Police Crisis Counselor

TOWN OF APEX
invites applications for the position of:
POLICE CRISIS COUNSELOR

ABOUT THIS POSITION:
Expected Hiring Range: $23.74-$31.45/hr.
(A starting rate above this range may be considered for highly qualified individuals.)
Work Location: Apex Police Department
Schedule: Mon-Friday Business Hours-Subject to Recall for after-hours client/case needs
Posting Closing Date: March 17, 2022

WHO WE ARE:
Known as "The Peak of Good Living, the Town of Apex is a rapidly growing Wake County municipality with a current population of 70,000 and was ranked in 2015 as Money Magazine's Best Place to Live in America. Our current workforce is comprised of over 540 full-time employees and over 125 part-time/seasonal staff. Our Human Resources Department - with the support and confidence of Town leadership - is committed to providing best-in-class HR programs for our employees, with a mission to create a culture of empowerment and accountability that maximizes individual and organizational potential. We offer a generous benefits package, and have a highly competitive compensation program. More than that, the Town is an awesome place to work, as evidenced by the 96% job satisfaction rating received in the last employee opinion survey conducted with our employees.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING (DESCRIPTION):

This position is responsible for providing crisis intervention, mediation and referrals to enhance well-being of individuals with particular focus on those who are vulnerable, oppressed or living in poverty, and to provide training and consultation to Police Officers regarding best practices. Work includes responding to crisis calls for service, building partnerships with community social service resources, and providing case management and ongoing support to vulnerable individuals facing mental health issues or dealing with the effects of a traumatic event. Work is performed under the regular supervision of the Criminal Investigations Captain and is evaluated based on observations, conferences and review of records and reports.

A SAMPLE OF THE ESSENTIALS (DUTIES & TASKS):

• Responds to calls for service from citizens, Town employees or other community agencies where an individual’s mental health and stabilization is of concern or calls with potential for significant conflict; problem-solves with Officers on intervention strategies and makes appropriate referrals to community service providers; assists with tactical call outs, barricaded and suicidal subjects.
• Conducts training on crisis-related issues and assists officers with developing appropriate responses to individuals in crisis.
• Serves as a liaison between the Police Department and local mental health agencies and hospitals, social and human service agencies, emergency service providers and community groups with social service and crisis intervention resources; builds community partnerships to assist with crisis response and enhancing community safety.
• Provides case management and on-going support to individuals facing mental health challenges or dealing with the effects of a traumatic event and makes referrals to appropriate community resources.
• Works with the Victim Advocate in developing safety plans for victims of domestic violence, and assists with sexual assault follow-ups and reports as needed.
• Assists Police Officers with threat assessments and works to build rapport with individuals to assist in identifying unreported violence, identify drug dependencies and identify missing persons.
• Conducts follow-ups of all criminal incident reports and CAD calls for non-intimate partner domestic violence related incidents or any mental health crisis calls; provides information and assistance and researches and refers individuals to appropriate services.
• Initiates, completes and maintains program records and documentation in accordance with Department policies and procedures.
• Attends meetings related to assigned activities.

Additional Job Duties

• Performs other related duties as needed.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED (MINIMUM MUST-HAVES):

Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license. Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor’s degree in social work or psychology or related field and considerable experience working in human services/social services and experience in crisis work; or any equivalent combination of training and experience, which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

WITH THE ABILITY TO...(KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES):

• Thorough knowledge of crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies and best practices for mental health, trauma and abuse interventions.
• General knowledge of community and social service resources for mental health, substance abuse and juvenile delinquency issues and ability to collaborate with community resources.
• Ability to conduct accurate threat assessments.
• Ability to solve problems and make sound decisions quickly.
• Ability to assist with the initial stabilization of a person in crisis and link them with appropriate community resources.
• Ability to measure and evaluate outcomes of community- based programs.
• Ability to advocate for vulnerable individuals and build community partnerships to respond to their needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other community agencies, supervisors, employees and citizens of a diverse community.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to perform the basic life operational skills of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform light work, exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible among of force constantly to move objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, operate a computer terminal and do extensive reading

WHAT WE OFFER:

Not only is the Town "The Peak of Good Living", but it's also a great place to work! We strive to "reach the peak" of being an employer of choice by providing competitive salaries and excellent benefits, including:

• Paid medical, dental, vision, & life insurance for employees
• Contributions to the NC Local Government Pension and NC401k Retirement Plans
• Traditional sick & vacation leave
• Paid parental, caregiver, community involvement, and bereavement leave
• 13 paid holidays plus an additional floating holiday
• Longevity pay
• Tuition assistance
• Expansive wellness program, and more!

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS:
This position requires successfully completing a pre-employment drug test, background verifications including references, a psychological examination, criminal & fingerprint check & driver's license checks prior to employment.

The Town of Apex provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political affiliation or marital status, veteran status, or genetic information.