Portland Street Response Mental Health Crisis Responder I

About the position

Job Appointment: Regular, Full-Time, Non-Exempt.

Work Schedule: Employees in this position will work four (4) 10-hour days with three (3) days off a week. Shifts include days, afternoons, and nights, including holidays. Ability to work any shift and on any day of the week is essential. During training, your shift may change depending on the availability of the trainers. After completing probation, you will be able to bid on an open shift based on your seniority.

Work Locations: 330 SW Curry St., Portland OR 97239

Benefits: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of the benefits for this position.

Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position is or may be eligible for Language Pay Differentialfor qualifying employees 

Union Representation: Professional Technical Employees, Local 17 (PROTEC-17). To view this labor agreement, please click here.

Application Materials: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to attach a resume and cover letter. 

About Portland Street Response (PSR): The Portland Street Response program assists people experiencing mental health and behavioral health crises. The goal of Portland Street Response is to update our first responder system by providing an additional compassionate first response option when 911 is called for someone experiencing low-acuity behavioral health issues. PSR is dispatched by the Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC) to respond to non-life-threatening crises currently responded to by Police and Fire, such as behavioral health issues and welfare checks.

Program Values:

• Equity & Social Justice: Strive to uplift the dignity and worth of all Portlanders, particularly those who have been historically marginalized and criminalized, by ensuring timely and professional person-centered first response.
• Collaboration: Ensure the best possible outcomes for our clients by working collaboratively with community partners, and traditional first responders.
• Empathy & Compassion: Operate from a framework of Trauma-Informed Care with the recognition that adverse life experiences (including health systems and carceral trauma) create barriers for clients to connect with the care and supportive services they need to thrive in the community.
• Resource Efficiency & Prioritization: Respond to the complex care needs of individuals experiencing low acuity crises in the community to enable Police and Fire resources to attend to life saving and crime-related calls for service.

Position Summary 

Mental Health Crisis Responders I’s will co-respond to non-emergent 911 calls in partnership with a Community Health Medical Responder (EMT). The Mental Health Crisis Responder I responds to sub-acute behavioral health and substance use-related crises that present no criminal intent, fire, or medical emergency. The incumbent provides crisis intervention, de-escalation, risk assessment, and other brief behavioral health interventions to clients who are in emotional distress. The incumbent will consider the psychosocial aspects of the behavioral health crisis and engage in appropriate resource and/or service coordination to address precipitating factors and resolve the presenting crisis. The Mental Health Crisis Responder I is distinguished from the Mental Health Crisis Responder II in that the level II provides case consultation and clinical supervision and support to the Mental Health Crisis Responder I’s. 

As the Mental Health Crisis Responder I, you will be responsible for the following:

• Provide immediate mobile crisis response to service calls dispatched through the 911 system in the city of Portland per program policies and procedures.
• Effectively engage with diverse clients across social, cultural, and economic differences in a respectful and collaborative manner.
• Identify and assess risk factors for harm to self or others in the context of the client’s current psycho-social state via interview with client and with consideration given to collateral information.
• Consider and articulate potential outcomes of various interventions, discuss their risks and benefits, and formulate why a particular course of action was pursued in lieu of other options. Apply principles of client-centered and trauma-informed, opting for the least intrusive and most supportive intervention.
• Effectively implement behavioral interventions such as collaborative problem-solving, short-term goal setting, and risk reduction/safety planning in a client-centered manner.
• Engage in resource and service coordination to de-escalate and resolve the presenting crisis.
• Coordinate responses to crisis situations with community agencies and service providers. Consult with fellow crewmembers, supervisors, program managers, and bureau leadership as appropriate.
• Escalate difficult or complex issues and/or cases and assignments to Mental Health Crisis Responder II.
• Document and maintain electronic medical records (EMR) and ancillary records in a manner that assures compliance with all agency policies, program procedures, and local, state, and federal regulations.
• Support program continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts by participating in chart review and maintaining accurate documentation of key goals, outcomes, and indicators to ensure high-quality client care.
• Participate in all scheduled staff meetings, supervision sessions, other departmental or bureau meetings, and relevant local and regional trainings.
• Complete employee training requirements in a timely manner as indicated in the requirements for the bureau and applicable licensing boards.
• Attend seminars, training, and other educational opportunities to develop professional skills and abilities.

Physical Demands: May move equipment weighing up to 40 lbs.

Bend, stoop, kneel, squat, and stand on uneven surfaces for extended periods.

Have a question?

Contact Information:

Tamela Ressler, Senior Recruiter

Bureau of Human Resources

Tamela.Ressler@portlandoregon.gov

To Qualify

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position: 

1. Knowledge of related privacy rules and laws, including HIPAA, mandatory reporting requirements, legal responsibilities, and organizational policies, and procedures.
2. Knowledge of cultural differences and their intersections (e.g., race, sexual orientation, gender equality, socioeconomic status) and their impact on client engagement.
3. Experience assessing clients’ risk of harm to self or others (e.g., suicide, homicide, violence) and effectively mitigating identified risks.
4. Ability to recognize and respond to client reactivity, employing strategies to effectively address and de-escalate issues when they arise.
5. Knowledge of medical terminology and experience navigating health systems and entering documentation into medical record systems.

Applicants must also possess:

• A valid state driver’s license and acceptable driving record.

Desired Qualifications:

Although not required, you may have one or more of the following preferred qualifications:

• QMHA certification or ability to obtain QMHA certification within 9 months of hire date.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Alcohol and Drug Counseling, or related field.
• Five (5) years in crisis intervention and/or mental health information and referral services experience.
• Experience working with diverse groups.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of Trauma Informed Care (TIC).
• Experience as a first responder or frontline community-based crisis responder.
• Experience working effectively in multi/intra-disciplinary settings with other first responders, health and community agencies.
• Trained in behavioral health crisis assessment and intervention.
• Bi-lingual fluency preferred.