Lead Mental Health Clinician

Overview Position Summary The Senior Clinician (Lead Mental Health Clinician) provides advanced clinical services and leadership within the correctional mental health program. This role delivers direct patient care while supporting clinical operations, guiding frontline staff, and ensuring adherence to CFG policies, NCCHC standards, and facility protocols. The Senior Clinician serves as a key clinical resource for high-risk cases, including suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and management of serious mental illness, while promoting a safe, therapeutic, and well-coordinated treatment environment. Responsibilities Provide advanced clinical assessment, crisis intervention, and treatment services for patients with mental health and behavioral health needs. In the absence of the Director of Mental Health, conduct and oversee suicide risk assessments and make clinical recommendations regarding initiation, continuation, or discontinuation of precautions. Consultation with a doctorate level or higher must occur. Serve as a clinical lead and resource for Mental Health Specialists and clinicians, providing guidance and supervision on complex or high-risk cases. Review and support completion of mental health intakes, screenings, and clinical documentation to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance. Develop, review, and update individualized treatment plans, including housing recommendations, referrals, and level-of-care determinations. Assist in triaging referrals, prioritizing high-acuity cases, and supporting daily clinical workflow. Provide brief therapy, counseling, and behavioral interventions as clinically appropriate. Collaborate with psychiatry, medical, and custody staff to ensure coordinated and safe patient care. Provide clinical consultation to custody staff regarding behavioral management and mental health concerns. Assist with discharge planning, referrals, and linkage to community-based services. Participate in case reviews, multidisciplinary team meetings, and program development initiatives, e.g. Classification, Special Needs, and Mental Health/Medical conferences. Support training and education of clinical and custody staff on mental health topics, including crisis response and suicide prevention. Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the Electronic Health Record (EHR). Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, audits, and data tracking initiatives. Assist leadership with implementation of policies, procedures, and program enhancements. Perform all other duties as assigned. Collaborate with the Director of Mental Health and oversee the clinical needs and programming of the Step-Down Unit (2E1). Monitor the Forensic I.II, III population within the facility and maintain compliance with clinical guidelines for this population. Organizational Expectations Provides a positive and professional representation of CFG Health Systems, LLC. Promotes a culture of safety for patients and employees through proper identification, reporting, documentation, and prevention. Maintains competency and knowledge of current standards of practice, trends, and developments related to the scope of the role, including but not limited to ACA, NCCHC, and NJ State Guidelines. Adheres to infection control policies, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations, as applicable. Participates in ongoing quality improvement activities. Completes required orientation and training as directed by the facility. Follows facility policies, OSHA safety rules, and procedures while on assignment. Follows facility and CFG Health Systems Occurrence Protocol. Upholds HIPAA and PREA regulations. Demonstrates punctuality and dependability for assigned and confirmed shifts. Maintains required security clearance for the assigned facility. Skills & Competencies Advanced clinical assessment, diagnostic, and decision-making skills. Strong knowledge of mental health interventions, crisis management, and de-escalation techniques. Ability to manage high-acuity and behaviorally complex patients. Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team, including custody staff. Proficiency in Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems. Physical Demands The physical demands described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made, upon written request, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. May be required to stand, sit, walk, reach, bend, kneel, crouch, or stretch for prolonged periods. Ability to communicate effectively and understand written and verbal communication. Ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Position Impact This role serves as the clinical bridge between frontline staff and leadership, ensuring high-risk patients receive timely, appropriate care while supporting staff development, operational efficiency, and overall program integrity. Qualifications Education Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field. Experience Minimum of 3–5 years of clinical experience in mental health, behavioral health, or related field required. Experience in correctional health, inpatient, or acute care settings preferred. Demonstrated experience with crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment, and serious mental illness required. Prior leadership or supervisory experience preferred. Licensure & Certification Active, unrestricted clinical license in the State of New Jersey (LCSW, LPC, Psy.D., Ph.D., etc.) required. CPR certification required or must be obtained upon hire. #J-18808-Ljbffr CFG Health