Co-Responder RTD

WellPower envisions a community where every person’s mental health is fostered through strength, resilience and hope. We empower people to overcome barriers and achieve lasting well-being through collaborative behavioral health care and comprehensive support. 

Our Guiding Principles:

• Person Centered. We honor people’s identities, lived experience and journeys and treat every person with the dignity we all deserve.  


• Exceptional Care. We offer compassionate, innovative services that meet people where they are, from immediate support to long-term recovery.


• Integrity. We operate from a deep foundation of ethical, accountable practices in all we do.


• Organizational Resilience. We meet the moment and adapt to changing contexts with collaborative creativity, agile business processes, and financial stewardship.

Position Summary: 

The Co-Responder program consists of a partnership between the Regional Transportation District (RTD) and WellPower. The Co-Responder program supports an overall effort to expand specialized law enforcement and behavioral health strategies tailored to meet the needs of people with behavioral/mental health concerns in the Denver community. The Co-Responder Unit aims to reduce the number of people with mental health issues in the jail system; to improve information sharing and coordination, as appropriate, across systems and service providers; and to reduce overall costs relating to people with mental or behavioral health concerns, including the use of emergency services. Clinicians work in close partnership with the Denver Police Department, responding to calls involving people who suffer from mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use issues. Clinicians are trained to assist people in crisis and provide the most effective services for resolution. Clinicians and officers collaborate to provide treatment in a format that best decreases current stressors and replaces them with long term community-based supports. Co-Responders also help identify community resources, alternative treatment options, and long-term community supports in any area identified by the individual. Co-Responders may work with one of the following agencies:

• Regional Transit District (RTD) -Transit Police

Compensation & Benefits:

• Mental Health Therapist II (Masters):  $31.25/hr (WellPower provides free licensure supervision)


• Licensed Co-Responder $37.59/hr


• LAC - plus $1/hr


• Language Differential: $1-$2.50


• For complete overview of our robust Benefits: https://wellpower.org/workplace-of-choice/ 

The posted range represents the full hiring range. Offers will not exceed this range, the majority of candidates are placed near the midpoint based on experience and qualifications. 

Job Duties & Functions:

• Respond to mental Health related 911 calls and provide psychological evaluations/problem identification, crisis interventions, referrals and linkage to resources for consumers who are not arrested.


• Provide case management services to clients as needed or assigned as part of response to mental health related 911 calls.


• Develop crisis related treatment plans.


• Provide psychological consultation while responding to mental health related calls.


• Coordinate client's use of other city programs and outside community resources.


• Coordinate medication/medicinal needs of clients with psychiatrists, nurses, and other medical sources as part of crisis resolution.


• Maintain accurate and timely clinical records consistent with WellPower standards.


• Participate in team/department meetings, in-services, and supervisory sessions as required.


• Understand the 27-65 statute and how to assess for an M-1 or “mental health hold” in the community while responding to mental health related 911 calls; if unlicensed will consult with licensed clinician for full M1 assessment


• Maintain a trauma informed environment of wellbeing.


• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Qualifications: 

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  Education:

  
  
  
  
  • Master's Degree in social work, psychology, or similar field. Current license as a LCSW/LPC/LMFT in the State of Colorado, or master’s with LAC and ability to obtain LPC/LCSW licensure is preferred.
  
  
  
  

  Experience: 

  
  
  
  
  • Minimum of two years’ experience in clinical social work. Experience working with moderate to severe and persistently mentally ill populations.
  
  
  
  

  This position requires additional background checks through the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) division to be cleared to work alongside law enforcement officers.

  
  

  This position requires the individual to wear a bulletproof vest for the entire shift. The safety of our team members is a priority, and wearing a vest may be necessary when responding to specific situations involving law enforcement or other high-risk environments.

  
  

Work Location: Working on the RTD lines with local law enforcement.

Shift/Hours: Hours for this position is 3x12 shifts from 10 AM – 10 PM. Days worked rotate based on side of the week worked, 3 days on 4 days off.

• Side 2 – Wednesday - Saturday 

Physical Requirements: Ability to sit, stand, bend and reach, drive, operate standard office equipment such as phone, computer, facsimile, copier/printer, and other business machines. Occasional lifting up to 40 lbs.

Applications will be reviewed in an on going basis, and will continue until the position is filled.

Learn more about WellPower:

WellPower is committed to fair and equitable hiring with salaries based on relevant factors, such as work experience, education, and certification/licensure (rather than wage history). Toward the principle of equal pay for equal work, we post and hire within defined hiring salary ranges. We ask all applicants to carefully review the hiring salary range for each posted job opportunity, as we will not hire outside the predetermined range. 

WellPower is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, transfer, or promotion opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. 

For a complete overview of our robust benefits, visit: https://wellpower.org/workplace-of-choice