Therapist - Forensic Mdt

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Graduation from an accredited graduate school with a Master’s degree in social work, clinical psychology or related human service.

Licensure: Not Required. Prefer licensed or license eligible.

Experience: At least one year of full-time experience with adults with a serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders. Prior experience with individual and group counseling and substance abuse interventions.

Must be 21 years of age.

Negative Drug Screening prior to hire and throughout employment.

Clear Criminal Background Check throughout employment with Suncoast Center and local checks prior to hire and annually along with DCF Level II prior to hire and as required by DCF, and Must have valid Florida Driver’s License Motor Vehicle checks prior to hire and annually with acceptable driving record maintained throughout employment along with reliable vehicle, valid registration, and valid vehicle insurance. (must be in compliance with Florida Laws and Administrative Codes with fingerprinting and determined to be of good moral character).

Working Conditions:

• Must have a valid Florida driver’s license and approved driver status per Suncoast Center policies. Required to drive own car and/or company vehicle. Must meet established vehicle insurance requirements. Maintaining these requirement throughout employment is required. Acceptable Local Criminal and DCF Level II throughout employment.
• FMT office, as well as in the community where most contacts occur. Exposure to extreme heat and humidity during the summer months. High work stress environment at times
• On-call covering nighttime and weekend hours as requested, schedule may be irregular.
• Computer Literate, reading, writing, driving,

Job Duties:

• Provides or coordinates the majority of treatment, rehabilitation and community based support services to people who have been found incompetent to proceed or not guilty by reason of insanity.
• Provides individual, family and group counseling using solution-based strategies and co-occurring strategies of intervention that are recovery oriented and that are consistent with best practice principles. Uses respectful and competency-based words and actions with clients and families while ensuring that client oriented treatment plan goals are incorporated into interventions.
• Act as a liaison to clients in the community, jail and/or the Florida State Hospital who are being discharged to the community on a conditional release order.
• Coordinates with jail staff to identify and screen persons with serious and persistent mental illness who are charged with a felony offense and are at risk of admission to a Forensic SMHTF within 48 hours of their incarceration.
• Completes jail visits and continue to engage the individual using evidenced-based, person-centered practices. Provide competency restoration, support services and/or peer services while the individual is in jail. Coordinate care with the defense attorney and court towards the diversion of the individual.
• Maintains close working relationships with the judicial assistants in the circuit, the Office of the Public Defender, the Office of the State Attorney, the Clerk of the Courts Office, and local law enforcement.
• Provides specific FMT services depending on staff responsibilities designated by team leader, including ensuring that client has safe and affordable place to live, necessary medical and dental services, financial support (employment and/or entitlements), ability to learn activities of daily living, vocational assistance, activities for leisure time, substance abuse treatment and other services client may request and have on individualized treatment plan.
• Provides individualized services that comply with the individual’s court order.
• Acts as an advocate for the client at all relevant staff meetings, court hearings, etc. or arranges for a substitute if needed. Monitors the conditional releases for appropriate clients, and advocates for least restrictive community placement post-incarceration. Attends all court dates as requested.
• Ensures that all assessments, treatment plans and progress notes are completed with accuracy, attention to detail, demonstrate excellent clinical skills and judgment, within required timeframes, and involve the client and their family input, if appropriate.
• Assists clients in developing realistic, effective and measurable treatment plan goals and objectives. Establishes and prioritizes behaviorally descriptive, realistic desired changes with clients, and develops a realistic plan for their accomplishment with appropriate time frames.
• Completes all other documentation correctly and in the required time frame including progress notes with objective to treatment plan clearly stated, and other documentation as requested by the team leader or needed to ensure all client records are compliant. Completes all required judicial reports every six months, or as requested by the courts.
• As part of a multidisciplinary team, cooperates and participates fully with the FMT on-call response system. Provides on-call crisis intervention covering nighttime and weekend hours as requested. Demonstrates flexibility in support of the overall mission of the FMT Team Program in the delivery of the on-call services.
• Participates in daily staff organizational meetings and treatment planning review meetings. Discusses cases appropriately at staffing. When not able to be present at a daily meeting, provides a summary of client contacts over the previous 24-hour period.
• Coordinates with client’s family members, other FMT staff and community supports to ensure client needs are met and all involved with client’s treatment work together.
• Completes regular risk assessments and monitors compliance with the conditional release order.

Core Competencies

• The ability to function and operate as a team player, showing dignity and respect for all.
• The ability to comply with all equal employment opportunity and ethical standards and regulations.
• The ability to take direction in a respectful and productive manner from supervisors and managers.
• The ability to work, as scheduled, in a timely fashion, and with an attitude oriented to service.
• The ability to have cordial and professional relationships both within the organization and with vendors, clients and third parties.
• If appropriate, the ability to produce all appropriate paperwork and reports consistent with contractual, state or federal standard, and to prepare and submit such paperwork on a timely basis.
• The ability to understand and comply with Suncoast Center, Inc. policies and procedures.
• The ability to render compassionate care and equal commitment to serve clients in need