Mental Health Professional / in Fort Collins

CorrHealth•Longmont, CO

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Mental Health Professional provides mental health services to inmates or clients in a correctional facility, applying clinical expertise and skills to support an optimal level of care and therapeutic outcomes. The role includes assessment, treatment planning, crisis intervention, consultation, documentation, and coordination with healthcare and security staff. Work is performed inside a correctional facility, where employees may face risks from inmates and exposure to blood-borne pathogens. The employee must follow facility security rules and applicable laws, regulations, directives, and policies, and treat coworkers, correctional personnel, inmates, and third parties with dignity and respect. The position is scheduled Sunday through Wednesday, working 10-hour shifts. The employee must maintain required certifications, education, and licensure; hold current CPR/BLS certification and a TB test taken within the past year; complete facility security training and orientation; and pass a background check and pre-employment drug test, as applicable. The employee must also comply with HIPAA requirements and facility policies and procedures, and be willing to assist coworkers and work overtime if required. Duties may change at any time and are not limited to those listed.

Requirements

Master's-level education in Clinical Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, or a related field.
Applicable licensure in one of the following: LCPC, LPCC, LPC, LCSW, LMSW, LMHC, LMFT, LAC, or LSW.
Current CPR/BLS certification.
Current TB test taken within one year.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing, with coworkers, supervisors, jail administration, and patients.
Excellent verbal and written comprehension.
Excellent deductive reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent organizational skills.
Ability to use a computer and use or learn a variety of software, including site-specific computer programs.
Ability to appropriately and safely use standard medical equipment.
Ability to respect the dignity and confidentiality of inmates.
Ability to remain stationary and move throughout the facility, including up and down flights of stairs, and to position oneself in different spaces.
Ability to communicate with patients, convey and discern information in conversation, and exchange accurate information.
Ability to identify and detect objects and assess situations from a variety of distances.
Ability to remain calm in stressful and demanding situations.
Ability to frequently transport objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
Must complete security training and facility safety orientation.
Must pass a background check and pre-employment drug test, as applicable.
Must comply with facility policies and procedures, HIPAA requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.

Nice To Haves

Correctional mental health experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Conduct intakes, evaluations, and assessments for inmates referred by appropriate security, healthcare, or community staff, and for inmates requesting mental health services; refer patients to nursing services based on reported symptoms.
Identify mental health symptoms and treatment needs, including the need for special housing or watch, and make recommendations to healthcare and security staff.
Coordinate with physicians, prescribers, psychiatrists, and other staff to support patient evaluation and care.
Identify, recommend, and provide non-pharmacological treatments when appropriate.
Provide mental health crisis and suicide intervention and management for the facility.
Provide clinical supervision and treatment plans for inmates on the caseload.
Monitor the conditions and treatment needs of special inmate populations.
Provide staff training on relevant mental health issues.
Attend treatment-team, multidisciplinary, classification, and other required administrative meetings; participate in CQI and/or QA studies and group sessions.
Provide treatment services throughout all areas of the facility.
Consult with security and healthcare staff regarding patient behavior, safety concerns, and other mental health concerns.
Provide linkage and/or discharge planning services when necessary or appropriate.
Document services and encounters accurately, make notes accessible to staff, and maintain organized, legible notes to support information transfer.
When applicable, participate in treatment programming and planning discussions for problem cases, medication follow-up and monitoring, and general psychiatric input.
When applicable, initiate involuntary hospitalization for inmates requiring transfer to outside mental health facilities and complete related paperwork.
Maintain required certifications, educational requirements, and licensure.
Maintain current CPR/BLS certification and a current TB test taken within one year.
Follow facility policies and procedures, the Employee Handbook, and applicable security rules and regulations.
Assist coworkers with job duties and work overtime if required; act as a resource to coworkers when appropriate.
Protect the confidentiality, dignity, and security of health records and protected health information in compliance with HIPAA.
Complete security training and orientation on facility safety policies and procedures.
Comply with applicable current and future laws, regulations, court orders, directives, standards, and site and professional-organization policies.
Treat team members, correctional personnel, inmates, and third parties with dignity and respect.