FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST I - ADULT FORENSICS

JOB SUMMARY

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES

• Assumes program responsibility for planning and implementing treatment plans and activities for mentally disordered offender population in the criminal justice system, such as screening, assessment, referral, counseling, case documentation and management, home visits and other treatment services.
• Coordinates such activities with other aspects of the department, with the Sheriff's Department, Probation Department and the Courts, with the Department of Corrections, State hospitals and with other departments and programs treating the mentally ill offender.
• Provides direct clinical services in the jails and the Conditional Release Program.
• Performs competency assessments and prepares reports as required for the Courts.
• Supervises, trains and directs lower level professional and technical classes as assigned.
• Provides case work review and therapy for individual clients and/or groups, including therapy for clients within family groups.
• Participates in the evaluation of problems presented, recommendation of services needed, and development/implementation of treatment plans.

• Confers with other staff members, psychiatrists, community agencies, courts, school officials, probation officers, and others to exchange information and implement treatment plans.
• Provides education and training to clients, relatives, community organizations and others.
• Refers patients or clients to appropriate community agencies.
• Evaluates new techniques for dealing with emotional and environmental problems.
• Supervises and performs preparation of social case histories with particular emphasis upon psycho-social factors affecting the patient or client.
• Prepares and/or generates various correspondence and documentation.
• Reviews various documentation and processes, forwards, or takes other action as appropriate.
• Maintains departmental files and records.
• Responds to requests for information or assistance.
• Attends meetings, hearings and conferences.
• Prepares and processes case information for mediation and fair hearing presentation.
• Testifies in court as needed.
• Represents the agency at judicial review hearings; makes presentations on patient detention and case planning; makes treatment recommendations.
• Represents the agency to other community agencies.
• Provides on-call coverage as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:
Problems, needs and treatment approaches of mentally disordered offenders; psychiatric terminology and how it relates to treatment; specific state mandates, guidelines and procedures necessary to serve the mentally disordered offender population; multi-disciplinary approach to treatment; use of medication in psychiatric treatment; laws (both Penal Code and Welfare Institutions Code) that pertain to the mentally disordered offender population; issues resulting from clients being in both the Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health systems at the same time; court policies and procedures in relation to mentally disordered cases; individual, group and family therapy techniques; analytical and assessment principles and practices; State hospital programs; criteria for placement in community or state hospital settings; community resources in the field of behavioral health; and new techniques, trends and advances applicable to this classification.

Ability to:
Plan, coordinate and implement psychiatric treatment plans for mental and substance use disordered offenders in the criminal justice system; potentially screen and evaluate cases for referral to the Conditional Release Program; assure compliance with procedures; supervise, train and provide work direction to others; identify problems and evaluate alternatives; present information, recommendations, treatment plans and supporting documentation clearly and concisely; identify sources, seek and analyze information, and compile results; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; prepare clear, concise reports; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; deal effectively with members of the general public from various socio-economic backgrounds; testify in court; work independently with little direction, meet schedules and time lines, work confidentially with discretion, maintain records, and prepare reports; operate standard office equipment; and operate a motor vehicle.

Education and Experience:
Equivalent to a Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Psychiatric Nursing, or a related field from an accredited college or university, and two years of clinical or psychiatric social work experience. One year experience providing direct services to the mentally disordered offender client population, which may include the Conditional Release Program and other forensic mental health services, is desirable.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Essential Duties require the following physical skills and work requirements:
Requires the ability to think and act quickly in emergencies; effectively deal with personal danger; maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of exercising sound judgment and rational thinking under varied circumstances. Requires mobility to perform jail and home visits and provide community outreach services. Requires the ability to exert a small amount of physical effort in sedentary to light work involving moving from one area of the office to another; must be able to operate a motor vehicle.

Disaster Service Workers:
All Sutter County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to perform certain emergency services at the direction of the department and/or County.

License or Certificate:
Applicants must be registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Clinical Social Worker, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor or Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor.

Incumbents are required to obtain licensure within six (6) years of hire. Incumbents who fail to maintain registration are subject to dismissal from employment or transfer/demotion to an appropriate position at the discretion of the department head.

Applicants who are enrolled in a Ph.D. or Psy.D. program in clinical psychology from an accredited college or university and have successfully completed 48 semester/trimester or 72 quarter units of graduate coursework, not including thesis, internship or dissertation, at the time of application submission may be substituted for an intern number and or waiver as set forth by the Board of Psychology and the California Department of Health Care Services (transcripts to show successful completion of coursework must be attached to the application).

Additionally, such applicants would be required to meet the licensure requirements as set by the Board of Psychology within five years. An Ed.D and five (5) years of behavioral health experience and on licensure track as a Psychologist may be substituted for the Ph.D. or Psy.D.

Incumbents who fail to obtain licensure within five (5) years of employment are subject to dismissal from employment or transfer/demotion to an appropriate position at the discretion of the department head.

Those applicants holding out-of-state licenses as Psychologists, LCSWs, LPCC’s and LMFTs must apply for licensure with the California Board of Psychology or the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners and apply for a waiver through the California Department of Health Care Services. Such applicants would be required to obtain licensure within three years of employment.

Incumbents who fail to obtain licensure within three (3) years of employment are subject to dismissal from employment or transfer/demotion to an appropriate position at the discretion of the department head.

Waivers may be obtained pursuant to Chapter 712, Statutes of 1995 and any regulatory requirements of the California Department of Health Care Services.

This classification may require a valid California driver’s license.

Recruitment Process
The recruitment process for this position includes completing an application, successfully passing a written exam, participating in oral interview(s). Please notify the Human Resources Department prior to the final filing date for this position if you believe you have a disability, which would make it difficult to participate in any portion of the recruitment process and would require reasonable accommodation. Sutter County reserves the right to require medical documentation concerning the need for accommodation. Offers of employment are contingent upon investigation of employment history, references, drug testing, medical review/exam and fingerprinting in addition to other appropriate requirements of the position.

NOTE: Sutter County utilizes E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of employees to work in the United States.

The County of Sutter is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Sutter County encourages both incumbents and individuals who have been offered employment to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

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Full-time employees are eligible for benefits.
Extra-help employees working more than 30 hours per week MAY be eligible for some benefits.