Police Based Co-Responder

Jefferson Center for Mental Health; Wheat Ridge (CO); On-site; USD 57,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Jefferson Center for Mental Health is seeking a Police Based Co-Responder to provide early intervention assessment, crisis de-escalation, referrals, and clinical case management in collaboration with the contracted police department. This role includes training officers, liaising with community partners, and supporting families of individuals with mental illness.

Requires a Master’s degree with 1–2 years related experience; licensure preferred but license eligible.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, mental health, or related field with 1–2 years of related experience.
• Licensure (LCSW, LPC, LMFT) preferred but not required; license eligible required.
• Active driver’s license and acceptable Motor Vehicle Report required.

Responsibilities

• Accompany officers on mental health related calls in the community; triage and provide crisis intervention.
• Assess referrals to determine appropriateness for Jefferson Center services.
• Provide case management linking to services and crisis management for consumers.
• Deliver services in office, community, or consumer’s home as needed.
• Make referrals and liaise with community agencies and natural supports.
• Provide in-reach/out-reach at designated facilities as assigned.
• Collaborate with consumers, family members, and others to identify treatment needs.
• Develop community-based resources for social, vocational, and leisure skills.
• Maintain communication with other Jefferson Center programs and services.
• Coordinate for emergency services when indicated; risk/lethality assessment.
• Assist with benefits/navigation applications and resource access.
• Assist consumers with basic needs (housing, food, clothing, medical/dental care, legal, vocational, psychiatric services).
• Provide training for officers on de-escalation and mental health intervention.
• Provide family education to support clients and themselves.
• Participate in team meetings and supervision; adhere to practice guidelines.
• Ensure timely data collection and documentation; assist with reports.
• Meet paperwork deadlines and ensure case closings within targets.

Education

Master’s degree

License eligible

Active Driver's License

Job description

At Jefferson Center, it is our policy and our mission to be inclusive and mindful of the diversity of everyone who comes through our doors. We are passionate about building a community where mental health matters and equitable care is accessible to all races, ethnicities, abilities, socioeconomic statuses, ages, sexual orientations, gender expressions, religions, cultures, and languages.

The Police Based Co-Responder will provide early intervention assessment, referrals and clinical case management services to persons in the community that are identified by the contracted police department as possibly having mental health issues. To provide information, education, liaison, and transition services to various networks within Jefferson Center for Mental Health (Jefferson Center) and with federal, state, and community-based agencies and resources. To provide training and on-going education for officers to increase awareness of crisis de-escalation, mental health issues and intervention. To provide family members with necessary information and education to further assist persons with mental illness and for themselves.

Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience Required

• Master’s Degree, plus one to two years related experience and/or training.
• Licensure (LCSW, LPC, LMFT) preferred but not required. License eligible required.
• Active Driver's License and acceptable Motor Vehicle Report required.

Essential Duties

• Accompany officers on mental health related calls in the community. Triage, provide crisis intervention, assess needs and provide resources, link with treatment.
• Assessment of all referrals to determine appropriateness for services at Jefferson Center
• Provide case management services including linking to services, monitoring, follow-up, and crisis management for consumers
• Provide services to meet need: office based, community based, or in the consumer’s home
• Make appropriate referrals to and act as liaison with community agencies, service providers, and natural support systems
• Provide in-reach and out-reach at designated facilities as assigned/appropriate
• Collaboration with consumers, family members, and significant others in identifying strengths and needs in identifying treatment needs
• Work with consumer and family/support system for appropriate service delivery
• Provide assistance in developing community-based resources for social, vocational, and leisure skills
• Maintain communication and links with other Jefferson Center programs e.g. Access, Inpatient, Outpatient, Navigation and Wellness programs
• Coordination for emergency services when clinically indicated/medically necessary; risk/lethality assessment (including inpatient admission)
• Resource acquisition and assistance with application for benefits and entitlements in collaboration with Benefits/Navigation Team
• Assist consumers with basic needs such as housing, food, clothing, medical and dental care, legal, vocational, and psychiatric services
• Provide on-going training and educational opportunities for officers to increase awareness of de-escalation, mental health and intervention
• Provide family members with necessary information and education to further assist clients and themselves
• Participate in team meetings, clinical staffings, and clinical consultation as scheduled
• Utilize clinical practice guidelines, Jefferson Center and State Division of Mental Health standards for appropriate service delivery
• Provide any requested training and/or onboarding to new hires as requested by supervisor.
• Manage and maintain accurate and timely data collection and documentation database
• Work with management team on reports, presentations as assigned
• Submit 90% of all Progress-to-Date forms within 3 working days (team specific)
• Complete 95% of all paperwork by the due date
• Satisfactorily complete 90% of peer review charts needing corrections within 14 calendar days (only areas for which staff is responsible)
• Complete 95% of case closing within 90 days after last contact

Other Duties (Professional Growth/Development/Community/Relationships & Productivity Performance Measures)

• Attend mandatory in-services, compliance with individualized training plan as required
• Participate in supervision by coming prepared with an agenda. Report high risk/problem cases, and utilize a problem solving approach/utilize feedback
• Use language and behavior to promote dignity/respect with consumers, Jefferson Center staff and external customers
• Continually strive for self-improvement and be motivated to learn new skills to benefit consumer and Jefferson Center
• Attend supervision at times and intervals agreed upon with supervisor.
• Exhibit enthusiasm, courtesy, adaptability, flexibility, and spirit of cooperation in the work environment
• Maintain effective interpersonal relations with consumers, peers, subordinates, upper management, visitors and the general public
• Demonstrate cultural competency/awareness/skills in working with diverse caseload and utilizes Jefferson Center resources/trainings as needed
• Effectively respond to client/consumer needs and problems, initiate and maintain positive interactions, timely response to phone calls, pages, email, etc
• Work cooperatively with other community agencies, as appropriate, and in agreement with supervisor.
• Volunteer to work on Jefferson Center committees

Note: Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.

Salary Grade 51 - (Master’s Unlicensed Clinician)

$57,000 - $64,000 (paid hourly)*

• Jefferson Center pay is based on various factors including education level, licensure level, and years of relative experience.
• The salary range listed above is based on 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week).

Salary Grade 52 - (Licensed Clinician LCSW, LMFT, LPC)

$70,000 - $77,200 (paid salaried)*

Application Deadline

This position will remain posted until filled. We encourage applicants to apply by 10/14/2026 for priority consideration.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.