Reentry Case Manager

The Position

Incumbent works under the direction of the Community Reentry Services Manager or designee, assessing client risks, needs and responsivity, determining and coordinating the appropriate reentry services.

Essential Functions

• Provide casework and program services (e.g. medical, mental/behavioral health treatment, education/literacy, vocational training, job placement/housing agencies, mentors, support groups) improving the offender’s employability and social skills.
• Develop a client profile (e.g. personal, social, criminal, medical, educational, psychological, substance abuse).
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Supervise assigned staff (e.g. orienting, scheduling, training, coaching, counseling, planning, monitoring, evaluating, recommending personnel actions).
• Conduct basic orientation of new clients, complete admission and orientation documents and prepare files.
• Ensure client engagement in planning process and understanding of program, expectations, responsibilities and consequences.
• Provide client and family casework assistance resolving problems (e.g. financial, health, educational, recreational, employment, personal).
• Administer and/or coordinate medical, psychological, sociological, and educational diagnostic assessments.
• Conduct clinical interviews identifying and assessing deficiencies/strengths potentially impacting the probability of reentry into the community.
• Recommend personalized treatment plans and programs.
• Recommend and/or refer to mental health, special needs, substance use treatment, in-house programs, and/or community or workforce programs.
• Provide counseling and emotional support.
• Consult with service agencies on client cases.
• Participate in staff meetings and recommend changes in client programming.
• Monitor and keep client case records, reporting progress.
• Participate in data collection and evaluation processes for research and/or referral to criminal justice, law enforcement, and social services agencies.
• Develop and maintain linkages with community agencies and support groups addressing justice-involved individual needs.
• Assist in resource, policy and program development and evaluation.
• Train or assist in the training of volunteers, interns and practicum students.
• Attend, participate or present professional development workshops, training and conferences.
• Ensure compliance with Nebraska Jail Standards Board and the American Correctional Association Adult Local Detention Standards.
• Prepare and recommend improvements in department policies and procedures, forwarding to appropriate staff.
• Research changes in state statutes, judicial decisions, federal law, and County Board resolutions recommending changes in standard operating procedures and policies.
• Assist in developing, writing, and coordinating staff training for new and revised policies, procedures and post orders, implementing changes.
• Author or develop correspondence, forms, and reports, maintaining documentation.
• Instruct, mentor, and motivate offenders and their family ensuring client constitutional rights.
• Ensure a quality correctional facility maintaining custody, security, and discipline of clients.
• Read and distribute reports pertaining to unusual activity, and notify proper authorities of concerns.
• Inform assigned individuals of assignments, client problems and other pertinent information.
• Ensure a safe work environment supporting safety-training programs, documenting accidents and correcting suspected safety hazards.
• Review, investigate and respond to client grievances/complaints pertaining to areas of responsibility.
• Complete inspections ensuring facility cleanliness and condition.
• Maintain job knowledge and skill (e.g. research, meetings, webinars, seminars, conferences, continuing education).
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements

• Master's degree in Criminal Justice, Social Work, Guidance and Counseling, Psychology, Sociology, or Social Justice required.
• Two (2) years of criminal justice or mental health experience required.*
• Licensure as a Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) in the state of Nebraska required. Applicants provisionally licensed as a Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) may be considered.
• Experience within a correctional setting preferred.
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and own transportation upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal records check and conditional offer drug screen required.
• Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted for requirements on a year-for-year basis.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Work is generally performed in an office, classroom or dormitory setting. Noise level is usually moderate. Work hours are typically standard day-shift hours; however, schedule may vary (e.g. days, shifts, overtime/extra hours, weekends, holidays, emergency call-in). Work also involves the potential exposure to biohazards. Work may be stressful when dealing with multiple/changing priorities, time constraints, limited resources, crisis situations and uncooperative/irate individuals.
• Work requires some physical activity, including extended periods of sitting, standing, frequent walking, reaching, carrying, climbing, and occasional balancing, kneeling, bending, stooping. Work requires the ability to frequently lift and/or carry objects weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds.
• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing, and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance, color and peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.

Douglas County is an EOE - Disability/Veterans