Mental Health Professional

Schedule

About the role

Responsibilities

• Conducts intakes, evaluations, and/or assessments for inmates referred by appropriate staff and inmates who request mental health services; makes referrals to nursing services based on reported symptoms by patient
• Identifies mental health symptoms and treatment needs, including special housing or watch, and makes recommendations to healthcare unit and security staff
• Coincides closely with MD, Prescriber, Psychiatrist, and any other necessary staff to ensure evaluation/care of patient
• Identifies, recommends, and conducts non-pharmacological treatments when appropriate and/or applicable
• Provides mental health crisis and suicide intervention and management for facility
• Provides clinical supervision and treatment plans for inmates on caseload
• Maintains conditions and treatment needs of special inmate population
• Provides staff training in relevant mental health issues
• Attends regular treatment team multidisciplinary meetings, classification meetings, or other required administrative meetings, as well as participating in CQI and/or QA studies and group sessions
• Provides treatment services in all areas of the facility
• Provides consultation to security and healthcare staff regarding patient behavior, safety concerns, or other mental health concerns
• Able to provide linkage and/or discharge planning services when necessary/appropriate
• Documents services and encounters appropriately and accurately, provides accessibility of notes for staff, and ensures transfer of information by maintaining organized and legible notes
• When applicable, participates in treatment programming and planning discussions of problem cases, follow-up and monitoring of medication, and general psychiatric input
• When applicable, initiates involuntary hospitalization for those inmates who need to be transferred to outside mental health facilities; generates appropriate paperwork relevant to the hospitalization

Requirements

• Master's level education: MA Clinical Psych, MA Counseling, MA Social Work, or related field
• Required applicable licensure include one of the following: LCPC, LPCC, LPC, LCSW, LMSW, LMHC, LMFT, LAC, LSW
• Correctional mental health experience is preferred

Additional Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Competencies

• Clear and effective verbal and written communication with all coworkers, supervisors, jail administration, and patients
• Excellent verbal and written comprehension
• Excellent deductive reasoning and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to use a computer and use/learn a variety of software, including site-specific computer programs
• Must demonstrate ability to appropriately and safely use standard medical equipment
• Ability to respect the dignity and confidentiality of inmates

Employment Requirements

• Must maintain all certifications, educational requirements, licensing, etc. for this position
• Must have current CPR/BLS certification
• Must have current TB test (taken within one year)
• Must adhere to all facility policies and procedures as well as the policies and procedures listed in the Employee Handbook
• Willing to assist coworkers in the job duties and work overtime if required; may act as a resource to other coworkers
• Maintains confidentiality, dignity, and security of health records and protected health information in compliance with HIPAA requirements

Security Requirements

• Must undergo security training and orientation on facility safety policies and procedures

Physical/Mental Requirements

• Ability to both remain stationary and move/traverse throughout the facility, including up and down flights of stairs
• Ability to position oneself in different spaces
• Ability to convey and discern information in a conversation, frequently communicate with patients; must be able to exchange accurate information.
• Ability to identify and detect objects and assess situations from a variety of distances
• Ability to stay calm in stressful and demanding situations
• Frequently transports objects up to 50 pounds