Clinical Assessor

PMHCC Inc. • Philadelphia, PA

85d

About The Position

The Behavioral Health and Justice Division (BHJD) is committed to working towards reducing criminal justice involvement for Philadelphians with behavioral health challenges, including Serious Mental Illness (SMI). BHJD organizes its work according to the Sequential Intercept Model, identifying opportunities to intervene at various points of criminal justice involvement to deflect and divert individuals away from further penetration of the system and into the behavioral health system. By helping connect individuals to needed treatment and support services that promote stability in the community, BHJD believes that Philadelphians are less likely to be arrested and can achieve health, well-being, and self-determination. BHJD also aligns with Stepping Up and focuses its efforts on lowering the number of Philadelphians with SMI admitted to the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP), reducing their length of stay, connecting them to treatment/supports upon release, and reducing recidivism. The Forensic Support Team (FST) of BHJD was established to meet the unique needs of Philadelphians who are either: 1. Adjudicated as not competent to stand trial on only misdemeanor charges and committed to a State hospital (e.g., Norristown State Hospital) or 2. Adjudicated as non-restorable. The FST works within PDP and Norristown State Hospital (NSH) in order to assist individuals while in jail, when transitioning from jail to NSH, and when reentering the community typically under the court’s jurisdiction. To support this forensic population, the FST helps individuals navigate the Philadelphia judicial and behavioral health systems while also seeking to address each individual’s unique legal, behavioral, medical, physical, cultural, and/or financial needs. The Clinical Assessor becomes an important part of a team comprised of: one (1) FST Supervisor (a licensed psychologist); one (1) FST Coordinator, three (3) Clinical Assessors, and one (1) Post-Doctoral Psychology Resident. The Clinical Assessor will complete clinical assessments and provide system navigation for justice-involved individuals with behavioral health challenges who fall into either of the aforementioned priority groups. In this capacity, the Clinical Assessor is responsible for determining the appropriate level of care (LOC) for the individual via a procedure that is consistent with a strengths-based, biopsychosocial recovery model. The procedure relies on State hospitals and jails to provide access to the individual as well as clear documentation and consultation about the individual so an informed decision can be made about the appropriate LOC and the individual’s risk for violence.

Requirements

• Master’s level degree in social work, psychology, or a related clinical focused field
• At least two years of experience working with individuals with serious mental illness and/or in clinical-forensic assessment
• Knowledge of and experience in working with the Philadelphia criminal justice system and/or the Philadelphia behavioral health system
• Demonstrated skills in communication, problem solving, decision making, and report writing
• Ability to skillfully communicate verbally and in writing with a variety of multidisciplinary partners, including judges, attorneys, jail staff, provider agencies, psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers

Responsibilities

• Perform level of care and other-discharge related assessments for individuals adjudicated not competent to stand trial and/or non-restorable that are detained at the PDP or NSH
• Attend treatment team meetings for individuals detained at NSH to monitor progress and/or changes in clinical presentation
• Facilitate access to re-entry services and programs
• Identify individuals for diversion and share with appropriate justice partners
• Review legal status, commitment type, charges, competency opinions and findings, and clinical needs for all individuals on the waitlist to NSH on an ongoing basis
• Maintain accurate, confidential records documenting services provided and unmet needs using appropriate databases
• Remain current with resource and referral information
• Maintain list of community resources
• Build and maintain relationships with key individuals (e.g., PDP staff, Public Defender), and provide updates upon marked changes in an individual’s clinical or legal status to trigger appropriate interventions
• Coordinate with courts to ensure timely court hearings and legal proceedings, particularly when an individual’s clinical or legal status changes
• Provide behavioral health literacy and continuity of care training to both behavioral health providers and criminal justice personnel
• Provide updated progress reports for criminal court hearings and attend those hearings when necessary
• Identify gaps in re-entry resources offered and work to bridge those gaps

Benefits

• Equal Opportunity Employment
• Americans with Disabilities Act compliance

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: Master's degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees