Variable Case Manager PREVAIL

City of Lakewood, CO; Lakewood (CO); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Part time

Job summary

The City of Lakewood, CO is seeking a part-time, non-benefited Case Manager for the PREVAIL program within the Lakewood Police Department. The role focuses on helping individuals divert from the justice system by linking them to social services and resources, with emphasis on trauma-informed care and client wellbeing.

Responsibilities include direct client support, outreach, documentation, and collaboration with law enforcement and community partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree as listed in Education.
• Two or more years of experience with diverse populations facing substance use, mental health, or housing insecurities.
• Colorado driver’s license and acceptable driving record.

Responsibilities

• Engages program participants across settings to establish rapport and connect them with services.
• Provides direct support and services to clients enrolled in PREVAIL.
• Applies trauma-informed care and Motivational Interviewing to identify goals.
• Maintains case notes and documents accurately for supervision.
• Collaborates with police, prosecutors, public defenders and social services.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Motivational Interviewing

Case management

De-escalation

Documentation

Multi-tasking

Collaboration with law enforcement

Client outreach

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, Criminal Justice or directly related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

CAD/RMS systems

Job description

HIRING RANGE: $33.46 - $47.01/hour

This position provides case management services to individuals that become clients of the Lakewood Police Department Pre-Arrest, Evaluation, Intervention, and Linkage program (PREVAIL). PREVAIL is a collaborative program involving local police, prosecutors, public defenders, Lakewood High Schools and social service providers designed to divert individuals engaged in low-level criminal behavior into social services and resources to help support them and provide an alternative to becoming further involved in the criminal justice system. This position focuses on the overall health and wellbeing of juvenile and adults involved in criminal justice due to their unmet needs. The program is voluntary and serves individuals in a noncoercive manner with the goal of improving quality of life, reducing recidivism, and reducing criminal activity in the Lakewood community. The case manager will interact directly with our LPD Community Action Team comprised of police agents and civilians.

The City of Lakewood is currently recruiting variable employees for this position. A variable employee is an at-will employee who works in a seasonal or temporary capacity. Their work schedule is based on business need. This position would be a part-time non benefitted position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential duties of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Engages program participants across a variety of settings — including field operations alongside Lakewood Police Department (LPD) agents while wearing protective gear, detention facilities, and social service provider locations — to establish rapport and connect individuals with appropriate services.
• Provides direct support and services to clients enrolled in the program.
• Applies trauma‐informed care principles and Motivational Interviewing techniques to help participants identify personal goals. Conducts outreach by phone and in person to assess basic needs and eligibility for services.
• Builds rapport and maintains ongoing professional relationships with individuals requiring support, facilitating connections to long‐term care and community resources.
• Participates in regular case supervision and consultation, utilizing a problem‐solving, solution‐focused approach.
• Maintains an up‐to‐date and accessible inventory of community resources and provides referrals to community members when appropriate.
• Interacts with the public with tact, professionalism, and thoroughness while representing the PREVAIL team and the Lakewood Police Department.
• Operates department‐issued computer equipment and remains proficient with relevant software applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Computer‐Aided Dispatch/Records Management Systems.
• Participates in community collaboration meetings to address barriers faced by clients and to support LPD’s broader community engagement efforts.
• Attends position‐related trainings and contributes to ongoing professional development opportunities for the team.

Reporting Relationships

Supervision Received

General direction received from the PREVAIL Program Coordinator and supervision received from the Sergeant assigned to the Community Action Team.

Supervision Exercised

None.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates an ability to work collaboratively within a police department and alongside community-based professional staff.
• Ability to multi-task and effectively prioritize situations as they come up appropriately.
• Well versed in de‐escalation, mental health first aid and ability to stay regulated during crisis situations and make sound decisions
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment through a community‐based setting
• Ability to multi-task and effectively prioritize situations as they come up
• Experience working and collaborating with law enforcement officials professionally
• Experience in case management setting addressing multiple levels of needs for individuals or their families
• Experience with thorough documentation of case notes
• Familiarity and comfort working in different out of office settings

Education and Experience (Must represent the minimum required for this position)

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, Criminal Justice or directly related field
• Experience:
  • Two (2) or more years of experience working with diverse populations who are experiencing substance use, mental health, and‐or housing insecurities preferred.

A combination of education and experience may be substituted for position requirements

Certification/Licenses/Specialized Training

Valid Colorado driver’s license and acceptable driving record

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Must successfully complete and maintain required state or departmental physical standards and certifications.

• Ability to wear and carry ballistic vest, work cell phone, police radio and utilize it to communicate with law enforcement partners during working hours.
• Extended times of standing in uncomfortable environments on-scene.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

LIGHT WORK

Exerting up to 30 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Physical Demands

• Bend or position self to move items from higher place to lower place or vice versa
• Sit, stand or be stationary
• Talk, hear, converse, communicate, or exchange information
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, balance, turn or twist, all of which may include awkward positions on both even and uneven terrain
• Use of hands and/or fingers in a repetitive motion to handle, pinch, grasp, move, feel, and inspect, etc.
• Walk, ascend, descend on both even and uneven terrain
• Vision to include distance, depth perception, peripheral and color

Environmental Conditions may include

• Office settings

Physical Requirements – No Physical Needed

• Lift, carry, push, pull, move, or positions from all levels up to 30 pounds with or without assistance

The City of Lakewood is a drug‐free workplace that provides employment opportunities in compliance with all pertinent federal, state, and local laws. All Lakewood employees are expected to work and complete all tasks in a safe manner consistent with training, standard operating procedures, City or Department policies, and common sense. Working in a safe manner includes the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and complying with all City and/or Department safety rules. Horseplay on‐the‐job is strictly forbidden. The failure to work in a safe manner, use PPE, follow standard operating procedure, or comply with a safety rule will result adverse employment consequences ranging from verbal discipline to termination from employment, including any applicable reduction in benefits under the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act. Employees are also expected to encourage safe work practices by all co‐employees, and to report any unsafe work practices immediately to a supervisor.

The City of Lakewood celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion in all areas of our workforce. Accordingly, the city is committed to creating, nurturing and sustaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our community and employees.

Background and reference checks will be conducted for all regular and some variable/seasonal positions.