Crisis Response Clinician, Associate

Posting number: 26-06018

Department: Community Safety

Job classification: Community Safety Clinician, Associate

Posting type: Open

Categories: Community Services, Health Services, Mental Health, Public Health, Public Safety, Professional, Human Services, Counseling

Summary

Work. Serve. Thrive. With the City of Durham

Work. Serve. Thrive. With the City of Durham 

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Hiring Range: $64,737 – $75,000  

Salaries are determined based upon your education and/or relevant certifications and work experience. 

Hours: Full-time with benefits, 40 hours per week, 12 hour shifts, 4 hours of administrative work time, and a 6 week rotational schedule. Shift hours will remain the same unless an employee discusses a change. Responders will work one out of every three weekends. They will also have a six to seven day break every six weeks (built into their schedule).   More information on schedule will be given during the interview process.  

In 2022, the Durham Community Safety Department (DCSD) launched four 911 crisis response programs—collectively known as HEART (Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams). Please visit our website and dashboard, watch this CNN clip, listen to this NPR segment, or read this piece from The Assembly. In 2025, DCSD has added a new division focused on Stabilization Services. This expansion represents an exciting new phase in DCSD’s development—and a thrilling opportunity to pair alternative response programs with stabilization services that can better support Neighbors.

ABOUT THE ROLE
DCSD is currently hiring for Crisis Response Clinicians interested in our three program areas below.

• Crisis Call Diversion embeds licensed clinicians into Durham’s 911 call center to triage, assess, and respond remotely to behavioral health related calls that can be resolved over the phone. It also supports in-person response and provides follow-up check-ins when appropriate for people who previously encountered emergency services. Its primary goal is to provide individuals with quality remote care and/or connect individuals to in-person care.
• The Community Response Team program sends 2-3 person teams—consisting of a Crisis Response Clinician, a Peer Support Specialist, and/or an EMT—to 911 calls for service involving behavioral health and quality of life concerns. CRT responds in-person without law enforcement (responders report feeling safe on over 99 percent of calls). Crisis Response Clinicians are responsible for behavioral health assessment, crisis intervention, and de-escalation in collaboration with their teammates. Crisis Response Clinicians act as team leads.
• Co-Response dispatches a Crisis Response Clinician with a Crisis Intervention Trained (CIT) police officer to higher risk calls involving behavioral and mental health, substance use, and conflict mediation needs. The Crisis Response Clinician is responsible for behavioral health assessments, therapeutic interventions, and de-escalation in collaboration with the CIT officer.

Examples of duties

• Respond to 911 calls involving behavioral health, substance use, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and quality-of-life crises using people-centered, trauma-informed strategies.
• Collaborate closely with crisis response team members to assess needs, de-escalate situations, and provide therapeutic interventions.

• Screen and evaluate individuals in crisis, develop care plans, and identify barriers to treatment.
• Provide follow-up support to individuals and others affected, ensuring connection to appropriate services through warm handoffs or direct transport when necessary.
• Maintain strong knowledge of DSM-5 criteria, particularly for substance use, severe