Inmate Caseworker

Oakland County • Pontiac, MI

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is onsite. Do you have a passion for helping people during their most challenging times? As an Inmate Caseworker, you’ll play a vital role in supporting the mental health and well-being of inmates at the Oakland County Jail. You’ll conduct evaluations, provide counseling, and connect individuals to services that promote safety, stability, and successful re-entry into the community. This position is critical to both inmate care and the overall safety of the facility.

Requirements

• Possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Criminal Justice or closely related field of study.
• Have not been convicted of a violation of criminal law. (Criminal law generally includes all offenses except traffic law, conservation law and liquor law. Generally, conviction for a violation of criminal law is automatically disqualifying.)
• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's or chauffeur's license.
• Must maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's chauffeur's license.
• A background investigation will be conducted covering an evaluation of employment, school, home, criminal, military, or other personal records.
• Any conviction or convictions for moving traffic violations, accidents, non-moving traffic violations, or violations of other laws will be reviewed by the Sheriff Office before an applicant can be appointed.
• Information obtained during the background investigation will be considered in the hiring decision.
• Convictions of the Domestic Violence Statute will be a disqualifying factor.
• Ability to communicate to accurately convey information.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle and/or be a passenger.

Nice To Haves

• A Master's degree in one of the academic fields listed above may be substituted for one year of experience.
• Considerable familiarity with correctional institutions and the criminal justice system.
• Considerable experience and skill in interviewing and counseling practices, procedures, and techniques.
• Reasonable knowledge of correction practices, procedures, and resources, including casework, group work and community organization methods.
• Reasonable ability to prepare and present clinical written and oral reports.
• Reasonable ability to work with and gain the cooperation of criminal offenders.
• Reasonable ability to communicate under adverse conditions with distressed people.
• Reasonable ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with people.
• Reasonable ability to cope with difficult situations requiring immediate decisions in accordance with departmental policies and objectives.
• Reasonable ability to formulate plans of social and economic rehabilitation for individual cases.
• Reasonable ability to utilize current word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail, and Internet software.

Responsibilities

• Conduct evaluation interviews with inmates to assess needs and problems.
• Refer inmates to appropriate service programs or a consulting psychiatrist when necessary.
• Determine cell placement for suicidal inmates to ensure safety.
• Provide mental health services, including crisis intervention, suicide prevention, substance abuse counseling, and group or individual therapy.
• Coordinate pre- and post-release referrals to community human service agencies.
• Remain on call for afterhours emergencies on a rotating basis with other Inmate Caseworkers.
• Utilize Countywide and department-specific software to complete assignments and maintain accurate records.
• Conducts interviews to assess the mental and physical health of inmates in order to determine a program/treatment plan and cell placement if appropriate.
• Refers inmates to consulting psychiatrist or other jail services such as chaplain, jail clinic, substance abuse, support groups, etc.
• Provides crisis intervention on an emergency basis as referred by the jail staff, inmate, inmate's family, or others.
• Identifies suicidal inmates and determines cell placement and level of suicide watch.
• Performs a variety of inmate assessments, which include suicide watch and behavioral reviews, disciplinary/administrative segregation cell placement.
• Provides individual and group counseling, including cell counseling, relative to situational, interpersonal, and mental health problems.
• Monitors inmates presenting unusual behavioral or health issues and ensures that inmate receives appropriate care.
• Maintains timely documentation of all client and related contacts.
• Contacts inmate's family and other parties in order to gather additional information and to offer assistance in the form of family counseling and/or referral to community services.
• Confers with corrections staff and probation staff regarding issues of a particular case and/or provides specific recommendations.
• Consults with health professionals and/or psychiatrist relative to case progress, current treatment, and future treatment for inmates on caseload.
• Remains available for crisis intervention counseling in response to inmate emergencies, which may occur beyond normal office hours and/or during weekends on a rotating schedule with the other Inmate Caseworkers.
• Coordinates forensic evaluations and hospitalization of inmates.
• Ensures inmate's appointment and timely documentation with the court and facilitates transportation arrangements when needed.
• Conducts pre‑release group counseling with inmates to prepare them for release and make referrals to community agencies as needed.
• Arranges and monitors on‑going pre-release and arranges post‑release human services for inmates such as mental health counseling, employment, education, housing, etc. when appropriate.
• May participate in the implementation of new departmental programming.
• Utilizes current Countywide and/or department specific software to complete assignments.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Comprehensive benefits
• Opportunity to do meaningful work that matters
• For more information about Oakland County benefits and employee perks, please visit: https://www.oakgov.com/government/human-resources/benefits/new-hire

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level