City of Tampa

This position performs intermediate work in the field of behavioral health issues, crisis intervention, risk assessment, and advocacy services.

An employee in this class is responsible for performing tasks of average difficulty and is responsible for performing analysis of police department mental health calls for service and cases to identify patterns, trends, and common characteristics. Under general supervision, the position coordinates and manages daily assignments with non-governmental field clinicians; provides crisis oriented clinical services within the community, to include providing assistance to emergency personnel in dealing with crisis involving major events (individual, family or community) such as mental illness, addiction, hostage situations, deaths including suicides, overdoses, and child deaths, etc. and to emergency personnel in dealing with critical incidents as indicated. Work is reviewed through conferences, oral and written reports, and observation of results obtained.

Provide crisis intervention and advocacy services; respond to crisis calls from Police; provide supportive services, resource connection, and follow-up as needed; utilize local resources to respond to corresponding call types.

Accompany law enforcement officers to assist individuals with behavioral health issues, crisis intervention, risk assessment, and other social service needs; assist the population served with successfully accessing community resources based on individual need.

Assist and/or provide back-up support with screening, referral, and crisis services as needed and directed by supervisor. May provide after-hours emergency services on a 24-hour, rotating basis, such as telephone consultation, crisis intervention, and pre-hospital screening examinations.

Provide outreach, assessment, engagement and follow along support to individuals in need; make referrals to appropriate service providers and coordinate service delivery.

Follow-up with identified individuals and/or emergency medical professionals and social service providers; advocate on behalf of individuals and caregivers and ensure smooth transition and engagement with services.

Collect information and ensure data entry into program tracking system; maintains caseload records of investigations, evaluations, treatment plans, referrals, and follow-up reports; analyze program, including identifying trends and tracking target goals and performance measures; prepare recommendations and reports for improving existing and development of new programs; prepare status reports and outcome summaries and other documentation are up-to-date and justify the services provided.

Promote best practices in treatment approaches, support systems and interventions.

Prepare, submit and/or present written materials and reports for a variety of audiences, including service providers, medical personnel, Jail, Courts, attorneys, police officers and supervisors, Department Directors, Mayor, or City Council.

Provide information to courts and attorneys, as needed; may attend and testify at court hearings or other legal proceedings.

Participate in program development and ongoing program evaluation; develop metrics to measure the effectiveness of programs and compliance with funding requirements; act as integral part of the team and help design, implement, maintain, and evaluate all aspects of this program, consistent with Division, Department and City goals, and in compliance with applicable regulations and laws.

Performs outreach to community including, but not limited to: distribution of posters and brochures, presentations to local groups and participation in public awareness events.

Assist in the evaluation of operations of the programs administered, recommending improvements, assisting in implementing changes and objectives, participating in other task forces as required, and attending professional training.

Participates in meetings and committees led by other advocacy service providers and systems as the City representative; provides consultation and support from other systems in the community. Maintains strict confidentiality of all medically related information.

Performs related work as required.

Extensive knowledge of: standard social services practices and resources; maintenance of confidentiality; mental health, risk assessment and management, crisis intervention, and de-escalation skills; general injury and illness pathophysiology and standard treatment; basic first aid; general patient assessment; computers and various software programs including word processing and spreadsheets.  

Working knowledge of: human behavior and performance; principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance; group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins; principles and processes for providing customer and personal services; department rules, regulations and applicable standards; use of computers where required; medical reference resources; effective crisis prevention techniques; rules, regulations, procedures, and functions of the department or area to which assigned in addition to appropriate municipal, state, and federal codes, ordinances, resolutions, regulations, and legislation.  

Ability and skill in: manage, and prioritize routine, specialized and complex assignments and problems; counseling employees on difficult health issues; think critically; understand and follow complex oral and written instructions; communicate effectively with members of all health care disciplines, employees, and others; to work in a variety of natural environment settings frequently under very chaotic and/or potentially dangerous conditions with police presence; work independently and as a member of a team; establish and maintain effective working relationships with department representatives, third party administrators, vendors, employees and others; maintain records and prepare reports; set priorities, meet deadlines and complete multiple tasks simultaneously.  

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, psychiatric nursing, or a degree related to the core functions of this position and three (3) years of increasingly responsible mental health experience in assisting individuals with severe and persistent behavioral health issues and/or social service needs to include accessing services and support counseling and/or crisis intervention with mental health, sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence and trauma, one (1) year of experience in program coordination or planning and case management.

Possession of a valid drivers’ license required.  A valid State of Florida licensed mental health counselor and/or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) per FSS 491.

During periods when the Mayor issues an emergency declaration for the City of Tampa, all employees may be required to work in preparation, response or recovery activities related to the stated emergency.