Ellis County Jail-Based Care Coordinator

NORTH TEXAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITY•Waxahachie, TX

4d•$65,000 - $65,000

About The Position

NTBHA is the Local Behavioral Health Authority (LBHA) contracted by Texas Human Services Commission (HHSC) to provide mental health and substance use disorder services to qualified indigent consumers in our six-county region of Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, and Rockwall Counties. NTBHA is responsible for developing a collaborative system of care for incarcerated adults with severe mental illness and/or a substance use disorder that are being considered for specialized mental illness programs and court proceedings. This position’s actions and work must align with NTBHA values and goals, regulations, and policies and procedures, and meet all documentation standards and regulatory requirements. NTBHA is seeking a person with excellent organizational and clinical skills and forensic experience to provide jail-based assessments and behavioral health services to individuals that have been incarcerated to ensure continuity of care. Ellis County Jail-Based Care Coordinators will bridge the potential gap in services between incarceration and outpatient providers by assisting in providing care for jailed clients in the NTBHA service area. Their role is to perform complex care coordination and assessment to assist in identifying strengths and needs to eliminate barriers and to connect incarcerated clients with mental health providers in an appropriate level of care once they are released. This role begins while the individual is still incarcerated, and cooperation and coordination with outside providers and jail administrators is important. The position will also provide limited behavioral health services, skill training, competency restoration skills training, psychosocial rehab services, outreach and engagement with released inmates and referrals from patrol, and ensuring access to care including behavioral health medications. Care Coordinators will also conduct initial assessments required by the Sandra Bland Act and related laws. The Ellis County Jail-Based Care Coordinator will actively participate in treatment team meetings and coordinate with jail mental health providers as well as community partners and providers to determine the best treatment options and ensure continuity of care from intake to discharge and through outpatient provider engagement. Intake coordination can include assisting in the identification of both inpatient and outpatient care of jailed clients prior to incarceration and assisting the jail mental health provider in accessing this information. Discharge plan coordination can include referral of clients to appropriate outpatient providers and specialized teams as well as coordination with mental health courts and providing clinical and social history information to these organizations; this will also include identification of potential barriers to engagement and plans for managing these. Follow up responsibilities would include monitoring engagement of outpatient teams with individuals that have been referred to providers and released into the community. Ellis County Jail-Based Care Coordinators will communicate consistently and effectively with other NTBHA staff regarding clients’ progress, barriers, and needs. They will be expected to work closely and collaboratively with jail staff, community mental health agencies and relevant criminal justice personnel such as caseworkers, judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors, and/or forensic psychologists and psychiatrists regarding clients’ progress towards release and engagement in the community. This position will provide additional skills training, case management, and case monitoring in conjunction with a client’s existing or planned community agency caseworker. Targeting identified individual risk and needs relative to reducing recidivism, re-offending, hospitalization and/or homelessness will be central. The Care Coordinator will utilize NTBHA and HHSC curriculum and tools to provide for individualized services. This position may require travel throughout the counties served by NTBHA: Dallas, Ellis, Rockwall, Kaufman, Navarro, and Hunt. Reliable transportation and valid driver’s license and car insurance is required. May require cellular availability after hours and flexible work hours to meet program needs. Responsible for adherence to and compliance with NTBHA policies and procedures as well as state and federal regulatory codes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, behavioral health, criminal justice, or related field.
Minimum of one year of experience in a law enforcement or correctional setting (county or local jail or detention center, state prison, state jail, or federal correctional center, probation, parole, or law enforcement or similar) involving direct care/contact with incarcerated individuals.
Minimum of two years of experience in outpatient mental health working with individuals having severe persistent mental illness and substance use disorders that includes crisis services, or two years of experience with a Master’s degree.
Experience in providing psychosocial education, skills training, or teaching, particularly with the target population.
Experience with participating in a treatment team that develops and monitors treatment plans for persons with severe persistent mental illness and substance use disorders.
Knowledge of the Texas criminal justice system in general and Ellis County courts.
Knowledge of the various community resources and providers within the NTBHA service area including (but not limited to) supportive housing and employment, shelters, food banks, social service agencies, charities, medical and behavioral health providers, and other resources for the indigent population.
Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license. Pass and maintain a clear background record as required for healthcare organization under state and federal contracts.
Clear and maintain CJIS and other security and background clearance measures required by the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office and courts.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual ability preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Use NTBHA’s approved curriculum and assessments with clients in accordance with their developmental and cognitive abilities as well as their mental health status and symptoms.
Conduct assessments, systems review, continuity of care, care coordination, and services as required by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 16.22, 17.032, and related statutes and present assessments in accordance with time requirements of related statutes.
Provide competency restoration materials for appropriately screened inmates and make determinations on the readiness of inmates for restoration assessments.
Provide skills training and psychosocial rehab services for appropriate inmates.
Assist in screening for lethality and imminent harm.
Operate in accordance with jail rules, able to work in secure corrective setting, present information to courts and court personnel appropriately.
Assist clients while they are incarcerated in accessing appropriate mental health services and facilitate their release to ensure continuity of care.
Closely coordinate with provider agencies to ensure continuity of care and eliminate or minimize gaps in service connection on release from jail.
Assist care coordination and outreach and engagement efforts with referrals from patrol or emergency detentions with the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office.
Monitor the client’s progress and accurately report to NTBHA as well as partner agencies regarding the client’s mental health needs in compliance with the client’s rights as well as all relevant State and Federal statutes, local court rules, and NTBHA policies and procedures.
Develop and maintain rapport with criminal justice-involved persons using modalities such as Motivational Interviewing in order to communicate and relate legal concepts through oral and written means.
Develop and maintain rapport with the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office and various courts, jails, attorneys, and administrative systems involved with incarcerated clients in Ellis County.
Prepare, create, and maintain records, files, documents, reports, and correspondence both within NTBHA and partner agencies and organizations.
Work with other NTBHA employees, members of partner agencies and organizations, as well as the target population and their families in a constructive and efficient fashion.
Maintain timely and accurate records of work duties and client information.
Other duties assigned by NTBHA.