The PositionThe City of Portland is hiring EMT Medical Responders for Portland Street Response (PSR)!About the positionJob Appointment: Full time, Limited-Duration.
Persons appointed to limited term positions will be designated as limited duration employees whose appointment shall not exceed two (2) years except for the extension of grants or funding from outside sources.
Work Schedule: Employees in this position will work four (4) 10-hour days with three (3) days off a week. Shifts include days, afternoons, and nights. Ability to work any shift and on any day of the week is essential. During training, your shift may change depending on the availability of the trainers. After completing probation, you will be able to bid on an open shift based on your seniority.
Work Location: 330 SW Curry St, Portland OR 97239
Benefit: An overview of benefits for this position, click here .
Union Representation: Portland Fire Fighters Association, Local 43 IAFF (PFFA).
Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to respond to the supplemental questions, and attach a resume and valid EMT license.
Portland Street Response is situated in the City of Portland’s first responder system, and in the broader continuum of crisis care. Learn more about the program below:
About PortlandStreetResponse(PSR):Portland Street Response assists people experiencing mental health and behavioral health crises. The goal of Portland Street Response is to update our first responder system by providing an additional compassionate first response option when 911 is called for someone experiencing low-acuity behavioral health issues. PSR is dispatched by the Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC) to respond to non-life-threatening crises currently responded to by Police and Fire, such as behavioral health issues and welfare checks.
ProgramValues: - Equity & Social Justice: Strive to uplift the dignity and worth of all Portlanders, particularly those who have been historically marginalized and criminalized, by ensuring timely and professional person-centered first response.
- Collaboration: Ensure the best possible outcomes for our clients by working collaboratively with community partners, health systems, and traditional first responders.
- Empathy & Compassion: Operate from a framework of Trauma-Informed Care with the recognition that adverse life experiences (including health systems and carceral trauma) create barriers for clients to connect with the care and supportive services they need to thrive in the community.
- Resource Efficiency & Prioritization: Respond to the complex care needs of individuals experiencing low acuity crises in the community to enable Police and Fire resources to attend to life saving and crime-related calls for service.
Theprogram is expected to:- Reduce the number of calls traditionally responded to by Police where criminal activity is not present.
- Reduce the number of individuals transported to the emergency department for low acuity medical related issues that are more effectively addressed in a pre-hospital care setting.
- Reduce the number of behavioral health and substance use/intoxication calls traditionally responded to by Police and Fire.
- Reduce unnecessary emergency department admissions.
- Improve access to care and resources within the community.
- Prevent burnout of other first responders.
PositionSummaryThe PSR EMT Medical Responder will operate on a two-person multi-disciplinary team to provide crisis intervention and first aid. A Medical Responder will be dispatched along with a Mental Health Crisis Responder to low acuity Police and Fire 911 calls that present no criminal intent, fire, or medical emergency. This position will also engage with a population that exhibits sub-acute crises, that may include behavioral health and substance use conditions.
Asan EMT Medical Responder, you will:- Provide crisis intervention to clients who are in emotional distress.
- Perform ongoing patient assessments on-scene to monitor changes in patient condition and accommodate changes in breathing, mentation and circulation.
- Appropriately use medical equipment such as airway equipment/airway bag, splints, bandages, and medications in rendering proper emergency medical treatment of patients. Examples include, but are not limited to, opening and maintaining an airway, ventilating patients, administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and providing emergency medical care of simple and multiple system trauma such as controlling hemorrhage, bandaging wounds, and manually stabilizing injured extremities.
- Accurately document patient encounters and outcomes in care plan and appropriate medical record.
- Communicate effectively and with empathy and compassion to interview patients, their family members, bystanders, other service agency members and facility staff.
- Provide professional assessment, consultation and coordination of services.
- Participate in program meetings and relevant local and regional trainings.
- Utilize the 911 dispatch radio and CAD system.
- Physical demands:
- Working in pairs, may move equipment or people weighing up to 200 lbs.
- Bend, stoop, kneel, squat, and stand on uneven surfaces for extended periods.
- Work outside year-round in all weather conditions.
Ideal Candidate Profile:The ideal candidate for this position must be deeply committed to providing compassionate and effective crisis response services, particularly for individuals who have faced historical challenges and trauma. They will work within the existing emergency response system while emphasizing collaboration and trauma-informed care to better serve the Portland community. They recognize that individuals may have experienced adverse life events, including trauma within healthcare and carceral systems, which can create barriers to accessing necessary care and support. Candidates must have a commitment to working collectively to address community needs. A successful candidate will be able to meet or exceed established key performance indicator goals. Candidates for this position must have no criminal conviction that would prevent certification from the Oregon Health Authority.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:- Skill in engaging patients and others to effectively reduce or eliminate risks identified.
- Basic knowledge and understanding of stress response and methods to ensure personal wellbeing.
- Ability to comply with regulations on the handling of the deceased, protection of property and evidence at the scene, while awaiting additional EMS resources.
- Knowledge and understanding of cultural differences, especially as they relate to race, sexual orientation, gender- equality, socio-economic status and their intersections.
- Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in multi/intra disciplinary settings with other first responders and health and community agencies.
- Ability to communicate clearly, accurately and completely to both internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to work with others in a courteous, empathic, and professional manner.
This application is specifically for the Portland Street Response EMT Medical Responder (Community Health Responder) position. If you're interested in positions in other bureaus within the City of Portland, please note that you'll need to go through a separate recruitment and selection process. Employees hired into this classification are not guaranteed placement into other positions. Have a question?Contact Information:Tamela Ressler, Senior Recruiter
Bureau of Human Resources
Tamela.Ressler@portlandoregon.gov
To Qualify The following minimum qualifications are required for this position: Required Licenses:- Valid EMT license, regardless of the state of issuance, at the time of application.
At the time of job offer, a valid Oregon EMT is required. Click here for Oregon Healthy Authority Reciprocity Requirements. - Valid state driver’s license and acceptable driving record .
Applicant Must Also Possess:- Ability to pass a comprehensive background investigation.
Preferred QualificationsAlthough not required, you may have one or more of the following:
- Two (2) years’ experience in emergency medical response.
- Bilingual fluency. Click here for a list of qualifying languages.
The Recruitment ProcessSTEP 1: Apply online between 09/23/24 and 09/29/2024Required Application Materials:
- Resume
- Valid EMT license, regardless of the state of issuance.
Note: Must have a Valid Oregon EMT Basic license at the time of job offer. - Answer the Supplemental Questions. T o preview the questions, please click on the Questions tab.
Optional Application Materials:
- If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.
Application Tips
- Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, where it was obtained, and how it reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
- Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
- Do not attach any additional documents. Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment. All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of 09/30/2024- Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
- An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
- You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information. Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.
Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of 09/30/2024- Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.
Step4:Selection Process: Early October 2024- Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for interviews.
- Please note, the selection process is ongoing and will take place throughout the duration of this open recruitment.
Step 5: Conditional Offer of Employment: TBDStep 6: Background Investigation: TBDBackground Investigations for this position typically take 1-3 weeks to complete so you will want to plan accordingly.
- Statement of Personal History
- Possess a driver license and submit a driving record and pass an evaluation by City of Portland Risk Management
- Pass a reference background
- Pass a criminal background
Step 7: StartDate:TBD- A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.
*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.Additional InformationClick here for additional information regarding the following:- Veteran Preference
- ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
- Work Status
- Equal Employment Opportunity
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer A Career with the City of Portland offers many Employee BenefitsWe offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to
- Health Care (Medical, Vision and Dental)
- Carrot Fertility
- Wellness Benefits
- Life Insurance
- Long-term disability coverage to eligible employees and their families.
- Employee Assistance Plan
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Retirement
- Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), includingcontributions to the PERS IAP plan paid by employer
- Family Medical Leave
- City Paid Parental Leave
AND SO MANY MORE!Benefits may vary depending on bargaining unit and employment status. Click here to review the many different benefits the City of Portland offers .
Closing Date/Time: 9/29/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
