Court Liaison

Job Description

Compensation Range: $23/hr - $26/hr commensurate with experience

Benefits:
We have three comprehensive healthcare plans to choose from based on your priorities and budget. Housing Works covers most of the plan; you pay a portion, based on your salary. Staff begins accruing PTO immediately for a total of up to 30 days earned in the first year. We offer employees an educational benefit. This money is available for tuition loan reimbursement, tuition costs, and text books.

Overview:

The Housing Works Inc. Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) Program is a collaboration between Housing Works and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) to provide court mandated, risk-need-responsivity services to jail-bound individuals 18 years of age and older who are involved in Manhattan criminal and supreme court systems.

The Court Liaison is responsible for leading activities related to criminal and supreme court ATI activities. Activities begin with screening and assessment using validated assessment instruments when the defendant is in custody or in the community. The screening and assessment tools inform the development of the mandated programming plan that the Court Liaisons present in court to the defense attorneys, prosecutors and judges. Following program admission, Court Liaisons continue to advocate and report on behalf of the defendant’s progress and adherence to the programming plan at scheduled progress hearings. The Court Liaisons will also coordinate closely with the clients’ multi-disciplinary team providing the treatment services to obtain progress reports, celebrate clients’ successes and attend team meetings and trainings. The Court Liaison will be knowledgeable of court systems and operations and criminal justice risk-need-responsivity interventions. They will also have familiarity and skill sets to assist clients with mental health, substance use and behavioral health related issues.

Responsibilities:

Primary

• Develops and maintains relationships with key stake holders such as defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, community-based organizations and court officials
• Maintains a caseload of defendants who are entering and engaging in ATI activities.
• Meet monthly intake and assessment goals as established by supervisory staff.
• Reviews received referrals and conducts screenings and assessments to determine the needs of the defendants and eligibility for ATI services.
• Shares screening and assessment results with the multi-disciplinary care team for service plan development and finalization.
• Provide initial diagnostic impressions, service plan recommendations, advocacy strategy and supervision requirements for ATI to the court staff.
• Attend court hearings for individuals assigned to caseload.
• Complete and provide compliance letters and progress reports to the court.
• Complete daily, weekly and monthly reports in a timely and accurate manner.
• All other tasks as assigned by supervisor.

Secondary:

• Work collaboratively with court staff, including court officers, defense attorneys, assistant district attorneys and judges to facilitate program admissions.
• Conduct outreach with court staff to familiarize all parties with program services and program outcomes to support our advocacy efforts.
• Provide culturally competent services in accordance to Housing Works policies and practices.

Other functions that may be required with this position include:

• Attend and participate staff meetings and trainings as scheduled.
• Responsiveness to emails, texts and phone calls.
• Actively participate in advocacy events and calls to action.
• Displays Housing Works core values: All-in, Stronger Together, Membership and High Performance in all day-to-day activities.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree Required.
• Master’s degree preferred in social work, psychology, forensic mental health, criminal justice or other related field.

The following are qualifications and requirements of the position:

• 2-4 years of relevant experience working in human services with individuals involved in the criminal legal system with mental health, substance use or behavioral health needs.
• Ability to obtain and maintain court clearance (secure pass).
• Skilled in delivery of motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral techniques and risk-need-responsivity interventions.

The following additional competencies are viewed as important to success in this position:

• Preferably bi-lingual in Spanish.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent or proficient technical skills to perform tasks related to Microsoft Office, email and case management systems.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with the team.
• Dependability and reliability to arrive and depart timely for scheduled shift.
• Cultural sensitivity and trauma-informed approach to care.
• Comfortability working within the courts or secured DOC assigned areas.
• Prior experience working in the field of criminal justice, pre-trial to post-release services.
• Ability to frequently travel within the boroughs via public transportation and work from transient office locations including criminal and supreme courts and Housing Works clinic locations.
• Ability to work a hybrid work schedule – work from home and in-office
• Ability to lift 25-35lbs.

Job candidates should be aware that scammers may pose as employers and create fake job postings in order to extract personal information from individuals for financial gain. Housing Works will never ask job candidates for personal information, such as social security numbers or bank account details, over the phone. If you suspect that a job posting may be fake or wish to confirm that a job posting from Housing Works is genuine, please contact us at recruitment@housingworks.org

Housing Works was founded in 1990; With a long-term commitment to AIDS advocacy. Housing Works established New York State’s first harm reduction-based, OASAS-licensed outpatient drug treatment program. Other services include Health Home care management, behavioral health, and syringe exchange programs. A pioneer in the social entrepreneurship movement, Housing Works operates 10 high-end thrift shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn and a much-loved Bookstore Cafe in Soho. For more information, visit www.housingworks.org

Housing Works fights for funding and legislation to ensure that all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to quality housing, healthcare, HIV prevention, and treatment, among other lifesaving services.

Housing Works provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements. Housing Works complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Housing Works also does not request prior salary information during the hiring process. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

This position is included in a bargaining unit of Housing Works’ New York City employees represented by a labor union known as the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union (“RWDSU”). Accordingly, the RWDSU has the exclusive right to bargain over the terms and conditions of employment related to this position and this position may become covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (a “CBA”) between Housing Works and the RWDSU