Clinical Assessor

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary :

The Behavioral Health and Justice Division (BHJD) is committed to working towards reducing criminal justice involvement for Philadelphians with behavioral health challenges, including Serious Mental Illness (SMI). BHJD organizes its work according to the Sequential Intercept Model, identifying opportunities to intervene at various points of criminal justice involvement to deflect and divert individuals away from further penetration of the system and into the behavioral health system. By helping connect individuals to needed treatment and support services that promote stability in the community, BHJD believes that Philadelphians are less likely to be arrested and can achieve health, well-being, and self-determination. BHJD also aligns with Stepping Up and focuses its efforts on lowering the number of Philadelphians with SMI admitted to the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP), reducing their length of stay, connecting them to treatment / supports upon release, and reducing recidivism.

The Forensic Support Team (FST) of BHJD was established to meet the unique needs of Philadelphians who are either : 1. Adjudicated as not competent to stand trial on only misdemeanor charges and committed to a State hospital (e.g., Norristown State Hospital) or 2. Adjudicated as non-restorable. The FST works within PDP and Norristown State Hospital (NSH) in order to assist individuals while in jail, when transitioning from jail to NSH, and when reentering the community typically under the court’s jurisdiction. To support this forensic population, the FST helps individuals navigate the Philadelphia judicial and behavioral health systems while also seeking to address each individual’s unique legal, behavioral, medical, physical, cultural, and / or financial needs. The Clinical Assessor becomes an important part of a team comprised of : one (1) FST Supervisor (a licensed psychologist); one (1) FST Coordinator, three (3) Clinical Assessors, and one (1) Post-Doctoral Psychology Resident.

The Clinical Assessor will complete clinical assessments and provide system navigation for justice-involved individuals with behavioral health challenges who fall into either of the aforementioned priority groups. In this capacity, the Clinical Assessor is responsible for determining the appropriate level of care (LOC) for the individual via a procedure that is consistent with a strengths-based, biopsychosocial recovery model. The procedure relies on State hospitals and jails to provide access to the individual as well as clear documentation and consultation about the individual so an informed decision can be made about the appropriate LOC and the individual’s risk for violence.

The decision about the LOC is based on the individual’s : aspirations, goals for recovery, strengths, support system, risk for future violence, psychiatric diagnosis, medical diagnosis, psychiatric history, cognitive or physical limitations, results from any psychological measures or medical tests, current medications, incident reports, participation in recovery services, current treatment team input, and privileges earned. With this information and documentation, the Clinician Assessor collaborates with the Philadelphian and their treatment team in an effort to agree on an appropriate LOC as well as a re-entry plan and, when necessary, present the plan to the appropriate criminal court.

Duties and Responsibilities :

The Clinical Assessor helps individuals with SMI "navigate" the maze of treatment programs, the court system, and support services upon reentry into the community. The Clinical Assessor reduces barriers that keep individuals with SMI from accessing timely treatment by identifying behavioral health needs and directing individuals to appropriate resources.

An effective Clinical Assessor is a :

Relationship builder

Building effective working relationships is the foundation of effective forensic navigation. To improve coordination of care for people with mental illness and to reduce barriers to reentry, navigators must work with different groups of people : individuals who are incarcerated, healthcare teams within the PDP, criminal justice partners, families, NSH staff, and resource providers within the community. It is important to build effective working relationships with all of these groups.

Clinical care coordinator

The Clinical Assessor conducts forensic evaluations and coordinate care for individuals who are either : 1. Adjudicated as not competent to stand trial on only misdemeanor charges and committed to a State hospital (e.g., NSH) or 2. Adjudicated as non-restorable. They coordinate with the court system, NSH, and treatment providers to determine the most appropriate and effective interventions and levels of care, and they provide the needed linkages. They plan reentry for individuals who will be returning to the community. Moreover, Clinical Assessors enhance the continuity of care as individuals transition between PDP and NSH.

Creative problem solver

The Clinical Assessor finds creative solutions to barriers. Some individuals with mental illness utilize commonly used services, but others have unique needs that require initiative and creative thinking to locate the appropriate resources.

Organized information manager

The Clinical Assessor manages and tracks a large amount of information. Assessments, referrals, legal statuses, and treatment histories are just a few things the Clinical Assessor needs to track and, by law, this information must be kept confidential and secure. It is important that the Clinical Assessor stays organized and uses a systematic approach to information management.

Specific duties

• Perform level of care and other-discharge related assessments for individuals adjudicated not competent to stand trial and / or non-restorable that are detained at the PDP or NSH
• Attend treatment team meetings for individuals detained at NSH to monitor progress and / or changes in clinical presentation
• Facilitate access to re-entry services and programs
• Identify individuals for diversion and share with appropriate justice partners
• Review legal status, commitment type, charges, competency opinions and findings, and clinical needs for all individuals on the waitlist to NSH on an ongoing basis
• Maintain accurate, confidential records documenting services provided and unmet needs using appropriate databases
• Remain current with resource and referral information
• Maintain list of community resources
• Build and maintain relationships with key individuals (e.g., PDP staff, Public Defender), and provide updates upon marked changes in an individual’s clinical or legal status to trigger appropriate interventions
• Coordinate with courts to ensure timely court hearings and legal proceedings, particularly when an individual’s clinical or legal status changes
• Provide behavioral health literacy and continuity of care training to both behavioral health providers and criminal justice personnel
• Provide updated progress reports for criminal court hearings and attend those hearings when necessary
• Identify gaps in re-entry resources offered and work to bridge those gaps Other duties as assigned

Education and Experience :

This position requires a master’s level degree in social work, psychology, or a related clinical focused field with at least two years of experience working with individuals with serious mental illness and / or in clinical-forensic assessment. Knowledge of and experience in working with the Philadelphia criminal justice system and / or the Philadelphia behavioral health system are preferred.

The position requires demonstrated skills in communication, problem solving, decision making, and report writing. The individual possesses the ability to skillfully communicate verbally and in writing with a variety of multidisciplinary partners, including judges, attorneys, jail staff, provider agencies, psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers.

Physical Demands :

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required such as maneuvering in office space – reaching file cabinets, fax and copier machines when necessary. Must be able to sit for up to 2 hours looking at a computer monitor and using a keyboard and mouse to perform data entry functions. Able to travel locally via public transportation and on foot from 1601 Market Street to 1101 Market Street, CBH, and various other destinations as needed.

Essential Functions :

Valid driver’s license and use of personal licensed and insured vehicle during work hours or ability to navigate public transportation to attend sites in person throughout the city. Ability to effectively utilize computers, databases, and related common office software packages such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Ability to pass all background checks required.

Equal Opportunity Employment :

PMHCC is committed to equal opportunity. It is our policy to support equal employment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual preferences, age, national origin, disability, behavioral health status, military status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Americans with Disabilities Act :

Employees as well as applicants who are currently or become disabled must be able to perform the functions of the job with either reasonable accommodation or unaided. PMHCC will examine reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis with accordance to the law.