Jail Navigator

Betty Hardwick Center•Abilene, TX

10h•Onsite

About The Position

This position will be housed at the Taylor County Jail. This person will work with inmates identified as having mental health issues either in the jail or being brought to the jail. This person will serve a a liaison between incarcerated inmates, the judicial system, families and other resources. Duties will include performing assessments to determine most appropriate level of care, obtaining social and medical history, assessing their social support network, working with families and coordinating a Release Plan to insure a smooth transition to the community upon release. If the person is not incarcerated and is able to be diverted to community services, they will assist these individuals with jail diversion services. Jail Navigator will be the main contact for all jail in-reach efforts and will work closely with attorney's, judges, DA's, to ensure the best possible outcome for those waiting on competency restoration at a State hospital. Jail Navigator will also work closely with Betty Hardwick Center Medical Director and Nurse Supervisor to identify inmates that are non-compliant with medications while incarcerated to have them evaluated for compelled medications. These services could include providing assessments, referring to community resources, coordinating services with family members when appropriate, and referring to the most appropriate level of care. The primary focus of this position will be on working with jail staff to identify those persons in need of mental health services and diverting them from jail whenever possible. This position requires the ability to: identify problems in needed areas; work under pressure and stressful situations in a professional manner; be thorough in assessment and documentation; and develop a positive working relationship with all jail staff in each county jail and each consumer while setting healthy boundaries and working within the scope of your assigned duties identified by the MOU. The scheduled hours are Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm.

Requirements

Requires a Bachelors Degree in Psychology or a Human Services Field from an accredited college or university.
Must be eligible to be certified as a Qualified Mental Health Professional.
Must possess a valid Texas Drivers License and be an insurable driver.
Ability to identify problems in needed areas
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations in a professional manner
Ability to be thorough in assessment and documentation
Ability to develop a positive working relationship with all jail staff in each county jail and each consumer while setting healthy boundaries and working within the scope of your assigned duties identified by the MOU

Nice To Haves

Prefer previous mental health work experience with adult consumers with an emphasis on assessment and referral coordination.
Familiarity with the criminal justice system is a plus.

Responsibilities

Performing assessments to determine most appropriate level of care
Obtaining social and medical history
Assessing social support network
Working with families
Coordinating a Release Plan to insure a smooth transition to the community upon release
Assisting individuals with jail diversion services
Being the main contact for all jail in-reach efforts
Working closely with attorney's, judges, DA's, to ensure the best possible outcome for those waiting on competency restoration at a State hospital
Working closely with Betty Hardwick Center Medical Director and Nurse Supervisor to identify inmates that are non-compliant with medications while incarcerated to have them evaluated for compelled medications
Providing assessments
Referring to community resources
Coordinating services with family members when appropriate
Referring to the most appropriate level of care
Working with jail staff to identify those persons in need of mental health services and diverting them from jail whenever possible