Forensic Court Liaison - Behavioral Sciences Campus

Forensic Court Liaison

UTHealth Houston's Behavioral Sciences Campus' Forensic Department is hiring a Forensic Court Liaison!

Our competency restoration program operates as a single integration across six units serving 29 counties. The court liaison will coordinate patient admissions and discharges to the hospital in accordance with applicable state laws and regulations; monitor and track each patient's commitment order to ensure the hospital remains in compliance with the allotted timeframe of the order; serve as a liaison between the hospital, court system, attorneys, and county representatives to ensure seamless coordination throughout the patient's stay; participate in performance improvement activities; attends 100% of staff meetings; and coordinate care for patients through communication with Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Senior Forensic Clinicians, Nurses, Attorneys, Judges, and other external stakeholders.

Performs a combination of duties related to facilitating communication with the courts, administrative and/or clerical tasks to support the inpatient competency restoration program staff and patients committed under Art. 46B Incompetency to Stand Trial.

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas' resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That's where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It's because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you'd expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you'll accrue!
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees' wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as...

• Free financial and legal counseling
• Free mental health counseling services
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care
• Plus many more!

Position Summary:

Responsible for the coordination and implementation of the involuntary admission process. To provide efficient, quality services to patients regarding mental health warrants from the initial intake admission process to discharge. Coordination of getting the certificate of medical examinations completed timely, filing the applications for involuntary status and working with the court system to ensure compliance with state rules and regulations. To serve as a member of the interdisciplinary team supporting the organization's treatment program and philosophy and assure the deliverance of quality treatment to patients who are involuntary. Participates in performance improvement activities. Attends 100% of staff meetings. Coordinates care for patient through communication with Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Social Service Clinicians, Nursing, Attorneys, Judges, Assessment and Referrals Department.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Evaluates new patient warrants every morning to check for accuracy.
• Prepares involuntary list daily to send to Social Services Department Leadership Team.
• Evaluates the involuntary paperwork on new patient's charts each morning to ensure paperwork is available for the psychiatrist's completion.
• Files paperwork at court each day and keeps up with the Court closings and holidays to ensure compliance.
• Communicates with psychiatrists to complete 2nd medical filings in accordance with requirements for involuntary status.
• Communicates with attorneys for continuances of cases dependent upon discharge status of patients.
• Notifies psychiatrists regarding probable cause and final hearing dates.
• Submits discharge drop letters to the court within 24 hours of discharge.
• Maintains an accurate account of all CME's (Certificate of Medical Examinations) monthly for the Director and Assistant Director of Social Services.
• Explains the involuntary process to all patients and their families as requested.
• Plans patient care in collaboration with all members of the healthcare team.
• Consults with other departments, as appropriate, to collaborate in patient care and performance improvement activities.
• Collaborates with other departments to identify operational problems and develop solutions/resolution.
• Works with all members of the healthcare team to assure a collaborative approach is maintained in care and treatment of the patient.
• Works closely with psychiatrists and Social Service Clinicians to ensure the timeliness of paperwork, treatment and discharge.
• Participates in education on and implementation of Involuntary process with Intake Department.
• Documentation meets current standards and policies.
• Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations.
• Maintains a good working relationship both within the department and with other departments.
• Coordinates with team members all phases of the involuntary process by communicating any needs for the court process during their stay, (i.e. forced meds petition, pending expiration of warrant, etc.). Explains the involuntary process to all patients and their families as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

None

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or equivalent required

Minimum Experience:

1 year of acute hospital, inpatient mental facility experience required Prior inpatient mental health commitment experience preferred

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount frequently to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code 51.215 and Texas Government Code 411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code 117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. 791.4.

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.