Experience working with first responders is desirable

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge of community resources and agencies that serve individuals experiencing behavioral health crises

• Ability to function and make decisions in a fast-paced environment

• Ability to work on an interdisciplinary team.

• Cultural sensitivity and comfort with a wide range of racial and ethnic populations.

• An organized work style, good follow through skills and ability to keep organized written documentation

• Demonstrated skills in the provision of services in a multicultural environment.

• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills (beyond that of English) appropriate to the patient population served is a plus.

• Preference given to applicants who reflect the cultural and language diversity of the Boston Medical Center patient population.