Forensic ACT Clinician

Upstate Cerebral Palsy • Utica, NY

98d • $70,000 - $80,000

About The Position

The Clinician on the Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) team delivers person-centered, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed services to individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) who are currently or formerly involved in the justice system. The Clinician applies evidence-based clinical theory and methods to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders, with a focus on addressing criminogenic needs and promoting long-term community integration. The Clinician engages in therapeutic interventions, provides individual and group therapy, and collaborates with multidisciplinary team members to ensure continuity of care and coordinated support. The Clinician promotes recovery by supporting consumer involvement in service planning, building protective factors, and fostering personal choice and empowerment. In this role, the Clinician serves as both a direct care provider and a clinical consultant to the team, helping to shape interventions that reduce risk of reoffending, support harm reduction, and promote wellness across domains including housing, employment, health, and legal involvement. This job description aligns with the New York State Office of Mental Health's guidelines for Forensic ACT programs, emphasizing a comprehensive, team-based approach to delivering mental health services to justice-involved individuals.

Requirements

• Active and unrestricted professional licensure in NYS as a Psychologist, Social Worker (LCSW or LMSW), or Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) required; required to be aligned with qualifications as an LPHA.
• Minimum of 2 years of clinical experience in outpatient and/or community based mental health services preferred.
• Experience working with justice-involved individuals and familiarity with the criminal justice system are strongly preferred.
• Expertise in antisocial behaviors, personality traits, and evidence-based interventions preferred.
• Travel is required. Must have a valid NYS Driver's License.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intake screenings and comprehensive biopsychosocial and risk assessments, including use of standardized tools such as the Violence Risk Screening (VRS), HCR-20, START, and LS/CMI, to support accurate diagnoses and development of individualized, person-centered service plans for individuals involved in the criminal justice system.
• Provide evidence-based individual and group psychotherapeutic interventions (e.g., CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing) tailored to the needs of individuals with serious mental illness, co-occurring substance use disorders, and criminogenic risk factors.
• Promote recovery-oriented and strengths-based care through active collaboration with the individual in the development of individualized service plans (ISPs), crisis safety plans, and ongoing review of recovery goals and progress.
• Participate as an integral member of the multidisciplinary Forensic ACT team in daily team meetings, shared caseload discussions, and coordinated treatment delivery, maintaining fidelity to the ACT model.
• Document all services, interventions, and contacts in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) in a timely manner, in accordance with NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), Department of Health (DOH), and Medicaid regulations, as well as agency policy.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable privacy and confidentiality laws and standards, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, as well as agency-specific confidentiality practices.
• Ensure compliance with all pertinent government and agency regulations and operating standards.
• Serve as a core clinical team member and contribute to team-based decision-making, interdisciplinary collaboration, and integrated care planning, particularly in partnership with criminal justice entities (e.g., courts, parole, probation).
• Meet caseload management standards in alignment with OMH ACT expectations, while balancing engagement and clinical effectiveness.
• Encourage and facilitate the involvement of family members, chosen supports, and natural supports in the treatment and recovery process, while respecting the individual's preferences and consent.
• Provide direct linkage to behavioral health, medical, housing, legal, and vocational services; initiate and coordinate referrals; and engage in case management activities that address social determinants of health and criminogenic needs.
• Ensure all services are delivered within the provider's scope of practice, aligned with relevant licensure and professional standards.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; and participating in professional conferences.
• Provide Crisis/On call Services as scheduled.
• Requires occasional travel for client home visits, court hearings, and community-based services.
• Certain deadlines and unanticipated developments may require work during evenings, weekends, or holidays.
• This role functions as a member of an interdisciplinary and collaborative team and operates in collaborative and integrated workspaces.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health/Dental/Vision
• Direct Deposit
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Retirement Plan 403(b)
• Life Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous PTO Plans (Sick, Vacation and Employee Leave)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Service Awards
• Employee Appreciation Events
• Employee Discounts

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Social Assistance
• Education Level: Master's degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees