Crisis Intervention Specialist

Crisis Intervention Specialist

$70,993.50 - $88,741.88

Job Summary

Under general supervision, the Crisis Intervention Specialist will provide citizens experiencing a behavioral health crisis with on-site tools to navigate challenges and improve their quality of life. They will partner with Behavioral Health Response Officers to form a Co-Responder Unit to identify, assess, and intervene when calls for service involve a behavioral health component.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide a field response on calls that involve a behavioral health component.
• Provide training for the department on behavioral health issues.
• Serve as a liaison between community stakeholders and the department and work within a solution-focused brief therapy model.
• Consult with LE officers on recommended course of action for cases and ability to maintain accurate entry into the Behavioral Health database.

Other Job Functions

• Build relationships with citizens, officers, civilian personnel, city departments, and community stakeholders
• Continue training in the behavioral health field and serve as a Subject Matter Expert for the department.
• Work within the department to support a multi-disciplinary approach to more challenging cases in the community, as well as develop alternative solutions to problems, evaluate a course of action, and formulate appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to maintain current knowledge of resources available for responsible referrals.
• Represent the department at various events and/or meetings of community groups to promote positive community/police relations.

Minimum Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Knowledge of principles of crisis intervention.
• Knowledge of behavioral health symptoms.
• Knowledge of law enforcement culture.
• Knowledge of Texas Mental Health Code.
• Ability to build rapport.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to teach.
• Ability to influence.
• Ability to prioritize.
• Skill in crisis intervention techniques.
• Skill in writing clearly.
• Skill in reading comprehension.
• Skill in creative problem-solving.
• Skill in building teams.
• Skill in multitasking.

Qualifying Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in behavioral health or related field, plus three years' experience in crisis intervention.
• May have an equivalent combination of education and experience to substitute for both the education and the experience requirements.
• Pre-employment screening includes a criminal history check.

City of Arlington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.