Mental Health Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION

SUMMARY

The Mental Health Specialist provides clinical services including assessment, screening, brief therapy, crisis intervention, and community referrals for patients in a correctional setting. This position plays a key role in identifying and addressing mental health needs while collaborating with medical, mental health, and custody staff to promote patient well-being and safety.

Functional Responsibilities
• Conducts emergency clinical assessments for individuals referred due to emotional or behavioral distress.
• Reviews and co-signs all mental health screening intakes completed by nursing staff for new arrivals.
• Develops individualized treatment plans addressing housing, medication referral, counseling, and community treatment needs.
• Conducts initial clinical assessments within three (3) days for individuals identified as high risk.
• Provides brief individual or group counseling when clinically appropriate.
• Performs assessments on individuals placed on suicide precautions and, in consultation with mental health staff, determines the need to continue, modify, or discontinue such precautions.
• Assists individuals with mental illness in accessing community services upon release.
• Cooperates with requests for information from the judicial system while maintaining compliance with HIPAA regulations.
• Maintains daily and monthly statistics on patient contacts and demographic data.
• Attends bi-monthly staff meetings and other required CFG or facility meetings.
• Participates in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) initiatives and assists in conducting CQI studies.
• Provides or assists in training custody staff on mental health topics, as requested or required by the facility.
• Completes all required documentation and clinical notes accurately and promptly.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements
• Master's degree preferred.
• Professional certification required; clinical license preferred.
• Knowledge of the judicial, correctional, and mental health systems.
• Understanding of clinical theory and practice with emphasis on crisis intervention.
• Familiarity with community resources and referral processes.
• Competence in assessment, interviewing, and counseling techniques.
• Working knowledge in recognizing and treating serious and persistent mental illness, and interventions for behaviorally disordered individuals.
• Awareness of suicide prevention and management strategies.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team and cooperate with medical and custody staff.
• Availability for on-call support to the facility during off-hours.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Physical Demands/ Working Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon written request.

• Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and lift light materials.
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to use hands and fingers to handle or operate standard office equipment.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing.