Clinical Assessor I

Position Summary:

For the last four years, a wide range of efforts have been underway to improve the care of Philadelphia citizens who have been arrested and adjudicated Incompetent to Stand Tria] (1ST). The Forensic Support Team (FST) of BHJD is one of the programs that was established to meet the unique needs of individuals who are 1ST. The FST Clinical Assessor I is a part of this team which was created to work within the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) and Norristown State Hospital (NSH) in order to assist these individuals while in jail, when transitioning from jail to NSH, and when re-entering the community typically under the court’s jurisdiction. To support this forensic population, FST and the FST Clinical Assessor I help 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 FST Clinical Assessor I becomes an important part of a team comprised of: one (1) FST Supervisor (who is a Licensed psychologist); one or two (1-2) Lead Clinical Assessors; one (1) FST Data & Research Assistant; at least one to four (14) Clinical Assessors who hold the position of either Clinical Assessor I or Clinical Assessor II, and one (I) Post Doctoral Resident. The Clinical Assessor I would be responsible for administering assessments, completing evaluations, and assisting with referrals to obtain behavioral health and other related services. In addition, since FST is pan of BHJD, the Clinical Assessor I would have the opportunity to assist with division-wide projects that could encompass behavioral health, justice related programs or initiatives overseen by BHJD.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The FST Clinical Assessor I will assist individuals who have been adjudicated incompetent due to severe mental illness and criminal justice involvement. More specifically, the FST Clinical Assessor I will help these individuals and the individual’s support system to navigate PDP, NSH, the court system, residential programs (if needed), and support services upon reentry into the community. He or she will also reduce barriers that keep these individuals with mental illness and criminal justice involvement from accessing timely treatment by identifying behavioral health needs and directing individuals to appropriate resources.

To be successful in this role, the Clinical Assessor I will be:

Relationship builder

Building and maintaining effective working relationships is the foundation of effective forensic navigation. The FST Clinical Assessor I will work with their colleagues to build upon existing relationships and utilize those relationships to improve coordination of care and reduce barriers Assessors for re-entry for people with mental illness who are involved with the legal system. The Clinical have collaborative working relationships with several different groups of people: individuals who are incarcerated, the individual’s family members, healthcare teams within PDP, assistant district attorneys, defense attorneys, criminal court officials, Norristown State Hospital staff working and resource providers within the community. When orienting staff or building these relationships, the Clinical Assessor I is expected to practice cultural humility.

Clinical care coordinator

The FST Clinical Assessor I conducts forensic evaluations and coordinates care for individuals who are adjudicated 1ST in Philadelphia. They coordinate with the court system, NSH, and treatment providers to determine the most clinically as well as culturally appropriate and entry effective interventions and levels of care, and they provide the needed linkages. They plan re Assessor for individuals who will be returning to the community. Moreover, the FST Clinical community. I enhances the continuity of care as individuals transition between POP, NSH and the community.

Creative problem solver

The FST Clinical Assessor I finds creative solutions to barriers. Some individuals with mental creative illness utilize commonly used services, but others have unique needs that require initiative and thinking to locate the appropriate resources. The FST Clinical Assessor I will utilize access their academic knowledge along with guidance from their experienced colleagues to locate and such resources.

Organized information manager

The FST Clinical Assessor I manages and tracks a large amount of information about each He/she individual will that he or she evaluates and the multiple systems that each individual must navigate. monitor referrals, evaluations, legal statuses, and treatment histories of secure. Philadelphians who are adjudicated 1ST. By law, this information must be kept confidential and It is important that the FST Clinical Assessor I understands how to ethically manage this information with a professional and systematic approach.

Skills Required:

This position is geared for a clinician who has received their Master’s degree in psychology, an social work or other related field. The FST Clinical Assessor I position would be appropriate for individual seeking their first job after earning their Master’s degree. This position also necessitates experience with case management skills, an ability to navigate systems of care especially within the criminal justice system, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and community mental health.

Education and Experience:

Masters level degree in social work, psychology, or a related clinical field. Preferred candidates would have completed a year or more of clinical forensic experience working with individuals who have a sedans mental illness. Candidates who have a working knowledge of the Philadelphia Behavioral Health System as well as the Philadelphia Criminal Justice system would also be considered particularly suitable for this role.

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.