ACS- Community Responder

Community Safety Department; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Safety Department in Albuquerque seeks a dedicated community support specialist to assist individuals in need of non-medical aid and connect them with services. This safety-sensitive role involves coordination with public safety partners, engagement at neighborhood meetings, and documentation of incidents to support informed decisions.

You will promote safety, build relationships with residents, and help connect communities to resources while operating dispatch and related systems

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in psychology, criminal justice or social work.
• Two years of experience in social services or related field.
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist persons in need of non-medical assistance (inebriation, homelessness, addiction, mental health).
• Provide support to public safety departments during incidents involving the ACS Department.
• Assist persons experiencing homelessness with connection to services by coordinating with network providers.
• Attend community neighborhood meetings to promote safety and well-being.
• Visit and engage with communities; develop relationships; connect residents with resources; refer to organizations.
• Document incidents, provide data, and prepare reports on community activities.
• Operate public safety computer dispatch and related systems.

Skills

Bilingual (Spanish/English)

Community outreach

Education

Associate's degree in psychology, criminal justice or social work

Job description

Provide support to community members in need of assistance related to inebriation, homelessness, addiction and mental health; provide assistance to public safety departments with coordination and control of incidents involving the Albuquerque Community Safety Department; attend community neighborhood meetings to promote safety and well-being; develop relationships; promote safety and well-being and connect communities/residents with resources.

This is a safety sensitive position subject to random drug/alcohol testing.

Job descriptions are intended to present a general list of tasks/duties performed by employees within this job classification. Job Descriptions are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Assist persons in need of non-medical assistance such as inebriation, homelessness, addiction, mental health, etc.
2. Provide support to other public safety departments with coordination and control of incidents involving the ACS Department.
3. Assist persons experiencing homelessness with connection to services by coordinating with a variety of network providers.
4. Attend community neighborhood meetings to promote safety and well-being.
5. Visit and engage with communities; develop community relationships; connect communities/residents with resources; may recommend referrals to organizations who provide continuum of care.
6. Document incidents, provide data, and prepare a variety of reports regarding community and neighborhood activities.
7. Participate in a variety of diverse activities both within the agency and in the community.
8. Operate public safety computer dispatch and other related computer systems.
9. May provide non-medical, voluntary transportation to residents in order to connect them to the appropriate community resources, if appropriate.
10. Assess a variety of non-emergency situations involving unknown individuals/circumstances and provide appropriate support or refer/request appropriate support; alert first responders of situations requiring an emergency response.
11. Assist and coordinate with fire/rescue, law enforcement, area hospitals and other partnering agencies during the referral process.
12. May respond to calls from mobile crisis team or other ACS Responders to provide support to the unhoused population.
13. May respond to 311 requests for assistance with needle and drug paraphernalia on public property; address and evaluate situation to provide a safe resolution; coordinate with other departments as needed.
14. Provide traffic control assistance as needed for situations related to the ACS Department.
15. May respond to 311 complaints related to abandoned vehicles; visit vehicle location; identify resolution; and coordinate appropriate action to address issue.
16. May perform CPR & First Aid, as situation requires.
17. Ensure sound and effective safety practices.

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Attend and participate in group meetings and trainings.
2. Perform related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Education and experience directly related to the minimum requirements below may be interchangeable on a year for year basis.

Associate's degree in psychology, criminal justice or social work;

and

Two (2) years of experience in social services , behavioral health, public health, emergency management, criminal justice, human services, law enforcement, emergency communications/dispatch, corrections, or a related behavioral health or public safety field, psychology, counseling, behavioral health, public health, emergency management, criminal justice, sociology, or a related health or public safety discipline.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Possession of a valid New Mexico Driver's License, or the ability to obtain by date of hire.
• Possession of a City Operator's Permit (COP) within six (6) months from date of hire.
• Successful completion of a security background check conducted by the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
• Work flexible hours, including weekends, nights and holidays as required.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred.
• One (1) year probationary period.

Environmental:

Field environment; travel from site to site; exposure to heat, cold, and environmental hazards.

Physical:

Essential and supplemental functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for standing, walking, kneeling, crouching, and climbing for extended periods of time. Must be able to operate while wearing PPE, such as Body Armor, gloves, mask, and protective outer clothing.