NaphCare is hiring a Mental Health Court Liaison to join our team of medical and mental health professionals to work at the Mobile Metro County Jail located in Mobile, AL. 

As a Correctional Mental Health Court Liaison, you will work alongside correctional officers and other medical and mental professionals to serve as a link between the criminal justice system and mental health patients detained in the jail charged with non-violent offenses who have a mental illness. This is a unique position where you can make a difference to this diverse population of patients with complex medical and mental health needs. 

The Mental Health Court Liaison reports to the Director of Social Services, Health Services Administrator (HSA), Mental Health Director and is responsible for facilitating early intervention by providing mental health assessments and referring them to appropriate treatment providers, community resources, and assisting them in navigating the legal and care coordination in efforts of to reducing recidivism while improving quality of life. Additional duties and responsibilities may include and are not limited to:

• Use knowledge and expertise to ensure that processes and systems are followed appropriately according to policies and procedures, company performance, and accreditation standards.
• Familiar with the mental health state and county commitment protocols.
• Use all functions and applications of TechCare™ relevant to the position with no supervision, and assist with staff training as requested.
• Communicate effectively with clients, peers, and employees at all levels within the organization. Maintain clear lines of communication throughout issue-resolution processes.
• Demonstrate personal performance based on professional practice standards, relevant statutes, rules and regulations, and organizational criteria.
• Demonstrate professionalism by using objectivity, maintaining self-control when under pressure, separating professional from personal issues, displaying emotional maturity, maintaining a high degree of integrity, and promoting a positive work environment by setting an example.
• Participate in all monthly, quarterly, and annual meetings as assigned and required in accordance with contract compliance.
• Relay critical information to the next level of management that may have a negative impact on client and/or vendor relations or patient care.
• Evaluate patients in a variety of settings, including the initial intake area, mental health care unit, emergency situations, housing units, medical housing areas, and segregation units.
• Participate in educational and training activities related to mental health care for patients, security personnel, and healthcare staff.
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to refer for appropriate care, based on the physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patient(s) served.
• Coordinate with the courts, healthcare staff and security staff regarding patients’ mental health care and release dates and ensure an effective discharge summary plan is documented within the patient’s health record.
• Participate in a collaborative approach of patient management using the knowledge and clinical resources of the health care staff to provide the resolution of diagnostic and therapeutic problems and the implementation of effective solutions.
• Perform and document mental health evaluations, progress notes, individual and group counseling notes, and suicide watch notes in TechCare™ in a thorough manner that relays a clear picture of the patient for the next clinician who interacts with the patient. Report all significant changes in patient condition to higher level mental health staff for appropriate intervention.
• Facilitate patient treatment according to company policies and procedures to include, but not limited to, admission and discharge from the mental health unit, housing change requests, seclusion, suicide precautions, close observation, and observation level changes.
• Meets with patients, as identified by the courts, to perform a mental health evaluations and/or risk assessments.
• Obtains all necessary release of information documents needed to coordinate and communicate with the courts and needed agencies.
• Provides mental health findings to the court.
• Appears at Mental Health Court on designated day and times, or be available via Zoom.
• Be prepared to provide court testimony when deemed necessary.
• Works with the appropriate community resources to coordinate the next level of care and prepare patient for release.
• Tracks data to provide stakeholders reports of those patients diverted to non-jail services.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with community stakeholders to understand resources in the community and referral processes.

Experience / Requirements / Qualifications

• Must be an independently licensed Psychologist, Professional Counselor, Clinical Social Worker or Marriage and Family Counselor. 
• Must hold and maintain a current, unrestricted license in the state of employment, as well as a valid CPR card.
• A minimum of 3 years’ clinical experience in the mental health care setting is required, with correctional healthcare experience preferred
• Must demonstrate knowledge of DSM-V criteria have the ability to engage and communicate clinical findings in a public forum with appropriate intervention.
• Conduct group and/or individual counseling for patients, as applicable.
• Complete at least 12 hours of CEU pertinent to correctional health care annually.
  
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of all proprietary and/or confidential information
• Excellent communication skills are essential for interacting with patients, staff, and physicians
• Able to work independently and in a team
• Integrity, professionalism and ability to adhere to a Code of Conduct and comply with all facility(s) correctional healthcare policies, procedures, and legal requirements
• Must pass the facility’s criminal background check and drug screening

Physical Demands: Must have the physical and mental capacity to work in an environment that may be less than pristine, and manage and maintain physical and mental health when encountering stressful situations.  Must have ability to speak, hear, understand, and distinguish speech and/or other sounds.  Must have visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing data, viewing a computer terminal and extensive reading.   

Why Join NaphCare?

NaphCare is one of the largest providers of healthcare services to correctional facilities throughout the US, and we are growing. If you have never considered a career in correctional healthcare, now may be the time! In addition to competitive salaries and generous employee benefits, we have opportunities for new graduates and experienced medical professionals, promote educational growth, and strongly support career advancement within the company.

NaphCare Benefits for Full-Time Employees Include:

• Health, dental & vision insurance that starts day one!
• Prescriptions free of charge through our health plan, beginning day one
• Lowest Cost Benefits!
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services
• 401K and Roth with company contribution that starts day one!
• Tuition Assistance
• Referral bonuses
• Term life insurance at no cost to the employee
• Generous paid time off & paid holidays
• Free continuing education and CMEs

If you would like to speak with me to learn more about this position and NaphCare, please first apply directly to the position to initiate the application process, then send your resume to melissa.miller@naphcare.com and I’ll be in touch.

Equal Opportunity Employer: disability/veteran

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