Therapeutic Courts Case Manager - District Court

Spokane County

6d•$49,959 - $69,986•Onsite

About The Position

The position allocated to this class is responsible for professional case management, including the monitoring and facilitation of services for assigned adult participants in the Spokane Regional Mental Health Court (SRMHC). This position is responsible for becoming well-informed on agency, County, State, and court policies, procedures and regulations; applying basic diagnostic and counseling principles; efficiently referring to and utilizing community resources; and utilizing available resources in determining the best alternative for a given situation or case. Under the direction of the Mental Health Therapeutic Court Support Team Manager, work is performed with considerable independence and evaluated on the attainment of the program’s goals and objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Psychology, Social Services or a closely related field.
Three (3) years of professional work experience.
A valid Driver’s License is required.
Incumbents must also pass a Background investigation and all other County Court Services pre-employment requirements.
Knowledge of principles and practices of social work and case management techniques used in the assigned program arena.
Knowledge of federal regulations and state laws applicable to the program assigned.
Knowledge of contract administration and compliance.
Knowledge of current information pertaining to the symptoms, control, treatment and effects of substance abuse, mental illness and family dynamics in families dealing with chronic illness.
Knowledge of advanced interviewing skills.
Knowledge of community inpatient and outpatient treatment resources.
Knowledge of public and private social services providers within the community and community resources and programs available to clients with identified needs.
Knowledge of collaborative case planning.
Knowledge of de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques.
Knowledge of computer applications related to the work including proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
Knowledge of record keeping principles and practices; correct business English, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Knowledge of techniques for interacting with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, in person and over the telephone.
Knowledge of programs and eligibility requirements for the Social Security Administration, Washington State Medicaid, Spokane County Social Services and other relevant programs.
Skilled in communicating effectively both orally and in writing, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction.
Skilled in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
Skilled in the use of personal computer applications and related software.
Ability to work cooperatively and courteously with: co-workers, supervisors, judges, court personnel, police officers, attorneys, various mental health advocacy groups and staff members from public and private agencies.
Ability to analyze, interpret, apply and explain applicable complex laws, codes, regulations and procedures.
Ability to assess cases appropriately and utilize the most appropriate community resources to provide effective client services.
Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with program participants.
Ability to de-escalate crises and tense and potentially violent situations.
Ability to prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials.
Ability to use initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines; organize own work, set priorities and meet critical deadlines.
Ability to perform all related duties with accuracy and efficiency.

Nice To Haves

Direct client service experience may substitute, on a year for year basis, for the education requirement.
Master’s Degree is preferred.
Certification as a Substance Abuse Counselor is desired.

Responsibilities

Interviews individuals, reviews records and confers with other professionals to determine the mental health, chemical dependency, and psychosocial needs of program participants.
Provides needs assessment for new participants; identifies gaps in services and makes appropriate referral in the community for needed resources.
Facilitates and links participants with needed services based on treatment needs, treatment plans and community provider reports.
Provides care coordination services and facilitates referrals to SRMHC participants, including the coordination of housing, financial benefits, medical care, mental health treatment, chemical dependency treatment, and basic needs for participants.
Assists with identifying, developing, organizing and supervising participants’ services.
Serves as liaison between community providers and the Court.
Works closely with community providers to create treatment plans that meet the needs of individuals along with addressing legal issues.
Reports to the court on participants’ progress and actively participates in team staffings and court hearings.
Attends court hearings to answer questions for defendants, treatment team members and the Judge.
Reviews court procedures and the program with new participants including rules of court, court hearings, and appropriate conduct in court, program incentives/sanctions, expectations and graduation.
Confers weekly with the Mental Health Court Team on participants’ performance and progress in treatment.
Submits Non-Compliance reports to the court and attends all court hearings for program participants.
Identifies psychosocial, economic and physical needs of clients; assesses and reassesses client’s support systems, available community resources and other factors to plan, develop and implement an appropriate treatment plan, risk assessment and management and assessment of progress.
Develops and implements a case plan for each assigned participant; utilizes intervention strategies to meet client needs including treatment, alternative placement, job training, socialization, housing, legal and medical intervention and financial assistance according to state and federal regulatory guidelines and budget limitations.
Provides ongoing case management services by monitoring delivery of services and quality of care; regularly re-evaluates client needs including ongoing eligibility for services, tracks client progress and well-being, evaluates case plan effectiveness and effectively manages resources to prevent conflicting case plans and duplication of services.
Conducts screenings to determine individual’s eligibility for the court.
Prepares necessary documents weekly for court and court staffing meetings, attends all SRMHC Court proceedings, and status conferences for participants.
Makes professional reports and recommendations to the court while on the record.
Maintains individual records and all other required documentation in a timely, confidential and organized manner, in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
Collaborates with the Jail Mental Health Team and the SPD Behavioral Health Unit to coordinate existing supports.
Establishes coordination of services upon release, monitors defendants as they re-enter the community and acts as liaison between jail staff, community providers and the court.
Works closely with probation officers, caseworkers and other referral sources.
Maintains professional credentials, including continuing education to stay current in the field of mental health.
Attends program seminars as required, attends mental health court meetings, maintains engagement with community agencies; provides education regarding the program requirements and success of participants.
Maintains a log/database of contacts, assessments, referrals, counseling, consultation behavioral and treatment plans and other information obtained relative to an individual case; contacts and corresponds with other agencies related to the individual case in order to monitor activity and progress.
Actively participates in outreach efforts and other initiatives to support participants and/or the SRMHC.
Performs other related duties as assigned.