Mental Health Coordinator

Duties: The MHC plans professional mental health service programs of a non-medical nature in the facility. Coordinates & directs activities of personnel engaged in providing mental health services to inmates/residents. Daily Mental Health (MH) Activities: Conducts MH screenings & assessments based on review of available records, & clinical interviews with inmates. As part of a MH team, confers w/other clinical staff, e.g., psychiatrists, psychologists, MH service providers, physicians, nurses, social workers, in order to gather & provide information concerning patient psychological problems, to ensure treatment activities are well integrated, & patient care follow-through occurs. Provides treatment to inmates by developing, implementing, & modifying individual treatment plans based on evaluation of needs & level of functioning. 4. Documents treatment & evaluation activities in the health care record for each person seen. 5. Consults w/ & makes appropriate recommendations to multidisciplinary staff (e.g., security staff, unit staff, facility management) regarding behavior & MH issues affecting inmates. 6. Maintains strict confidentiality of sensitive materials & info at all times. Reg/Wkly MH. Activities: Makes regular rounds in segregation or other confined housing areas to assess inmate adjustment & MH treatment needs. Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of psychological counseling theory & techniques by way of treatments & activities used for individuals in caseload. Other MH Activities Provides appropriate mental health assessments, counseling, & confrontation avoidance interventions to address the needs of inmates in crisis. Consults w/psychiatry, MH, nursing, medical, educational, chaplain, security staff, & others, as applicable to gather information & understanding into the reasons for the escalation of problems behaviors & changes in MH condition of inmates. Evaluates & advocates for inmates involved in disciplinary or due process events in a way that is consistent w/policy, contract requirements, & applicable accreditation standards. Administers mental status exams or uses other psychological tests & instruments as necessary to evaluate inmates’ treatment, adjustment, & placement needs. Serves as a member of the institution Segregation Review panel & Special Needs Treatment Plan committee during regularly scheduled meetings. Engages in community reentry services through discharge planning & communicating w/others about service needs for releasing inmates who are seriously mentally ill. Maintain & monitor confidentiality of inmates/resident & their files; audit files to determine that all services provided are documented; review status of inmates/residents to verify that all treatment & therapeutic programs are completed. Assist in supervision of inmates/residents, both within the facility and while in community activities; promote positive community relations & utilize available community services, as needed. Coordinate professional services provided by contract personnel, if applicable, & provide for their needs to be addressed. Utilize established corporate, facility & correctional policies & procedures in making decisions, but perform w/a high degree of independence & professional administrative skill & use sound independent judgment in meeting the responsibilities & performing the duties of the position. Screen requests for non-medical records & approve/disapprove responses as appropriate following policy and procedures. Interpret & enforce all corporate policies & procedures, & the requirements of applicable laws, standards or contracts. Schedule, train, supervise & evaluate the performance of assigned staff. Skills Accept on call status for night, weekend & holiday coverage.

Skills: Make recommendations concerning personnel matters such as employment, retention, promotion, & merit increases; counsel, and/or employees, after consultation with the Warden/Facility Administrator or designee. Communicate the responsibilities, authorities and accountability of all direct subordinates so that they are defined and understood. Cooperate & coordinate w/the facility training manager for the delivery of required staff training programs; ensure that each subordinate employee supervised receives required training. Prepare & maintain a variety of standard narrative, statistical, summary &/or operational records, reports & logs, using appropriate grammar, to include filing, alphabetizing & labeling; review reports & records produced by staff. Properly process all reports & documents in a timely manner. Review, process & respond (via corporate counsel) to lawsuits; attend court hearings, when necessary. Read, analyze, comprehend & interpret technical procedures or governmental regulations, legal & non-legal documents, including the processing of such documents as medical instructions, commitment orders, summons and other legal writs. Conduct meetings of subordinate staff, attend scheduled staff meetings, promote communications & the proper flow of relevant information between administration, staff & inmates/residents. Communicate effectively & coherently to administration, staff, inmates/residents, visitors & the general public, particularly in situations requiring tack, diplomacy, understanding, fairness, firmness & good judgment. This includes interviewing applicants, giving information, instructions & directions, mediating disputes, advising of rights and processes and providing reliable testimony, in court and other formal settings. Maintain equipment & supplies as required; order replacement items in a timely manner; process requisitions for appropriate purchases via the purchase order system. Escort inmates/residents / coordinate the movement of inmates/residents to and from different areas. Initiate & complete investigations & inquiries w/accuracy by gathering information & evidence, interviewing & obtaining the statements of victims, witnesses, suspects & confidential informers; exercise independent judgment by determining when probable cause exists to recommend or take disciplinary action. Engage in functions in confined areas that include such things as physically checking the doors, windows & other areas to ensure they are secure. Endure verbal & mental abuse when confronted w/ the hostile views & opinions of inmates/residents & others, e.g. visitors & family members, encountered in an antagonistic environment. Perform rescue functions at accidents, emergencies & disasters to include administering basic emergency medical aid, physically removing people away from dangerous situations, & securing & evacuating people from confined areas. Apply crisis intervention techniques to include suicide prevention, recognizing abnormal behavior & taking appropriate action to prevent or diffuse potentially disruptive situations. Experience exposure to body fluids, wastes & experience encounter w/deceased or contagious persons. Endeavor to comply with the requirements of applicable regulations, laws, rules, procedures, policies, standards &/or contract. Add, subtract, multiply and divide using whole numbers, common fractions & decimals; work w/mathematical concepts such as probability & statistical reference; & apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios & proportions to practical situations.

Education: Graduate from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in social work, psychology, mental health counseling or a degree in a related clinical area is required. Post-graduate clinical experience, including experience in a comparable position, is preferred. Must possess appropriate certification or licensure in the state where practice occurs, or appropriate credentials to work under the supervision of a licensed clinician, where applicable.

Schedule Notes: Days Can be flexible with shift/scheduling (8 hour shifts, 10 hour shifts, weekends only, etc.) 13 weeks

Required Skills: MENTAL HEALTH,

Additional Skills:

Hours Per Day: 8.00

Hours Per Week: 40.00

Languages: English( Speak, Read, Write )

Department: 214 : Eden

Job Category: Health Services - Travel