Position Description
Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.
Hiring Range: $52,606 – $63,926 Hours/Schedule: 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. Salaries are determined based upon your education and/or relevant certifications and work experience. Timeline: The start date for this position will be September 8th, 2026
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 to 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 EMTs for our Community Response Teams. However, there may be some minimal overlap with our Care Navigation Team. Please review the program descriptions below.
- The Community Response Team (CRT) program sends two or three-person teams - consisting of a Crisis Response Clinician, a Peer Support Specialist, and an EMT - to 911 calls for service involving behavioral health and quality of life related concerns. Note that CRT responds in-person without law enforcement. EMTs are encouraged to regularly engage with residents through the provision of medical care and screening to our Neighbors. They are also asked to provide creative and supportive intervention and de-escalation in collaboration with their teammates. Duties/Responsibilities
- Respond to 911 calls related to behavioral health, substance use, and/or Intellectual Developmental Disability crises using people-centered and trauma-informed crisis intervention strategies.
- Develop highly collaborative, trusting, and productive relationships with other Community Responder Team members.
- Provide prehospital medical care to sick or injured neighbors experiencing crises.
- Administers medications and performs medical procedures that have been approved for EMT by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Service.
- Advise on and attend to any potential underlying physical complications or conditions the individual in crisis may be experiencing.
- Work collaboratively with across teams to assess the needs of individuals experiencing crises and assist in developing response plans.
- Follow-up to assure that connections are made to services and supports based on peer choice and clinician assessment. Facilitates warm handoffs to other services as needed.
- Maintains medical equipment and supplies in proper working order.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation as required by program deliverables and local, state, and federal policy and requirements.
- Develop and maintain clear, open, timely, cooperative, and collaborative communication and working relations with all staff, clients, and partner agencies.
- Maintains all continuing education required for the AEMT level within Durham County and NC OEMS.
- Participate in supervision meetings, case conferences, staff meetings, in-service training, and other staff development activities.
- Contribute to strategic planning activities and conversations regarding the performance and direction of the department, particularly in regard to crisis response and departmental culture.
- Demonstrate a high level of resilience and self-care as part of maintaining wellness in a high crisis and first responder position.
Minimum Qualifications & Experience
- High School Diploma or GED,
- Completion of EMT training program
- One year of EMT experience related to assignment.
- Certification by the NC Office of Emergency Medical Services (NC OEMS) as a Basic EMT (or greater)
- A valid, unrestricted, North Carolina driver's license "or" if another state driver's license, be willing to obtain a valid NC driver's license within 60 days of hire
- A track record of demonstrating initiative and sound judgment when handling ambiguity.
- Eligible to function under the auspices of the Durham County Office of Emergency Services, EMS Division, and Medical Director.
- 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. Note: The team will be transported in vans to crisis call locations
- Must be able to lift over 100 lbs occasionally, 50-100 lbs. frequently, or up to 20-50 lbs constantly.
- A commitment to and interest in the mission of the department: to enhance public safety through community-centered approaches to prevention and intervention as alternatives to policing and the criminal legal system.
- A commitment to equity, which could include having already attended racial equity trainings.
Additional Preferred Skills
- Two or more years of crisis response experience.
- Experience working with Peer Support Specialists or other individuals with lived experience with behavioral and mental health, substance use, and/or Intellectual Developmental Disability crises.
- Prior experience in outreach/engagement to populations experiencing frequent behavioral and mental health, substance use, and/or Intellectual Developmental Disability crises.
- Strong knowledge and experience with service delivery documentation (including counseling/treatment planning), HIPAA/Confidentiality standards, utilization review, and data management.
- Ability to speak two or more languages, with a high priority on Spanish.
- Familiarity with Durham health systems and community resources/services for physical health behavioral and mental health, substance use, Intellectual Developmental Disability, family dynamics, sexual/physical abuse, Veterans' Services, vocational rehabilitation, housing, justice involvement, and other services.
- Advanced collaboration and interpersonal skills with the ability to build consensus and promote the exchange of information among team members and partners.
- A commitment to, knowledge of, and affection for Durham and its communities, which could include living in Durham.
Benefits
Benefits – General Full-Time Employees
- 12-13 paid holidays per year
- 13 standard work days of vacation per year
- 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
- 2 weeks paid military leave per year
- Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
- State and City retirement plans
- Short and long term disability plans
- Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
- City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
- Paid funeral leave
- Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
- Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
- 48 hours for volunteer work each year*
- 4 hours parental leave each year
- Workman's Compensation Insurance
- 457 Deferred Compensation Plans
Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)
- 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
- State retirement plan
Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)
- 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
- State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire
- Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire
- Dental and life insurance, after one year of service
- Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service