PACT Co-Responder - Clinician

Health Solutions West is the Western slope’s largest behavioral health care organization, covering more than 23,000 square miles across 10 counties.  With over 250 employees in Western Colorado, you would be joining a mighty team of support and administrative staff, case managers, clinicians, physicians, nurses, and others in our efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of our community.

Hours: Must be willing to work weekend and after-hour shifts

Position: PACT Co-Responder Clinician 

Location: Aspen

A Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is available for positions working onsite in Aspen. Telehealth employees are not eligible, some conditions apply.

• Salaried employees working at 1.0 FTE receive a biweekly COLA of $310.62. This amount is prorated based on the position’s FTE.
• Hourly employees receive a COLA of $3.88 for each hour worked.
• Part-time positions are compensated hourly and receive the hourly COLA based on actual hours worked.
• Starting compensation will be determined based on the selected candidate’s level of education and applicable professional licensure.

Benefits offered to Full-Time Employees:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Paid time off accrual and generous leave policy
• 403(b) benefits with 6% company match
• Wellness program 
• Quarterly bonuses

****$7,000.00 sign on bonus, Quarterly Bonus's based on hours worked and $1,000.00 Wellness bonus, some conditions apply****

Position qualifications: Master’s degree in human services or related field required; or listed as having a professional license candidate temporary permit per DORA.; Two (2) years previous experience in human services related field preferred.  Six months of experience in crisis intervention preferred. Additional certifications or licensing in addictions (i.e. CAT, CAS, or LAC) preferred.  Current valid Colorado Driver’s License required.

Job purpose: The purpose of the PACT (Pitkin Area Co-Responder Team) program is to support law enforcement on calls for service involving  mental health and/or substance use and, when possible, divert individuals with behavioral health disorders or symptoms from involvement in the criminal justice system, engaging them in treatment and/or social services instead. The Clinician responds to active calls with local law enforcement (LE), maintains scene safety as directed by LE, and de-escalates and evaluates clients in the field as appropriate. Clinician follows up with clients in person, often accompanied by LE, and on the phone. Processes and determines next steps for clients referred to PACT by LE and other community agencies.

The PACT Co-Responder clinician works with a diverse client population in a variety of settings to provide clinical assessment/problem identification, crisis intervention, and case management. Assesses level of risk and immediacy of the service needed. Conducts mental status examinations to establish provisional diagnosis and evaluates need for legal holds and level of care. Develops and monitors treatment plans and progress, documents significant interactions, and maintains clinical charts and other reporting data. Refers for appropriate follow up services. Collaborates with client, family, law-enforcement, and community agencies around disposition planning. Additionally, the PACT clinician collaborates with a PACT case manager and/or peer specialist, who coordinate follow-up, track referrals, and provide peer support to PACT program participants.

Knowledge, Skill & Ability (include materials and equipment directly used):

• Ability to demonstrate critical thinking and appropriate clinical judgment when assessing the level of risk and determining resolution of client emergencies, resulting in a safe outcome.
• Working knowledge of Colorado Revised Statutes 27-10 (Mental Health Code)
• Working knowledge of HIPPA and 42 CFR.
• Ability to produce written documentation of clinical work in a manner readily understood by other service providers. 
• Ability to summarize service themes from a variety of client contacts and communicate suggested improvements for service delivery.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload in a sometimes hectic environment with frequent interruptions.
• Must pass Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) conditional background investigation in order to work inside police department(s) and use police radio.
• Working knowledge of Windows based computer applications to include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and Internet access.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment including computer keyboard, calculator, copy machine, fax and multi-line telephone.

Safety & Field-Response Qualifications

• Must be willing and able to respond to unpredictable, potentially dangerous field situations
• Must be willing and able to wear agency-provided ballistic/body armor when required by agency policy or scene conditions (average 5 lbs.)
• Must be willing to ride in law-enforcement vehicles and respond to calls alongside sworn officers
• Must be able to enter residences, businesses, vehicles, outdoor locations, and other uncontrolled environments
• Must be able to work safely around individuals who may be armed, aggressive, intoxicated, psychotic, suicidal, or otherwise behaviorally dysregulated
• Must maintain awareness of surroundings and follow law-enforcement direction regarding scene safety
• Must understand and follow established scene-safety, withdrawal, staging, and emergency-response protocols
• Must be able to recognize when a situation exceeds the clinician's role or presents an unacceptable safety risk and immediately disengage/stage as directed
• Must maintain appropriate positioning and distance during potentially volatile encounters
• Must be able to rapidly transition from a clinical/de-escalation role to a safety-focused response when circumstances change
• Must not enter a scene independently when agency policy requires law-enforcement clearance
• Must be able to communicate clearly with dispatch, officers, EMS, and other first responders
• Must participate in after-action reviews following significant or high-risk incidents

Must already be authorized to work in the US; sponsorships not available.

Salary : $71,876 - $86,996