Pawnee Mental Health Services (PMHS) is looking for qualified candidates to fill the position of Mental Health Co-responder for the Riley County Police Department. The goals of the program include decreasing admissions to jail, emergency rooms and inpatient psychiatric units. The co-responder will work with Riley County Police/Corrections officers in providing community based interventions and assessments of individuals who come in contact with law enforcement for a mental health and/or substance abuse related call. The co-responder will provide interventions at various locations in the community including the Riley County Jail and on the scene with law enforcement officers, once safety has been determined. This position works a member of PMHS’s Crisis Services Team, but will have an office at the Riley County Police Department. The Co-responder will be required to work a flexible schedule.

The primary responsibilities for this position include:

• Conducts comprehensive clinical assessments and inpatient psychiatric evaluation as a part of the diagnostic process, ongoing provision of services, and/or crisis intervention; identifies individual needs and diagnoses substance use and /or mental health disorders; assesses individual risk for suicide and other safety related concerns; determines the need for medication evaluation and referral; interprets and communicates relevant information to individuals, families and other stakeholders.
• Provide joint response in the field, working with law enforcement to de-escalate situations and communicate effectively, with law enforcement, under stress and in a high stakes environment. Must have the physical capacity to respond to calls at any location.
• Assist with acute crisis mental health needs of inmates at the Riley County Jail and assist with connecting inmates to mental health and substance use services in the community as needed.
• Develops complex treatment and intervention plans to address the clinical needs of individuals in single or multiple areas of focus; collaborates with other community agencies to address immediate individual needs; encourages the establishment and maintenance of support systems; collaborates with other providers in the development, implementation and review of plans.
• Attends individual and/or group meetings and provides services in a community base setting; facilitates skill development; responds to emergency or crisis related requests from individuals and/or agencies; arranges for appropriate care and services.
• Completes and submits clinical documentation regarding services provided
• Facilitates training with Riley County Police Department regarding the co-responder role and other mental health related topics; participate in presentations in the community regarding the Co-responder program.
• Assist in grant related activities to include data collection, reports, conferences and relevant training

Job Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, Professional Counseling, or other Human Services field and Kansas Behavioral Sciences Licensure at the master’s level in the area of focus are required (e.g. LMSW, LPC, LMFT, LCP, etc.). Requires Valid KS driver’s License.

Kansas Behavioral Sciences license at the clinical level and one year of experience in the area of focus is preferred but is not required.

Candidates must be able to meet Kansas Criminal Justice Information System requirements and will be required to complete a background investigation, including fingerprint, name base records check and annual name-based records check as a condition of employment.

Pawnee Mental Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all applicants will receive equal and equitable consideration without regard to race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, or any other status or condition protected by law. Any applicant who feels they have experienced discrimination via the PMHS hiring process may file a written complaint at https://www.pawnee.org/our-commitment-to-you.cfm.