Mental Health Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Mental Health Specialist provides clinical services, including assessment, screening, brief therapy, crisis intervention, and community referrals for patients in a correctional setting. This position plays a key role in identifying and addressing mental health needs while collaborating with medical, mental health, and custody staff to promote patient well-being and safety.

Functional Responsibilities

• conducts emergency clinical assessments for individuals referred due to emotional or behavioral distress.
• Reviews and co-signs all mental health screening intakes completed by nursing staff for new arrivals.
• Develops individualized treatment plans addressing housing, medication referral, counseling, and community treatment needs.
• Conducts initial clinical assessments within three (3) days for individuals identified as high risk.
• Provides brief individual or group counseling when clinically appropriate.
• Performs assessments on individuals placed on suicide precautions and, in consultation with mental health staff, determines the need to continue, modify, or discontinue such precautions.
• Assists individuals with mental illness in accessing community services upon release.
• Cooperates with requests for information from the judicial system while maintaining compliance with HIPAA regulations.
• Maintains daily and monthly statistics on patient contacts and demographic data.
• Attends bi-monthly staff meetings and other required CFG or facility meetings.
• Participates in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) initiatives and assists in conducting CQI studies.
• Provides or assists in training custody staff on mental health topics, as requested or required by the facility.
• Completes all required documentation and clinical notes accurately and promptly.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.