Approved Mental Health Professional

City of Carbondale, Illinois
Job Opening Announcement/Job Description
Title: Mental Health Advocate
Department/Division: Police
Nature of Work
This is a full-time professional position in the City's Police Department. The Police Mental Health Advocate (PMHA) provides administrative oversight for the Crisis Services, and additionally, direct services to individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis; participates in the delivery of Crisis Services to those individuals; is responsible for providing face-to-face crisis response and assessment to individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis; provides support and linkage to other area resources with follow-up contact with the individual, and performs other responsibilities as assigned.

Essential Duties

Assists the Carbondale Police Department (CPD) whenever they come into contact with suspected persons with a mental illness or substance use disorder (SUD).

Assists CPD staff to prevent unnecessary hospitalization and/or reduce CPD use of force incidents involving persons suffering from mental illness, behavioral health symptoms or SUD.

Responds to calls when dispatched or requested by CPD officers, conducts assessments, offers effective and efficient interventions, and coordinates care to enhance CPD services.

Assesses residents’ treatment needs related to psychiatric, medical, social, and emotional care and follow-up after the event for 72 hours and beyond to ensure engagement and access to services.

Adheres to professionally recognized ethical standards of care.

Works effectively in Crisis Service delivery dealing with individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

Helps determine when to involve medical personnel when medical safety is an issue.

Exercises sound clinical judgment in determining a person’s ability to remain safely in the Community.

Develops and maintains a case management system for identifying individuals in the community with mental illness that are frequently contacted by law enforcement who have no working system of treatment in place.

Tracks cases of persons with mental illness who are referred to other agencies, and provides information on potential threats that exist to the community and the individual (i.e., family members, community members) and corporate (i.e. businesses, places of worship, medical facilities) levels.

Works with outside agencies, and with the Carbondale Police Department’s training unit to generate and implement training to police officers and telecommunicators in dealing with mental health issues.

Seeks out and implements grants concerning mental health response and training for PMHA partners.

Identifies ways to measure the performance of agency responses to mental health issues in Carbondale, and presents ideas to improve services to City and crisis care administrators.

Coordinates as needed with officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys and family members to conduct civil commitment proceedings when necessary.

May be assigned to community consultation and education projects.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision.

Qualification Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must be able to pass a law enforcement background check and obtain a fingerprint clearance card

Must pass required drug test

Must have experience in de-escalating clients in crisis situations

Must be able to work in a fast paced, team environment

Must understand, formulate and implement all aspects of Crisis Services

Must be a team oriented worker

Must demonstrate self-motivation

Must have excellent communication and listening skills

Must have a working knowledge of individual, group, family, and crisis treatment approaches and their application to clients with emotional, behavioral and/or substance use disorder problems

Must be able to provide services in the Police Department, mental health center settings, schools, jails, emergency rooms, in the community and client homes. This may necessitate travel within the community.

Must be able to help others achieve paths to well-being

Must use professional and mature judgment in problem resolution and formulate appropriate crisis and de-escalation intervention.

Educational Requirements

Master’s level degree in a Human Services related field

Associate or independent licensure as an LAC/LPC or LCSW strongly preferred

One-year behavioral health or law enforcement and crisis experience preferred

Work Environment
Work is performed primarily in a community setting and will require the operation of a vehicle during the course of the work day to conduct mental health assessments or attend meetings in a variety of weather conditions and in emergency situations.

Minimum Acceptable Qualifications
Master’s Degree in a Human Services related field and experience working in a mental health setting.

Benefits Include

Medical/Dental/Vision

Life Insurance

Retirement pension

457 deferred compensation plan

Employee Assistance Program

10 days of vacation /12 days of sick leave per year

12 city holidays, plus one floating holiday

Section 125 pretax deductions

Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan

Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

Salary: $25.50 - $27.00 DOQ/DOE

The Carbondale is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Position is open until filled.

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