Mental Health Clinician

The Organization

SSG-Project 180 turns lives around through innovative, wraparound services that keep people out of institutions and in their communities. Project 180 is a leader in the forensic treatment space, offering high-quality, specialized treatment programs that serve thousands of justice-involved individuals. Our programs span criminal justice intercepts and include pre-arrest interventions, court-based diversions, jail in-reach, and intensive post-release services. Project 180 operates in partnership with County agencies including the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Department of Health Services (DHS), and the Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD).

The Program

The Rapid Diversion Program (RDP) is a County-operated program that diverts criminal defendants out of the criminal legal system at the early stages of the court process. The program provides in-court mental health evaluation, linkage to treatment services, and case management support to participants, whose criminal case is dismissed upon successful program completion. 

The Position

The RDP Mental Health Clinician is based out of a LA County courthouse. This individual screens defendants for program suitability,  formulates treatment plans, and provides ongoing clinical recommendations and expertise to the team. In addition, this role is responsible for linking new RDP clients to appropriate services and resources as recommended in their treatment plan. A successful candidate will demonstrate both strong clinical judgment and a robust understanding of mental health and substance abuse treatment programs within the system of care, adeptly forge partnerships with service providers, and work with urgency to facilitate program connections for defendants in LA County criminal courts in mental health diversion. This position reports to the RDP Program Supervisor and actively coordinates with external stakeholders and the case management team at their courthouse. Success in this role requires working collaboratively in a fast-paced environment with diverse stakeholders in pursuit of client diversion and success.

Essential Functions

Assess potential RDP participants and make diversion recommendations to the court

• Engage potential diversion participants in services. Provide brief motivational intervention and information related to services offered through the RDP program. 
• Review collateral information (i.e. discovery provided by the client’s defense attorney, mental health treatment history) and conduct a clinical interview. Assessment to include but not be limited to mental health diagnosis, readiness for change and needed community linkages.  
• Formulate a diagnosis, comprehensive treatment plan and recommendations to court for potential diversion. 
• Engage and join with collaterals (family members, court) as appropriate. Provide education related to mental health recovery to better support clients. Engage in client advocacy.
• Conduct reassessments when requested and make recommendations regarding ongoing participation in RDP and modify treatment recommendations as needed. 
• Service delivery is consistent with ethical standards and a harm reduction, strength based, trauma informed framework. 

Link clients to appropriate treatment services 

• Identify and enroll clients in appropriate treatment programs (e.g. residential substance treatment, mental health clinics, etc.), moving with particular urgency for clients in custody.
• Support clients to accept, participate in, and adhere to their treatment programs, using techniques such as motivational interviewing and facilitating problem solving. 
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of behavioral health treatment programs and community resources and how to navigate the LA County system of care. Establish and maintain relationships with community treatment providers and resources. 

Coordinate participant treatment program with court-based needs

• Support new clients in understanding the court process, appropriate court conduct, and their specific responsibilities for diversion. Ensure clients are aware of and attend upcoming court dates as needed.
• Maintain a detailed log of client progress and status of pending linkages.
• Collaborate with defense attorney to understand any court-based requirements and coordinate efforts. Provide routine linkage updates.
• Engage and join with collaterals (family members, court) as appropriate. Provide education related to accessing mental health recovery services to better support clients. Engage in client advocacy. 
• Service delivery is consistent with ethical standards and a harm reduction, strength based, trauma informed framework. 
• Collaborate with RDP Supervisor/Clinician throughout the screening, treatment recommendation processes and linkages to ensure alignment.

Coordinate day-to-day operations with external stakeholders and case management team

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with RDP court staff, including but not limited to judges, judicial assistants and attorneys. 
• Track court dates and submit thorough, high quality diversion reports per program guidelines. 
• Liaise with case management team and court staff regarding treatment plan and the status of any pending linkages. Ensure Case Managers clearly understand the clients responsibilities for diversion so that they are able to effectively support clients and complete linkages as needed. 
• Collaborate with public and private community health, mental health, and social service agencies. 

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain comprehensive case notes in the electronic health record per program guidelines.
• Participate in program data collection per program guidelines.

Fulfill baseline Project 180 staff expectations

• Regular attendance required. Holiday or weekend work may be required.
• Maintain and uphold Agency mission statement, values, policies, procedures, and principles.
• Perform other duties as needed.
• Maintain active license and/or registrations as applicable (i.e. BBS, CCAPP).
• Licensed Clinicians Only:
  • Participate in the Division’s 24-hour crisis line on a two-week rotating basis a few times per year (includes pay differential).
  • Maintain Los Angeles County active LPS designation.
  • Conduct clinical risk assessments and, when appropriate, facilitate psychiatric hospitalizations and/or develop safety plans.

Skills and Abilities

• Clinical Expertise: Provides clinical care with a focus on high-quality service delivery.
• Empathetic, strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Culturally competent: Understands and is sensitive to diverse backgrounds and needs.
• Resourceful: Efficiently navigates and utilizes resources available.
• Collaborative: Able to work in diverse teams to solve complex issues. 
• Proactive: Anticipates potential issues, and takes the initiative.
• Adaptive to changing circumstances and client needs in a dynamic environment.
• Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Detail-oriented, organized and has strong time management skills.
• Courteous, respectful and helpful with others. Maintains appropriate professional boundaries.

Minimum Qualifications

Required :

• Unlicensed: Master’s degree in social work or mental health field from an accredited college or university, and valid license or registration with licensing body (i.e. the BBS). 
  • At least 1 year of clinical experience, i.e. completing biopsychosocial assessments, diagnosing, treatment planning and delivering clinical interventions.
• Licensed: Master’s degree in social work or mental health field from an accredited college or university, and valid license (LCSW, LMFT, LPCC) with licensing body (i.e. the BBS).
  • At least 2 years of clinical experience, i.e. completing biopsychosocial assessments, diagnosing, treatment planning and delivering clinical interventions.
• Experience working with culturally diverse populations.
• Valid CA driver’s license, proof of insurance and own vehicle required. Ability to transport clients in personal vehicle as needed. 
• Must not be on any type of legal supervision (probation or parole).
• Verification of Employment Eligibility and Background Check
• Basic computer skills.

Preferred : 

• Lived experience with homelessness, mental health/substance use recovery or the criminal legal system. 
• Experience working with the forensic and/or dual-diagnosed populations.
• Experience working on an interdisciplinary team in a mental health or hospital setting.
• Knowledge of and experience with providing trauma-informed services. 

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Environmental Conditions (Working Conditions)

Job duties are to be performed both in office and field settings, including the assigned courthouse.

Physical Requirements

The employee is expected to move about the worksite throughout the day, which may involve walking, standing, and climbing stairs, or using a mobility device, or similar. The employee is expected to drive, carry a maximum of 20 lbs, listen, and speak in order to complete job requirements. 

Mental Requirements

The employee must be able to do any/all of the following: perform complex and varied tasks such as synthesizing information and making decisions without immediate supervision; handle routine distractions, interruptions, noise, and uncontrollable changes in priorities/work schedules; interact professionally and diplomatically in high-stress situations; create and follow plans; meet deadlines