Mobile Crisis Responder, Husky Assist

Job Description

As a UW employee you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity intellectual excitement artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Division of Campus Community Safety (DCCS) unifies front-line public safety units across the University for a holistic approach to campus community safety innovation in approaches and clarity in leadership responsibility and accountability. Key units include UW Emergency Management SafeCampus the Seattle Campus UW Police Department (UWPD) and a new behavioral health mobile response team: Husky Assist. Division staff work daily in partnership with units across and outside the UW system to create safer campus environments prepare for potential natural or human-made disasters and respond appropriately to incidents.

The University of Washingtons Seattle Campus is proud to be forming Husky Assist Mobile Response Team which is an initiative developed by the Division and campus partners. This specialized team is comprised of mental health professionals who will serve as first responders or co-responders to UW students faculty and staff experiencing an acute behavioral health crisis. Husky Assist will provide timely response and in-person intervention crisis management de-escalation and referral using culturally informed practices at all levels. Key campus partners include the UW Housing & Food Services SafeCampus the UW Counseling Center Husky Health UWPD and UW Medicine.

We have an outstanding opportunity for a Mobile Crisis Responder.

Reporting to the Husky Assist Mobile Response Team Program Manager this position will respond to urgent behavioral health needs across the UW Seattle campus for any students faculty staff and visitors including response to youth & children under the age of 18 who are on campus for a UW-sanctioned purpose. Across the country campus response programs typically serve students at much higher rates than the other populations on campus and we anticipate that will be true for this program as well. While encounters could be with unhoused people UW employs other resources for crisis calls involving unhoused individuals on the Seattle campus.

Husky Assist may be mobilized alone or as a co-response with UW Police depending on the nature of the request. The formation of Husky Assist is an acknowledgment that there are many crisis-related situations that may not require the presence of armed law enforcement but because of the ambiguous nature of crisis situations it is essential that this position coordinate closely with UW Police. Individuals hired for this role must be comfortable working with police on response activities.

As this is a new program ideal candidates will need a flexible collaborative mindset a capacity for innovation and a willingness to embrace change and process improvement as the program launches and grows to fit the needs of an expansive and diverse campus.

As an integral member of DCCS the Husky Assist Mobile Response team members ensure culturally informed crisis intervention including connections with support resources. This work will not only enhance the universitys immediate response to mental health emergencies but also contribute to long-term improvements in student and employee retention academic and workplace performance and overall campus life. By coordinating with existing services and developing strong partnerships this role will establish Husky Assist as an essential component of the Universitys support network.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Direct Response and Intervention

Provide direct crisis intervention stabilization and resource referral to campus members of all ages who present with a behavioral health concern or are in an active state of crisis while adhering to the parameters of UW policies and procedures. Staff hired for this role will have ongoing supervisory support including in the moment as well as routine supervision. Husky Assist team members will independently intake assess coordinate care and plan for client disposition apply sound judgement on when to seek supervisory support for ambiguous situations higher risk clients or high-profile events.

• Coordinate directly with law enforcement fire/EMS and dispatch to determine who will take the lead on an incident response and adjust role and/or interventions throughout as needed

• Maintain strong working knowledge of culturally- and age- appropriate community resources processes interventions and requirements including but not limited to:

oMental health crisis intervention

oSuicide risk assessment

oInterpersonal violence

oAbuse/neglect of children and vulnerable adults

oCrisis intervention

oSubstance use

oGrief counseling

oHarm reduction

oTrauma-informed care

oDe-escalation

• Assist in the arrangement of transportation to emergency and crisis facilities when needed based upon the safety needs of the individual. This could include transporting the person in a university-owned vehicle.

Partnership and Outreach

• One goal of Husky Assist is to be a trusted care partner throughout the UW Seattle campus. As some groups may have more distrust of UW systems and programs Husky Assist team members will continuously work to proactively engage and support those groups.

• Serve as an ambassador for Husky Assist including taking initiative in engaging campus members to market and promote the service staffing tabling events and developing and launching presentations for departments about Husky Assist.

• Promote effective working relationships across campus partners including staying informed about cross-campus issues and offering Husky Assist support if indicated and establishing regular communication with higher volume referral sources and potential referral sources who may be more reluctant to engage

• Develop and maintain positive relationships with agencies providing care or assistance to clients served by Husky Assist. This includes initiating care coordination and engagement across various care partners both on- and off-campus understanding (and identifying new programs) on- and off-campus roles/referral processes/wait times and making appropriate referrals.

Program Administration

• Identify and participate in quality improvement efforts. As a new program we will have a very strong focus on data gathering and creating quality measures to ensure maximum program impact. Team members will be expected to maintain high attention to detail with data collection and create/identify areas of improvement and work collaboratively on methods that progress towards program goals.

• Complete clinical documentation in accordance with Husky Assist/UW policies.

• Comply with all aspects of RCW 70.02 and FERPA in handling sensitive medical information and comply with all university policies.

• Mentor new staff as assigned.

• Actively participate in the development of yearly performance goals and implementation plan.

• Attend and participate in supervision and departmental meetings including committees as assigned.

• Participate in data collection and quality improvement activities as assigned.

Special Projects and Process Improvement

• Husky Assist call volumes are expected to fluctuate and team members will be assigned special projects that will contribute to either internal program development or general campus operations. Team members may be expected to take the lead on special projects as assigned by the Program Manager.

Lead Responsibilities:

• Husky Assist team members will be expected to take the lead on determining response activities while on shift including coordinating with UWPD EMS and UWPD dispatch as indicated for each call.

• Special projects lead as indicated by the project.

• Lead quality improvement efforts while also collaborating with other team members and program manager.

• Identify new resources that come online that could benefit clients and educate team members about the essential details of those resources.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters Degree in behavioral sciences (counseling social work or related).

• Agency affiliated counselor registration licensed (or higher-level credential e.g. LMCA LMFT LICSW and etc.).

• Two years of paid professional experience in the direct delivery of professional mental health care. NOTE: Unpaid internship or practicum experience will not qualify as paid professional experience.

Desired Qualifications:

• Commitment to multiculturally informed care models and experience working with a diverse community.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments.

• Experience working with underrepresented communities and individuals.

• Clinical experience working with youth/young adults.

Conditions of Employment:

• May occasionally lift /move up to 25 lbs.

• Must be able to quickly respond to emergency situations including some running biking and climbing of several flights of stairs. The Seattle campus is large and while the team will have use of a UW vehicle team members may walk significant distances and navigate stairs slopes in all weather.

• This position is designated as one that performs an essential function. This means that the positions incumbent must continue to report to work as directed in the event that the University suspends operations because of severe weather natural disaster or other emergency condition; must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions.

• Possession of a valid motor vehicle drivers license; able to meet criteria to drive State-owned vehicles.

• Ability to obtain First Aid and CPR certifications (including use of AED) within 6 months of hire.

• Ability to obtain counselor registration or licensure within 90 days of hire.

Working Environmental Conditions:

• The Husky Assist teams hours are 5 days a week 11:00 am to 8:30 pm. Shifts will bein a 5/4/9 format (5 shifts of 9 hours one week 4 shifts of 9 hours the second week). Notably as a new program with evolving needs schedule changes are possible and will be driven by the campus need. Working hours may also include upstaffing during anticipated service peaks outside of regularly assigned shifts as well as the potential to respond to events outside of normal business hours.

Compensation Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

Pay Range Maximum:

Other Compensation:

Benefits:

Temporary or Regular

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

Union/Bargaining Unit:

About the UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier return they enjoy outstanding benefits opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity intellectual excitement artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race color creed religion national origin citizenship sex pregnancy age marital status sexual orientation gender identity or expression genetic information disability or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process contact the Disability Services Office at or .

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.