Licensed, Behavioral Health Clinician/Law Enforcement Co-Responder - Gwinnett

View Point Health

The Law Enforcement/Co-Responder Program is a partnership with Gwinnett, Rockdale, and Newton County law enforcement agencies and View Point Health aimed at reducing the incarceration of mentally ill individuals and linking them with treatment. The programs pairs behavioral health clinicians with officers and deputies to respond together in situation of mental health crisis. The clinician performs brief assessments consulting with the officers to determine appropriate dispositions for services, arrests, diversion from arrests, diversion from unnecessary emergency department visits, or some combination of criminal justice/behavioral health treatment involvement. The clinician also facilitates training for police officers to increase competencies in intervening with a behavioral health crisis. The clinician will work in conjunction with and collaboratively as part of the Emergency Service Provider.

Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Provide rapid crisis intervention and assessment to individuals who have come to the attention the of police, on an as-needed basis.
• Provide face to face or telephonic follow-up with persons served when clinically indicated.
• Accompany police officers on patrol as allowed by officer in charge.
• Work in collaboration with police to ensure that persons with behavioral health needs are appropriately diverted from the criminal justice system and referred for appropriate behavioral health services.
• Work in collaboration with VPH outpatient clinics and other programs to ensure the individuals are linked to services.
• Provide and/or coordinate, as needed training to police personnel regarding behavioral health, substance use, trauma spectrum disorders, and other behavioral health topics as identified.
• Compile and submit monthly statistics.
• Act as primary liaison mental health community providers and Law Enforcement.
• Establish and maintain regularly scheduled, and as needed, contact with the Court Clinicians to optimize appropriate dispositions and outcomes.
• Establish and maintain regularly scheduled Community Police Collaborative meetings of all Stakeholders and community providers.
• Perform needed case management duties aimed are reducing future encounters with law enforcement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Hours

• Full-time 40 hours.
• Days and shift are dependent on Law Enforcement agency needs.
• Participation in an on-call/afterhours rotation w/ addition financial compensation.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree in a mental health, social work, or a closely related field AND a minimum of an associate licensure in the State of Georgia as professional counselor or a clinical social worker (LAPC or LMSW)

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Master’s degree in a mental health, social work, or a closely related field AND a minimum of an associate licensure in the State of Georgia as professional counselor or a clinical social worker (LAPC or LMSW).
• Experience working with the Severe and Persistently Mentally Ill population, ACT teams, or individual identified as being frequent users of ERs, Psychiatric Hospitals, Crisis Stabilization Units, and the criminal justice system.
• Fully licensed as a mental health professional (LPC, LCSW, etc).
• Case management experience.
• Experience working in a high stress, fast-pace environment with a very emotionally and physically changing population.
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to Multi-task and manage time.
• Experience in law enforcement or a forensic setting

Requirements/Competencies:

• Experience working in jail settings and with individual in the criminal justice system.
• Experience and Knowledge of the involuntary hospitalization process
• Must be able to lift 20 pounds.
• Requires long periods of sitting/standing.
• Must have valid Georgia driver’s license and Motor Vehicle Record in accordance with company policy.
• Candidates for selection must pass a criminal background check (including fingerprinting)
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen and subject to random drug screens.
• Any combination of training and experience, which would have enabled the applicant to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities Note: Some positions may require a valid driver's license.

Benefits (for qualified employees):

• State Health Benefits Package (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, long-term care, legal services, flexible spending accounts)
• Paid New Hire Training
• Company contributes additional 7.5% of salary to 401(a) Retirement Plan
• No employee deduction for Social Security
• Additional benefits such as legal services, Employee Assistance Program and discounted tickets to attractions, shopping, technology and travel
• Supervision, training, and continuing education opportunities available

View Point Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer:  View Point Health recruits qualified candidates for positions in View Point Health programs throughout its service area.  It is the policy of View Point Health to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.