Clinical Care Coordinator - Forensic Services

Signet Health Corporation

About The Position

The Clinical Care Coordinator – Forensic Services serves as the central operational and clinical coordination point for forensic admissions and inpatient treatment progression within the hospital. This position ensures efficient referral review, admission coordination, and continuity of care for forensic patients while maintaining strict compliance with Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) regulatory and reporting requirements. The role requires advanced coordination skills, knowledge of forensic psychiatric processes, and the ability to navigate complex systems involving courts, correctional facilities, community providers, and state agencies. The coordinator works to remove system barriers, support timely admissions and treatment progression, and ensure safe and appropriate discharge planning. This role is critical to maintaining patient flow efficiency, regulatory compliance, and appropriate placement within the forensic mental health system.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required in: Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Criminal Justice, Behavioral Health or related field
Minimum two (2) years experience in inpatient behavioral health, forensic mental health, or care coordination.
Experience working with forensic or legally involved populations strongly preferred.
Experience interacting with courts, correctional facilities, or state agencies preferred.
Knowledge of utilization management or regulatory compliance processes desirable.
Understanding of psychiatric treatment processes
Familiarity with forensic mental health systems
Knowledge of competency restoration processes
Working knowledge of HHSC requirements and reporting expectations
Strong systems-thinking approach
Ability to manage complex workflows
High organizational capability
Effective prioritization in high-demand environments
Professional communication with legal and correctional stakeholders
Ability to navigate sensitive interagency dynamics
Strong interdisciplinary collaboration skills
Ability to identify process bottlenecks
Skilled in resolving coordination challenges
Proactive in preventing admission or discharge delays

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
LMSW, LCSW, LPC, LMFT, RN, or similar credential.

Responsibilities

Review forensic referral packets for clinical appropriateness and regulatory completeness.
Verify required documentation including court orders, competency status, legal commitments, and supporting clinical records.
Collaborate with admissions, medical staff, utilization management, and forensic leadership to support admission determinations.
Communicate admission decisions and required follow-up documentation with referring entities.
Coordinate admission logistics with correctional facilities, courts, and transport entities.
Track referral status to reduce admission delays and improve throughput.
Monitor patient movement through forensic treatment phases including competency restoration and stabilization.
Collaborate with treatment teams to anticipate barriers affecting patient progression or discharge readiness.
Support timely completion of clinical evaluations and required legal documentation.
Assist teams in coordinating transitions to step-down facilities or community placement when appropriate.
Escalate systemic or process barriers impacting bed availability or length of stay.
Maintain working knowledge of HHSC forensic policies and hospital admission criteria, and reporting requirements.
Ensure compliance with regulatory timelines and documentation expectations.
Support preparation for audits, monitoring visits, and compliance reviews.
Assist departments in ensuring regulatory documentation standards are met.
Serve as liaison among: Courts and legal representatives Correctional and detention facilities Community mental health centers State hospital systems External providers and agencies
Facilitate communication to resolve admission or transition delays.
Support continuity of care planning between facilities and community providers.
Participate in discharge planning discussions to support safe and timely transitions.
Assist in coordination with community providers, legal authorities, and supervision entities.
Ensure documentation and communication align with legal and regulatory requirements.