Portland Street Response Mental Health Crisis Responder I

Portland Street Response Mental Health Crisis Responder I

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Portland Street Response Mental Health Crisis Responder I

Salary

$36.79 - $51.75 Hourly

Location

OR 97239, OR

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

2025-00254

Bureau

Public Safety Service Area

Opening Date

02/24/2025

Closing Date

3/10/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

The Position

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 Differential (https://www.portland.gov/bhr/class-comp/language-pay-differential-overview) for qualifying employees

Union Representation: Professional Technical Employees, Local 17 (PROTEC-17). To view this labor agreement, please click here (https://www.portland.gov/bhr/employee-relations/labor-relations/labor-agreements) .

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:

• Knowledge of related privacy rules and laws, including HIPAA, mandatory reporting requirements, legal responsibilities, and organizational policies, and procedures.

• Knowledge of cultural differences and their intersections (e.g., race, sexual orientation, gender equality, socioeconomic status) and their impact on client engagement.

• Experience assessing clients' risk of harm to self or others (e.g., suicide, homicide, violence) and effectively mitigating identified risks.

• Ability to recognize and respond to client reactivity, employing strategies to effectively address and de-escalate issues when they arise.

• 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 (https://www.portlandoregon.gov/citycode/article/12184) .

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.

The Recruitment Process

STEP 1: Apply online between February 17 - March 10, 2025

Required Application Materials:

• Cover letter

• Resume

• Answers to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

• If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.

Application Tips:

• Your cover letter can exceed one page, to ensure you are able to provide the detailed information for every qualification. Details are key The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement.

• Your résumé should support the details described in your cover letter.

• Follow the instructions, as an evaluator will review your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.

• How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act (https://www.oregon.gov/boli/workers/pages/equal-pay.aspx) . Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.

• Do not attach any additional documents.

• Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.

• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your application materials. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage the use of AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.

• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.

• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of March 10, 2025

• An evaluation of each applicant's training, paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their cover letter, and resume, weighted 100%.

• Your cover letter and résumé will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.

• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 (https://www.portland.gov/policies/human-resources-administrative-rules/employment/hrar-301-recruitment-processes#toc-examination-review) for complete information.

• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of March 17, 2025

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

Step 4: Selection (Interview): Late March 2025

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview.

Step 5: Offer of Employment: early April 2025

• This position will require those offered employment to complete and sign a criminal background statement before being considered for employment.

Step 6: Background Check – approximately 1 week

Step 7: Start Date: late April 2025

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Additional Information

Click here (https://www.portland.gov/bhr/career-center/recruitment-policy) for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values

• Recruitment Process - Work Status

• Equal Employment Opportunity

• Veteran Preference

• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer

A Career with the City of Portland offers many Employee Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to

• Health Care (Medical, Vision and Dental)

• Carrot Fertility

• Wellness Benefits

• Life Insurance

• Long-term disability coverage to eligible employees and their families.

• Employee Assistance Plan

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• Retirement

• Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), including contributions to the PERS IAP plan paid by employer

• Family Medical Leave

• City Paid Parental Leave

AND SO MANY MORE

Benefits may vary depending on bargaining unit and employment status. Click here to review the many different benefits the City of Portland offers (https://www.portland.gov/bhr/benefit-offerings/benefits-quickstart-guide/benefit-plan-summaries-highlight-guides) .

01

Thank you for your interest in the City of Portland. We value your time and hope to make your application experience as positive as possible.

Your Cover Letter and Resume are an important step to assist us in the review for minimum qualifications for the posted vacancy.

In your Cover Letter, write specific and unique responses to address each of the minimum qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section. The information you provide must correctly reflect your work history/resume. A lack of information in your application materials to each of the minimum qualifications may result in elimination from the recruitment.

Note: Request for veterans' preference, please add a copy of your DD214 and/or Veteran's Benefit letter. All documents must be uploaded by the closing date and time of this announcement.

Have you read and understood all the information listed above?

• No - If you have a questions, please contact the recruiter on the announcement.

• Yes

02

Where did you first learn about this job opportunity? (If on a website or job board, please specify which one)

03

The City of Portland receives public records requests at times. Please indicate which response you find appropriate: (Answer will not disqualify you from the process)

• My application was submitted with the understanding that the City of Portland would keep the information confidential and would only disclose the information if ordered to do so. I would not have submitted this application without the promise of confidentiality.

• You may release my application; I am waiving confidentiality.

04

Please note the following question will not be considered during minimum qualification review. The information provided will be reviewed during the selection process.

Although not required, please provide information for any 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.

(Enter N/A if you do not have relevant experience)

Required Question

Employer

City of Portland

Address

1120 SW 5th Ave, Room 987 Portland, Oregon, 97204

Website

http://www.portlandoregon.gov/jobs

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