Senior Mental Health Co-Responder

Senior Mental Health Co-Responder

Agency: Texas A&M University

Department: University Health Services

Proposed Minimum Salary: Commensurate

Job Location: College Station, Texas

Job Type: Staff

Job Description:

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

University Health Services empowers Texas A&M students through integrated care that supports their physical and mental health. As part of Texas A&M Health—the university's comprehensive health science center—our clinicians provide the highest level of care in medicine, counseling, psychology and emergency medical services that fosters students' academic, personal and professional success.

The Senior Mental Health Co-Responder is responsible for providing mental health care that is responsive to the unique backgrounds and needs of the A&M campus & community. This includes crisis intervention and outreach to individuals, couples, and groups on campus through an ongoing partnership between University Health Services (UHS) and University Police Department (UPD). This position requires riding along with UPD patrol officers for calls pertaining to students and community members in distress, providing consultation for crisis intervention, conducting on-scene stabilization, and facilitating hospitalizations alongside officers. Duties include a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approach to crisis intervention, triage services, risk assessments for harm to self or others, referrals to mental health treatment programs, follow-up, and case management.

Training and consultation will be a large component of this role. This position provides mental-health training and consultation for police officers and staff on mental health topics such as trauma-informed care, risk assessment, de-escalation techniques, etc. Community outreach will include presentations and tabling events with both UHS and UPD. The provider will work closely to coordinate case management with UPD, UHS, and other University departments such as Student Assistance Services and Residence Life. May provide supervision for clinical staff and graduate trainees in counseling or mental health care.

This field-based position will work under UHS purview while officing remotely out of the UPD headquarters. Work hours will be based on shift assignments as well as periodic calls outside of those hours.

Salary: Will be commensurate based on the selected hire's education and experience.

Location/Schedule: College Station, TX/Full-Time

Required Education and Experience:

• Master's degree in Counseling, Social Work, Clinical Psychology, or other degree acceptable to the Texas State Board of Examiners for Professional Counselors, Social Workers, or Marriage and Family Therapists.
• Five years full-time equivalent, independent licensure experience in crisis-oriented position, college counseling center, or other relevant setting.

Required Licenses and Certifications:

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
• Licensed in the State of Texas within one year of employment.
• Must maintain licensure for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Eligible to Supervise in accordance with Texas licensing board.
• Continuing education in law enforcement, trauma, and/or crisis management.
• Five years of crisis management with law enforcement.
• Experience developing and teaching educational programming and workshops for crisis intervention training, mental health, and trauma-informed care.
• 7 or more years of experience in a University or College counseling center or other closely related setting.
• Experience working closely with law enforcement.
• TCOLE certified peace officer.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills that embody a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive perspective.
• Skilled in handling high distress and emergency mental health situations.
• Knowledgeable regarding Texas hospitalization procedures and statutes.
• Ability to effectively provide educational programs to large audiences.
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.
• Adherence to the Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct for the relevant Texas State Licensing Board, the code of ethics relevant to their field, and all relevant federal and state laws.

Responsibilities:

Crisis Response & Supervision Provided:

• Co-Respond with law enforcement to campus dispatch calls regarding consumers who exhibit symptoms of a mental, behavioral, or emotional event.
• Assess and address immediate risk concerns of harm to self and/or others.
• Collect collateral information as appropriate to facilitate optimal outcome for consumers.
• Provide clinical guidance and consultation to law enforcement officers and Mental Health Co-Responders for interacting with mental health consumers, determining appropriate disposition, and locating available resources.
• Independent provision of direct clinical care in the field during crisis stabilization meetings, treatment planning, referral meetings, and case management activities.
• Collaborate effectively and efficiently with other campus and community agencies.
• May provide weekly supervision/training including review of recorded sessions and case review for provisionally licensed Mental Health Clinician's, inters, or practicum students.

Mental Health Case Management:

• Manages care coordination of all designated University Police Department mental health cases and assigns case management tasks to other Mental Health Co-Responders.
• Provides oversight of and engages in the timely, detailed, and thorough case management of consumers/clients, and coordinates with University Police Department and University Health Services for follow-up contacts.
• Collaborate with University Police Department, University Health Services, Student Assistance Services and other relevant departments to refer and follow up on complex mental health cases.
• Serve as primary point-of-contact for communication with program administrator(s) on the outcomes of police calls and consumer referrals.
• Work closely with University Health Services Case Referral Manager on tracking/follow-up.

Educational Programming and Training:

• Engage in consultation with other Universities and police departments regarding Co-Responder programs.
• Train officers and University Police Department staff on evidence-based crisis intervention services, working with mental health consumers, de-escalation techniques, and other programming as identified.
• Conduct advocacy and education with campus stakeholders, campus and community partners, and treatment providers.

Administrative Duties:

• Work closely with program administrator(s) to develop and revise policies, procedures, and practices.
• Work closely with University Police Department administrators on program data collection and evaluation.
• Meet ethical obligations for timely documentation of counseling services per State of Texas licensure requirements and University Health Services and University Police Department policies.
• Participate and/or lead pertinent committees/trainings and other functions as needed.

Professional Development:

• Per state licensure requirements, participates in continuing education and professional development activities related to the performance of job functions, emerging trends in college mental health and maintenance of skills in one's professional specialty area.
• Maintains currency of practice through professional literature review, organizational research and evaluation activities, and shares with peers. Provides professional presentations as appropriate.

Why Texas A&M University?

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration. Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you. Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time
• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops,