Mental Health Court Therapist #1910 - Mental Health Court - Unassigned Division

Hamilton County • Chattanooga, TN

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Under general supervision, with a focus on high-risk individuals, this position provides individual therapy for Mental Health Court participants and facilitates evidence-based curriculums in group settings. The therapist will provide critical client support to justice-involved individuals who are mental health consumers, by helping clients navigate a system of services within Mental Health Court and in partner agencies. This is a Fair Labor Standards Act defined Exempt Position, meaning employees are paid a salary rather than an hourly wage and are excluded from minimum wage, overtime regulations, and other rights and protections afforded nonexempt workers. Hamilton County Government expects an employee in this position to complete the work assigned regardless the amount of hours involved in completing the tasks assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work (MSW), counseling, marriage and family therapy, or in a related field.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Licensure (in good standing) with the State of Tennessee as a LCSW, LPC, or LPC-MHSP.
• Knowledge of applicable State of Tennessee statutes, rules, administrative orders, policies, and procedures, applicable Federal rules and requirements.
• Knowledge of therapy methods, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of Hamilton County Policies and Procedures.
• Knowledge of social work and mental health methods, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of record keeping, case and records management.
• Skill in clinical skills using a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, gender responsive framework for working with individuals and families.
• Skill in working independently and in a team environment.
• Skill in organizing, planning, developing, supervising, and managing program/events and prioritizing work with strong problem-solving.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system, counseling techniques, and available system and community resources.
• Skill in engaging clients who may respond negatively to outreach efforts.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with vulnerable and incapacitated persons, other professional agencies, and the public.
• Skill and ability to tactfully communicate with non-voluntary clients in order to establish rapport and gain their confidence, cooperation, and best effort.
• Skill in effective conflict resolution and negotiation.
• Skill in practicing cultural sensitivity and emphasizing a safe and respectful environment for all.
• Skill managing upset and/or confrontational participants or family members.
• Skill in building relationships with partners, the community, and clients.
• Skill utilizing verbal and written communication in providing presentations, counseling, educational materials.
• Skill in building relationships with partners, the community, and clients.
• Skill in utilizing verbal and written communication in providing presentations, therapy, educational materials, facilitating meetings, and providing instructions.
• Skill in operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of software applications with proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Skill in exercising good judgment and effective decision-making.
• Skill in preparing and maintaining policies and procedures.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a criminal justice or court setting is preferred.
• Experience working with a justice-involved population is preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) speaking is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides crisis intervention, needs/risk assessment, individual and group therapy services, and referrals for clients.
• Builds rapport with clients as an essential function.
• Performs community outreach via information and service referral.
• Develops and updates individual treatment plans.
• Maintains, updates, and manages files, records, and other paperwork associated with individual files.
• Works within a multi-disciplinary mental health court treatment team to monitor participant’s progress throughout the program.
• Attends and participates in Mental Health Court hearings and staff meetings.
• Arranges for necessary accommodations to be provided during hearings for participants with special needs.
• May coordinate and/or participate in/on a variety of meetings, conferences, and other related events in order to receive and convey information.
• May facilitate some training and supervision for volunteers and interns.
• May work a varied schedule that may sometimes include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays; will work across two work site locations; works with volunteers, community resources, and others as needed to accomplish goals and objectives of the area of assignment.
• Meets with participants at two Mental Health Court work sites, at treatment providers, in Court, and at other places, as necessary.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• May require occasional travel and on-call duties.
• Prior to operating a County-owned vehicle, all employees are required to complete the HC Defensive Driving course and/or an Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) provided at the department level.

What This Job Offers

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