Mental Health Professional - Jail Services

Position Summary:

The Mental Health Professional is responsible for clinical services within the jail transition program. This role collaborates with corrections staff for Chelan County to identify, assess, and support incarcerated individuals in need of mental health services and assist with their transition out of the jail setting. The Mental Health Professional works directly with clients, corrections staff, community providers, and Catholic Charities programs to coordinate care and support community reintegration.
Responsibilities:

1. Jail Transition Services

• Collaborates with corrections staff to identify individuals with behavioral health conditions who may benefit from assessment and treatment services
• Completes assessments and screeners to initiate treatment planning and, with input from jail and corrections staff, develops an incarceration plan of care and release plan
• Builds on client strengths to design interventions and safety plans targeted at individual needs, problem statements, and treatment plan goals and objectives
• Conducts and documents ongoing assessments of clients’ mental health and coordinates with providers and jail medical staff
• Assists clients with applying for social services benefits, coordinating transportation, and accessing additional resources
• Coordinates with service providers for discharge planning to connect clients with referrals, placement into inpatient or outpatient treatment, medical care, etc.
• Ensures that necessary documentation is completed according to contractual, funding, and agency requirements and that progress notes accurately reflect client status

1. Team Mentoring and Clinical Consultation

• Provides clinical consultation to case managers and peer counselors, escalating to the Program Manager for clinical supervision and expertise as appropriate.
• Fosters teamwork, cooperation, and respectful communication between team members to support effective client services.

1. Contract Deliverables & Compliance

• Attend community stakeholder meetings as assigned to strengthen partnerships with other service providers and support successful coordination of care
• Works with Program Manager to ensure that program operations meet contractual, funder, and WAC requirements for program staffing and service delivery
• Assures that services and documentation are in line with the policies, procedures, and requirements as contracted with managed care organizations

1. Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Job Requirements:The following requirements are those that are normally required for performance of this position. Any disabled applicant or incumbent who does not meet or more of the physical requirements, but who can perform the essential function of the job (with or without reasonable accommodations) shall be deemed to meet these requirements.

Physical Requirements:This position normally requires the physical demands of standing, walking, bending, lifting or performing other work requiring low physical exertion, talking and hearing on a regular basis to perform the job requirements. These physical demands are required up to 80% of the time. Position also requires ability to drive with adequate vision and skill.

Non-Physical Requirements:

1. Education

• Master’s degree in social work, mental health counseling, or a related field leading to eligibility for clinical licensure

1. Experience

• 2 years of experience providing clinical treatment services preferred
• 1 year of experience working with the justice system, law enforcement, or corrections preferred.

1. Special Skills

• Strong clinical and safety assessment skills

• Knowledge of community resources and hospital systems
• Possess and utilize effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to be self-motivated, work independently and as a team member
• Ability to represent the agency in a professional manner within the community

1. Licensure, Registration, Certification

• Mental Health Counselor or Associate (LMHC or LMHCA), Independent Clinical Social Worker or Associate (LICSW or LICSWA), Marriage & Family Therapist or Associate (LMFT or LMFTA) licenses or Licensed Agency Affiliated Counselor (LAAC) credential with the Washington State Department of Health
• Valid driver’s license and minimum liability insurance required by WA State
• Must be deemed insurable as determined by Catholic Charities’ liability insurance provider

Employment is conditional upon:

• Being cleared by criminal background check and fingerprinting when required

Wage: $40.76-$45.86 per hour, depending on experience and credentials
Schedule: Monday & Tuesday 8am-5pm and Wednesday 8am-noon (20 hours per week)
Benefits:

• Sick leave accrues 1 hour for every hour 40 hours worked
• Annual longevity awards begin at 5 years of employment