Mental Health Court Therapist #1910 - Mental Health Court - Unassigned Division

Under general supervision, with a focus on high-risk individuals, provides individual therapy for Mental Health Court participants and facilitates evidence-based curriculums in group settings. Offers critical client support to justice-involved individuals who are mental health consumers, helping them navigate a system of services within Mental Health Court and partner agencies.

Responsibilities

• Provide crisis intervention, needs/risk assessment, individual and group therapy services, and referrals for clients.
• Build rapport with clients as an essential function.
• Perform community outreach via information and service referral.
• Develop and update individual treatment plans.
• Maintain, update, and manage files, records, and other paperwork associated with individual files.
• Work within a multi-disciplinary mental health court treatment team to monitor participant’s progress throughout the program.
• Attend and participate in Mental Health Court hearings and staff meetings.
• Arrange for necessary accommodations during hearings for participants with special needs.
• Coordinate and/or participate in meetings, conferences, and related events to receive and convey information.
• Facilitate training and supervision for volunteers and interns.
• Work a varied schedule that may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays; work across two work site locations.
• Meet with participants at two Mental Health Court work sites, treatment providers, in Court, and other necessary locations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work (MSW), counseling, marriage and family therapy, or a related field.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Licensure (in good standing) with the State of Tennessee as a LCSW, LPC, or LPC-MHSP.
• Occasional travel and on-call duties may be required.
• Completion of Hamilton County Defensive Driving course and/or Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) prior to operating a County-owned vehicle.

Skills

• Knowledge of applicable State of Tennessee statutes, rules, administrative orders, policies and procedures, and Federal rules and requirements.
• Knowledge of therapy methods, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of Hamilton County Policies and Procedures.
• Knowledge of social work and mental health methods, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of basic principles of record keeping, case, and records management.
• Clinical skills using a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, gender-responsive framework for working with individuals and families.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Organizational, planning, development, supervision, and management skills for programs/events and prioritizing work with strong problem-solving abilities.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system, counseling techniques, and available system and community resources.
• Skill in engaging clients who may respond negatively to outreach efforts.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with vulnerable and incapacitated persons, other professional agencies, and the public.
• Ability to tactfully communicate with non-voluntary clients to establish rapport and gain their confidence, cooperation, and best effort.
• Effective conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to emphasize a safe and respectful environment for all.
• Skill in managing upset and/or confrontational participants or family members.
• Ability to build relationships with partners, the community, and clients.
• Verbal and written communication skills for providing presentations, counseling, educational materials, facilitating meetings, and giving instructions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Good judgment and effective decision-making skills.
• Skill in preparing and maintaining policies and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a criminal justice or court setting.
• Experience working with a justice-involved population.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) speaking ability.

Physical Requirements

• Long periods of standing, walking, and assisting participants.
• Potential exposure to infectious diseases.
• Extensive contact with mental health consumers and/or combative participants and/or family members.
• Attention to detail.
• May involve bending, stooping, walking, and/or standing for extended periods.
• Lifting/carrying of equipment and supplies weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Potential for physical harm in dealing with combative participants.