About Job

Pay is determined by relevant experience, work history, education and internal equities. As part of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices, MHMR offers the maximum compensation for candidates based on their experience, education and internal equities of the agency. This practice removes biases in compensation and assist hires and/or promotions on pay equity in their appropriate position(s) at MHMR.

The average rate for this position is… 24.04

Job Purpose

The position of Forensic Case Worker will and provides case coordination services to mentally impaired inmates housed in the Tarrant County Jail.

Essential Functions

Complete all paperwork related to new referrals Performance Requirement(s):

Review and triage new referrals upon receipts 100% of the time.

Check both CMHC and Care system for data concerning the client 100% of the time.

Call and request psychiatric records with 24 hours or the next working days.

Requests protocol medications if inmate was taking medications prior to being arrested.

Review the referral, the arrest record, and other criminal justice information related to the case as provided by the jail 100% of the time.

Appropriate determination is made daily as to which inmates will be assessed for services, and the promptness of such assessments, based upon established triage criteria. A disposition must be made on each referral/kite.

All inmates appropriate for face to face follow up must be as soon as possible but no later than 14 days.

Referrals that are not followed up by a face to face visit (duplicate referrals for same issue, or inmate has been released from custody) referral must be returned to unit clerk with written explanation as to why inmate was not seen face to face.

Provide Mental Health Assessment

Performance Requirement(s):

Conducting a clinical interview with the inmate using the Tarrant County Mental Health assessment form to determine his/her mental health status and need for psychiatric services while incarcerated.

Contracting prior psychiatric service providers, family members/significant others, and/or other agencies to obtain information on client's psychiatric history, social functioning, and treatment needs.

Reviewing information from available psychiatric records.

Contacting criminal justice staff for information as needed

Each completed assessment must consist of a disposition and a recommendation for housing if appropriate 100% of the time.

Obtains consents for treatment and for release of information from each inmate referred to psychiatrist or documents the inmate's refusal to sign them 100% of the time.

Writes the names of inmates who need to be seen by the psychiatrist on the triage list according to unit guidelines prior to the end of each work day

Returning completed referral form to unit clerk for data entry

Informs Team Leader or Program Manager of high priority inmates placed on the triage list.

Consult with Team Leader, Therapist or Program Manager prior to recommending single cell or SPC housing. (IF no one is available, consult with above persons at first opportunity)

All referrals for SPC or single cell housing must be taken to classification immediately.

Provide ongoing review and follow up on the mentally ill incarcerated in the jail.

Performance Requirement(s):

Follow up on inmates as prescribed by classification, location and individual client needs

Insure that all legitimate inmate needs are being addressed by mental health and medical services

Provide feedback to psychiatrist, program manager, team leader and other MHMR staff and or medical staff as needed

All ongoing contacts with inmates must be documented using an approved progress note format or the progress note section of the Tarrant County Jail Mental Health Services Request form.

Provide referred inmates with diversion services

Performance Requirement(s):

Refer inmates who may meet criteria for post booking diversion to the appropriate referral source

Insure that Team Leader or Program Manager knows if any inmate may be in need of a competency exam.

Reports and documents client services accurately according to unit and agency procedures, and maintains working log of activity

Performance Requirement(s):

Documents through progress notes that 35% of total work time is in direct contact with clients

All notes for service are written no later than 12pm of the next working day following client appointment

Reports sensitive and pertinent issues to manager immediately in written or verbal form 90% of the time

SAL codes used correlate properly with the service provided

SALs are turned in for data entry within one working day of service provided

Locates inmates permanent chart or prepares a temporary chart(if permanent chart does not exist) for inmates needing further mental health service as soon as needed but no later 3 than working days

Places all paperwork related to inmates who have been deemed as no MHMR follow up for services in the inactive bin

Provides ongoing review and follow up on the mentally ill incarcerated in the jail

Performance Requirement(s):

Follow up on inmates as prescribed by classification, location and individual client needs.

Insure that all legitimate needs of inmates are being addressed by mental health and medical services.

Provide feedback to psychiatrist, program manager, team leader and other MHMR staff and or medical staff as needed.

All ongoing contacts with inmates must be documented using an approved progress note formal or the progress note section of the Tarrant County Jail Mental Health Services Request form.

Prepares information for submission and/or enters information into electronic storage, processing and retrieval systems accurately and on a timely basis. (This includes but is not limited to the CARE data system, CMHC, reports and documents on personal computer which are subject to requirements related to accuracy and timeliness, automated clinical records systems and LAWSON purchasing system.)

Performance Requirement(s):

Information related to clinical records systems, CARE data system, CMHC data system and any financial records contain no more than 2% errors. In the event an error rate in the data is identified which has occurred outside the control of the employee such as an error resulting from faulty programming or other software problems, the source document or original work will be the basis for establishing the employee’s error rate.

No more than 1% of information related to clinical records systems, CARE data system, CMHC data system, financial records and/or any other data systems critical to the mission of the agency or unit is identified as delinquent by standards or directives defining due dates for that particular data.

Employee in collaboration with their supervisor) develops and maintains skills sufficient to meet job information preparation/entry responsibilities.

Employee produces positive outcomes as a result of their interaction with others

Performance Requirement(s):

Employee interacts with clients, other staff, the MHMR organization and other organization(s)in a manner which promotes positive outcomes for the employee, the client(s), other staff, their supervisor(s), the MHMR organization and other organization(s) 95% of the time.

Employee uses channels of communication prescribed by Agency Operating Procedure, established ”chain of command”, laws, regulations, codes of ethics, professional standards, supervisory instructions, or other legitimate codifying entities in order to bring client and system problems to the attention of the appropriate authority 98% of the time.

Employee has no more than three episodes per calendar year in which clients, other staff, the MHMR organization and other organization(s) have had negative outcomes as a result of the employee’s interactions with them.

Provide Aftercare Plans at the time of the inmate’s release

Performance Requirement(s):

Refers inmate to Continuity of Care upon knowledge of inmates release from custody.

If Continuity of Care is unavailable the following actions must be performed.

Refers the inmate to housing, financial assistance, and vocational training upon inmate's request and prior to his/her release 90% of the time.

Schedules outpatient medication appointments for referred inmates awaiting release prior to the release 90% of the time.

Provides referred inmates with the case manager's telephone number and instructions to contact the case manager upon release for follow-up services. The case manager will accomplish this prior to the inmate's release 90% of the time.

Upon inmate’s request, coordinate with the unit psychiatrist to provide discharge medication.

Performance standards are performed as applicable with MHMR’s We CARE values “We Connect People in Our Community. We Provide Access to Services. We Link People to Resources. We Empower People.”

Perform other job duties or responsibilities as requested or assigned, whether or not specifically mentioned in the job description.

Performance Requirement(s):

Exhibits a willingness to assume additional duties; seeks the guidance of supervisor prior to beginning and unfamiliar assignment.

Perform other related job duties or responsibilities as requested or required, whether or not specifically mentioned in the job description.

Exhibits a willingness to assume additional duties; seeks the guidance of supervisor prior to beginning an unfamiliar assignment.

Performance standards are performed as applicable with MHMR’s We CARE values “We Connect People in Our Community. We Provide Access to Services. We Link People to Resources. We Empower People.”

Perform other job duties or responsibilities as requested or assigned.

Knowledge of Laws, Regulations, Policies/Procedures, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of MHMRTC and BH Operating Procedures

Knowledge of community resources, including businesses and volunteer organizations

Federal Confidentiality Laws

Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written forms

Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with clients and staff

Working knowledge of psychopathology and DSM V classes of major mental illness.

Ability to work autonomously, organize work, and complete tasks assigned in a timely manner

Internal & External Customer Service

This position requires extensive internal and external contacts with all levels of management and field personnel. The employee will accomplish this with advanced written and verbal skills.

B) Must demonstrate, compassion, emotional control, and safety practices including suicide safe care.

External:

Tarrant County Court and Jail Staff

Managed Care Contractors and Staff

Insurance and Other Payers of Treatment Services

Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

Clients, family and general public

Internal:

BH-SUD Management Staff

Clinical Supervisors

Program Director

Team Lead