Forensics Clinician

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Forensic Clinician is part of a specialized team that provides multidisciplinary treatment for people who are involved in the criminal justice system and often have co-occurring behavioral health diagnoses of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

Each client is provided services based on strengths. The Forensic Clinician will work closely with the Courts and Probation to help the client meet their legal requirements. The Forensic Clinician may also outreach people in their homes, hospital or jail as needed. 

The clinician encourages client centered, strengths based treatment planning and services to help the clients meet their goals. Services include behavioral health treatment, life skills training, assistance finding housing, jobs, primary care and legal requirements. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

• Provides, direct services and/or internal and external organization referrals for clients.

• Develops treatment plans and maintains accurate and timely clinical records according to organization policy.

• Prepares necessary reports, summaries and progress notes, and incorporates into clinical records.

• Helps clients to build a better quality of life, and successful re-integration back into the community, including collaboration with their friends and families.

• Provides ongoing coordination and professional relationship building with contacts both in and out of the mental health profession (probation officers, hospitals, jails, SPD, SSI, DSHS, and other community contacts).

• Reports violations to probation departments in a timely manner.

• Collaborates with probation and law enforcement for wraparound safety plans for the client.

• Seeks supervisory input when needed and informing supervisor of any extraordinary events.

• Provides outreach to prisons, jails and hospitals to provide services, as needed.

• Assists client to remain stable in the community, thereby reducing the use of hospitals or involuntary treatment services.

• Monitors medication schedule.

• Monitors utilization of services and the success of outcome measures.

• To comply with county and state standards there will be service intensity expectations for this position.

• Participates in team member meetings, consultations, case presentations and in-service training.

• Participates in ongoing program development and assessment.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

KEY WORK RELATIONSHIPS

Establishes and maintains positive, ethical, and professional working relationships with clinical team members, clients, and outside organizations. Relates to a wide variety of people including members of ethnic and sexual minority populations, and is respectful of individual and cultural differences.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• At least a Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, criminal justice or a related field required.

• At least one year of clinical experience as a clinician or case manager and demonstrated skills in clinical assessment and treatment plans, preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS

• Understands the principles of individual therapy, group therapy and/or case management approach to providing services.

• Possesses strong working knowledge of the mental and/or behavioral health and support resources of King County, and is familiar with state and local health delivery systems, including knowledge of various funding principles and clinical services mandates.

• Understands recovery concepts in behavioral health; synthesizes and applies, as appropriate to their work at Sound.

• Ability to learn new tasks and skills quickly, and to manage and prioritize multiple tasks, while simultaneously managing crises.

• Able to demonstrate the capacity to appreciate and work well with the complex and diverse population.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES & REGISTRATIONS

• Must be able to obtain a WA State Agency Affiliated Counselor credential within the first 60 days of hire.

• Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record required.

• Must pass a criminal background check.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

To successfully perform the essential duties of this Job, an individual must be able to sit at a desk for four or more hours a day, and use office equipment, including phones and computer keyboards, for four or more hours per day. Individuals must be able to engage vendors, team members, clients and others over the phone and in-person by voice. Regular attendance is an essential function of the Job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to assist individuals with disabilities to perform essential Job functions.