City of Durham
Work. Serve. Thrive. With the City of Durham
Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.
Hiring Range: $62,608-$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 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-up check‑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.
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.
Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or related human services field or must be 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)
Two years of experience related to assignment.
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 track record of demonstrating initiative and sound judgment when handling ambiguity.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.
Hiring Range: $62,608-$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 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-up check‑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.
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.
Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or related human services field or must be 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)
Two years of experience related to assignment.
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 track record of demonstrating initiative and sound judgment when handling ambiguity.
#J-18808-Ljbffr