9-1-1 Crisis Diversion Clinician - Denver 9-1-1 Emergency Communications

About Our Job

The City and County of Denver, Denver 9-1-1 Emergency Communications is hiring for a Crisis Diversion Clinician (CDC) to assist with triaging calls to 9-1-1 for individuals who may be experiencing a behavioral health crisis. This position will provide consultation, de-escalation, and immediate telephone assistance for callers to Denver 9-1-1.

The goal of the program is to enhance and support the existing crisis response programs in the City and County of Denver by imbedding behavioral health clinicians in Denver 9-1-1.

Primary Communication Center: 12025 E 45th Ave, Denver, CO 80239

Back-up Communication Center: 950 Josephine St, Denver, CO 80206

This position supports 9-1-1 operations conducted between the hours of 8:00 am to 8:00 pm daily. Flexible scheduling options are available based on operational needs. Employees must be able to report to work during inclement weather and emergency situations.

This position is fully in-person, and remote or hybrid work arrangements are not available.

Job responsibilities include:

• Process a high volume of pending calls for service to identify those which may include mental and behavioral health, substance use, Intellectual/Developmental Disability crises, and quality of life concerns using people-centered and trauma-informed crisis intervention strategies.

• Divert appropriate behavioral and mental health related calls for service away from unnecessary in-person responses or interactions with the criminal justice system.

• Screen and evaluate individuals experiencing behavioral health crises to determine appropriate interventions and response needs.

• Provide crisis intervention, de-escalation, and support for behavioral health-related calls without immediate public safety concerns.

• Obtain and relay critical collateral information to responders while utilizing de-escalation techniques to reduce risk of harm and stabilize situations prior to the arrival of first responders on scene.

• Coordinate referrals, resource connections, and follow-up outreach with individuals impacted by crises to support continuity of care and ongoing service needs.

• Collaborate closely with crisis response teams, dispatch personnel, emergency communication technicians, and first responders to support behavioral health-informed call management.

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation in accordance with clinical and departmental standards.

• Participate in supervision, meetings, training, and professional development while demonstrating resilience, adaptability, and effective self-care in a high-crisis environment.

• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned within the scope of the position and area of expertise.

Our ideal candidate will have:           

• Experience working in crisis settings with knowledge of crisis intervention, safety planning, harm-reduction, and crisis management techniques.

• Ability to build rapport and maintain a healthy working alliance with individuals experiencing high-risk or high-need situations.

• Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills with the ability to respond effectively under stressful conditions.

• Excellent verbal communication skills, including clear speech, active listening, and hearing accuracy.

• Ability to remain calm and professional while assisting frightened, emotional, or upset callers.

• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively interact with the public, partner agencies, and team members.

• Proficient computer and data entry skills, including the ability to type while communicating with callers.

• Ability to gather, analyze, and evaluate information to make informed recommendations and decisions.

• Strong attention to detail with the ability to multitask and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Commitment to teamwork, collaboration, and completing work accurately and timely.

Below are the minimum requirements used to determine eligibility for this position:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Marriage and Family Counseling, Counseling, or a closely related field.

• One (1) year experience of in crisis intervention, suicide and risk assessment, verbal de-escalation, and differential diagnosis working with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness, substance use, and other at-risk populations or One (1) year experience in a co-response related position.

• (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education.

• By position, possession of a Licensed Profession Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) under the provisions of the Colorado Revised Statutes for the State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor or Social Worker Examiners.

• Equivalent licensure issued in another state may be accepted in lieu of this requirement, provided that the applicant obtains Colorado licensure prior to the start date.

• Must obtain Basic life CPR and First Aid certification within the probationary period.

• Must pass an initial pre-security clearance screening and maintain CBI (Colorado Bureau of Investigation) Security and Privacy certification as a condition of employment.

• By position, requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.

• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

About Everything Else

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The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

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