CARES Team Clinician - 2nd Shift

Salary: $36.55 - $40.78 Hourly
Location : One North Avenue Burlington, VT
Job Type: Regular Full Time Non Exempt
Job Number: BPD CARES Team Clin 2nd Shift
Department: Police
Division: Police Admin
Opening Date: 04/01/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: AFSCME

General Purpose
The Crisis, Assessment, Response, and Engagement Services (CARES) team is part of the Burlington Police Department's Crisis, Advocacy, Intervention Programs (CAIP) division. The CARES team is a field-based entity providing real-time responses for mental health, substance use, and medical needs through a person-centered and trauma-informed lens.

The CARES team clinician focuses on clinical services associated with folks experiencing homelessness, substance use, mental health, and medical crises who have chronic support needs. This position is part of a team of clinicians and AEMTs who assess, screen, and provide harm reduction services in the field. Additionally, clinicians respond to calls requested by law enforcement officers, the fire department, and community members for people experiencing a crisis. Clinicians implement screenings and assessments to determine the appropriate level of need, complete referrals for community support, provide intermittent treatment, collaborate with the personal team, or work collectively to establish a continuum of care to work towards reducing the need for emergency room visits. The position coordinates all aspects of clinical care, including gap case management across all social service systems, agencies, and stakeholders in a fast-paced work environment.

This second shift position is a 40-hour work with a schedule of Tuesday through Saturday, 12 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., with some flexibility around start time.
Union Affiliation: American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Pay Grade 19: $36.55 - $40.78
Hourly Remote Tier 1: Zero (0) days remote/week

If you applied to this position prior to 3/31/2025 by emailing careers@burlingtonvt.gov and received a confirmation email, your application has been received, and you do not need to reapply.
Essential Job Functions

• Work with youth, adults, and families with no age restrictions.
• Must be able to provide clinical services, including screenings, assessments, referrals, consultation, psychoeducation, and short-term counseling to individuals struggling with mental health, substance use, or medical crises in the field.
• Work alongside the Burlington Fire Department with high autonomy, responsibility, and accountability.
• Respond to requests from police, the fire department, and community members for intervention in non-criminal matters.
• Engage in interventions such as overdose reversals and de-escalation tactics.
• Working with houseless neighbors while they are waiting for long-term support.
• Collaborate, consult, and coordinate services with Burlington social service providers, including mental health and substance use providers.
• Participate in community building and outreach to build stronger relationships with people in the Burlington area.
• Develop and maintain relationships with partners for a problem-solving team approach that allows coordinated interventions to challenge quality-of-life issues and neighborhood conflicts.
• Prepare for and attend strategy and planning meetings with the full range of stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of tactics and strategies
• Partner with other crisis and outreach teams to coordinate care for individuals.
• Create and maintain up-to-date records.
• Collaborate on large, interagency teams that require flexibility and creativity to help solve complex societal and interpersonal issues.
• Understand best practices for community mental health and substance use treatment and care.
• Possess a willingness to work and creatively collaborate with state, federal, and local entities, including persons from courts and corrections, non-profits, academia, and private enterprise.
• Participate in weekly supervision and monthly team CAIP meetings.

Non-Essential Job Functions:

• Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications/Basic Job Requirements

• Ability to actively support city diversity, equity, and cultural humility efforts within stated job responsibilities and work effectively across diverse cultures and constituencies.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as evidenced by ongoing training and professional development.
• Must complete Police Department oral board interview and background investigation.
• A master's degree in social work or a relevant social science degree is required; at least 3 years of experience for consideration.
• Must be on the non-licensed, noncertified psychotherapist roster or hold an up-to-date Vermont license.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Vermont class D license.
• Regular attendance is necessary to meet job functions' expectations.
• Excellent communication skills, with a high degree of organizational skills, are necessary.
• Knowledge of Vermont's criminal and juvenile justice systems is preferred.
• Completion of on-day Mental Health First Aid training program preferred.
• Have an understanding of social services within Burlington and the Greater Burlington area.
• Clearly and effectively communicate during complex and evolving incidents.
• Remain objective in a stressful work environment while making critical decisions.
• Must be able to engage with all levels of the general public, the Police Department, and other City officials.
• Ability to understand and comply with City standards, safety rules, and personnel policies.

Additional Information
Promoting a culture that reveres diversity and equity.

The City of Burlington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are strongly committed to creating a dynamic and equitable work-force that mirrors the population and world that we serve. We do not discriminate on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, crime victim status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, or genetic information in employment or the provision of services.

In addition to being an equal opportunity employer we actively encourage applicants who can contribute to our growing diversity to apply.

Applications for our employment opportunities are only accepted online through our website.

For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at or .
The City of Burlington is proud to offer full time employees a comprehensive benefits program that includes:

• Medical/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Prescription Drug Coverage
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Leave (Sick and Vacation)
• Pension Plan
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Life Insurance
• Discounted Gym Memberships
• Free Yoga Membership to Sangha Studios (Burlington, Williston & online)
• Tuition Discounts for Champlain College TruEd
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Bonus Incentives Program
• Local & National Store Discounts
• Subsidized Transportation Options
• Qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

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