Crisis Response Clinician, Associate

City of Durham; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Vacation and sick leave

Health, dental, vision insurance

Retirement plans

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

City of Durham is hiring Crisis Response Clinicians to join the Heart program family. The role involves responding to behavioral health crises, triaging on 911 calls, and coordinating remote or in-person care with a paired team.

You will work as a clinician with opportunities to lead and collaborate across CRT and Co‑Response efforts. Minimum qualifications include a Master’s degree or active licensure in social work, psychology, or related field, plus 1 year of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or professional licensure in social work, psychology, or related field.
• At least one year of relevant experience.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality (HIPAA).
• Must be able to travel within Durham and walk/stand up to 75% of shifts.

Responsibilities

• Respond to 911 calls involving behavioral health and related crises.
• Collaborate with crisis response team members for assessment and de‑escalation.
• Develop care plans and connect individuals to services via warm handoffs or transport.
• Document interventions in accordance with program and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain knowledge of DSM‑5 criteria for SMI/SPMI and developmental disabilities.
• Engage in supervision, trainings, and professional development.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Trauma-informed care

HIPAA confidentiality

Multilingual (Spanish preferred)

Adaptability

Education

Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or related human services field

Licensed or provisionally licensed: LCAS/A, LCMHC/A, LCSW/A, LMFT/A

Job description

Position Description

Work. Serve. Thrive. With the City of Durham

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

Hiring Range: $64,787 – $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‑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.

Duties/Responsibilities

• 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 mental illness (SMI/SPMI), and intellectual/developmental disabilities.
• Document all interventions accurately and in compliance with program and regulatory requirements.
• Build and maintain positive, cooperative relationships with clients, staff, community partners, and agencies.
• Participate in supervision, case conferences, trainings, and professional development activities.
• Contribute to departmental planning and culture, with a focus on effective crisis response.
• Demonstrate resilience, self‑care, and wellness practices essential to first responder roles.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Minimal Education includes (1) of the following;
• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or related human services field.
• Provisionally licensed or fully licensed professional within any of the following areas:
• Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS/A)
• Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC/A)
• Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW/A)
• Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT/A)
• One year of experience related to assignment.
• A track record of demonstrating initiative and sound judgment when handling ambiguity.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, and particularly HIPAA confidentiality, at all times.
• Must be able to travel to and from worksite and other locations within Durham
• Must be able to walk/stand up to 75% of any assigned shift.
• A commitment to and interest in the mission of the department: to enhance public safety through community‑centered approaches to prevention and intervention as alternatives to policing and the criminal legal system.
• A commitment to equity, which could include having already attended racial equity trainings.

The proposed/anticipated start date for this position will be September 8th, 2026

Additional Preferred Skills

• Two or more years of crisis response experience.
• Experience working with Peer Support Specialists or other individuals with lived experience with behavioral and mental health, substance use, and/or Intellectual Developmental Disability crises.
• Prior experience in outreach/engagement to populations experiencing frequent behavioral and mental health, substance use, and/or Intellectual Developmental Disability crises.
• Strong knowledge and experience with service delivery documentation (including counseling/treatment planning), HIPAA/Confidentiality standards, utilization review, and data management.
• Ability to speak two or more languages, with a high priority on Spanish.
• Familiarity with Durham health systems and community resources/services for physical health behavioral and mental health, substance use, Intellectual Developmental Disability, family dynamics, sexual/physical abuse, Veterans' Services, vocational rehabilitation, housing, justice involvement, and other services.
• Advanced collaboration and interpersonal skills with the ability to build consensus and promote the exchange of information among team members and partners.
• A commitment to, knowledge of, and affection for Durham and its communities, which could include living in Durham.

Benefits – General Full-Time Employees

• 12-13 paid holidays per year
• 13 standard work days of vacation per year
• 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
• 2 weeks paid military leave per year
• Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
• State and City retirement plans
• Short and long term disability plans
• Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
• City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
• Paid funeral leave
• Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
• Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
• 48 hours for volunteer work each year*
• 4 hours parental leave each year
• Workman's Compensation Insurance
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan

Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Dental and life insurance, after one year of service
• Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service