Felony Mental Health Court - Court Clinician (Adult Probation)

Position Description

• Provides services to clients with diverse criminal backgrounds.
• Conducts initial and subsequent comprehensive assessments by completing a clinical evaluation and administering the Texas Risk Assessment System (TRAS) to determine Client eligibility to participate in the FMHC Court, the clients’ risk for recidivism, clinical diagnostic assessments, treatment and supervision recommendations, strengths and barriers, and biopsychosocial needs.
• Obtains and reviews available collateral records from various criminal justice databases and other sources.
• Gathers additional information and history from available collateral contacts.
• Conducts formal and informal Client interviews and assessments, applying professional and clinical judgement to ask pertinent follow-up and clarifying questions. These interviews may be conducted in person or virtually.
• Evaluate findings from the Client interview and collateral records to effectively score the Texas Risk Assessment (TRAS) tool, determine the presence of mental health and/or substance abuse disorders, synthesizes assessment results and produce a clinical formulation.
• Composes detailed and professionally written reports that include pertinent information gathered throughout the assessment process, which include details from client interviews, collateral sources, TRAS results, and diagnostic findings. Strong writing abilities are essential for success in this function.
• Utilizes assessment results to formulate individual recommendations concerning FMHC eligibility, a client’s level of intervention, and case management strategies. Assessment reports and recommendations are shared with the FMHC Judge and Court personnel to make informed decisions.
• Presents overview of client’s presentation, relevant diagnoses, risk/needs areas, psychosocial history and identified clinical needs to FMHC Team during interdisciplinary staffing.
• Engages in on-going assessment of emerging Client needs to provide subsequent recommendations regarding the individual’s re-entry plan.
• Obtains weekly clinical updates from external treatment providers, enters them into the electronic case management system, and shares relevant updates with the interdisciplinary team during weekly staffing and as appropriate.
• Reviews treatment progress in Harris County Jail medical records.
• Facilitate psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational groups, including preparing and delivering weekly curriculum sessions, leading psychoeducational and skill-building activities, guiding participant reflection, documenting attendance/progress, and collaborating with multidisciplinary partners to support program goals.
• Provides individual and group-based treatment using the Changing Lives Changing Outcomes (CLCO) curriculum to identified FMHC dual diagnosis Clients, completing associated documentation by required deadlines, and entering said documentation in the electronic case management system. Requires visually and audibly observing clients in the group and individual setting.
• Delivers direct clinical interventions to FMHC Clients and support systems.
• Triages and manages psychiatric crises.
• Works collaboratively with the FMHC Judge and interdisciplinary team to support Clients’ successful completion of community supervision.
• Participate in clinical and interdisciplinary staffing.
• Ensures accurate and timely entries in the electronic case management systems.
• Review work and reports are required.
• Travel to Court, other HCCSCD locations or off-site locations for meetings and/or training as required.
• Monitors and adheres to deadlines to ensure completeness, accuracy and compliance with policy, grant standards, funding and licensure requirements, and special conditions of community supervision.
• Maintains professional and effective communication, including email correspondence, with judges, attorneys, prosecutors, court personnel, law enforcement officials, CSCD personnel, victims, and community members.
• Participate in team, unit and departmental meetings.
• Regularly interfaces with external stakeholders.
• Supervises undergraduate social work interns when applicable.
• All other duties identified by the FMHC Program Manager, Treatment Services Manager, CAST Director, or other HCCSCD Administrative/Executive Team.
• IV. Nonessential Functions:
• Works collaboratively with other personnel.
• Fosters a positive work environment by communicating and behaving cooperatively, respectfully and amicably with supervisors, co-workers, and the public.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Work overtime as required.

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology or a related field.
• Two (2) years’ experience as a licensed clinician.
• Meets the minimum requirements for access to Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS).

• Competency in clinical disorders, differential diagnosis, current treatment methods, and in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5-TR is required.
• The successful candidate will demonstrate conscientiousness, openness to learning, flexibility/adaptability to change, and the ability to thrive within a dynamic workplace.

• Must possess active Texas licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate (LPC-A), or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
• Must become Texas Risk Assessment System (TRAS) certified within the first two (2) attempts and maintain certification..
  • Failure to pass the certification may result in termination of employment.
    
• Must have a valid Texas Class C Automobile Operator’s License or Texas Identification Card.

Preferences

• Work experience and/or clinical training in correctional/forensic settings is preferred.

General Information

• Regular Full-time
• 40 Hours Weekly
• Schedule hours will range between:
  • 6:30 AM to 9:00 PM Monday - Thursday | 6:30 AM to 5:00PM on Fridays
  • Flexibility in work schedule/work location is required and determined by program needs.

• $6,812.83 (=$39.30 Hourly) - $7,923.31 (=$45.71 Hourly)
• Depends on Qualifications
• Based on 26 Pay Periods

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting, although there is an opportunity to work remotely on designated days after the introductory period and the employee is in good standing.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate with court personnel, co-workers and Clients, as well as visually and auditorily observe clients during individual and group settings for assessment and treatment purposes.

• Harris County, Texas

• Reports To Position: FMHC Program Manager

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

• Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
• One (1) floating holiday per year
• Paid Parental Leave*
• Sick Leave

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

• Professional learning & development opportunities
• Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
• Flexible work schedule*
• METRO RideSponsor Program*

• Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.