Forensic Services Coordinator

Position Description

Office: ADM Board 

Classification Title: Forensic Services Coordinator

Employment Status Full Time Fair Labor Standard Act Status Exempt

Civil Service Status Classified

Department Clinical Reports to Associate Director of Clinical Services

Job Code 5257 Position Number 535257001

EEO & Salary Classification Professional Salary Pay Grade Three

Compensation: $61,000 - $77,000

General Overview

Under the direction of the Associate Director of Clinical Services monitors treatment compliance and progress of people found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) and defendants found to be Incompetent to Stand Trial-Unrestorable-Criminal Court Jurisdiction (IST-U-CJ) on conditional release commitment in Summit County. Collaborates with ADM Board staff to accomplish departmental goals and objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must perform essential duties to expected performance standards. The County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADM) Board is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the ADM Board will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and incumbent employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

• Assists court personnel with template journal entries involving mental health issues and provides individualized entries as required. Provides consultation to court secretaries regarding appropriate journal entries.
• Attends court hearings for mentally ill defendants/acquitees in common pleas court or one of the municipal courts as needed. Informs the court of mental illness issues related to community safety. Advocates for mental health system and mentally ill defendants/acquitees as appropriate.
• Ensures individuals with mental illness have a successful transition from the hospital to the community; that effective risk management procedures are implemented by community providers and that prompt re-hospitalization, re-institutionalization or detention occurs when public safety necessitates this level of care.
• Facilitates admission to hospital or outpatient treatment for forensic clients.
• Maintains a database of forensic client information including, but not limited to, information necessary to monitor treatment and compliance with court orders. Maintains forensic client files, including but not limited to, journal entries, reports from treatment facilities, and other documents.
• Maintains monthly, quarterly and daily reports and statistical records regarding forensic clients and treatment.
• Performs duties in conformance with the Forensic Manual, monitors progress and treatment of Conditional Release clients. Attends state forensic monitor conferences, assigned treatment agency Forensic Team meetings. Reviews risk assessments and provide consultation to assigned treatment team staff.
• Provides consultation and support to Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (ODBH) Hospital treatment staff, Community Support Services, other community providers and ADM Board regarding the treatment and progress of hospitalized forensic clients.
• Attends Forensic team meetings with hospital staff and ODBH as required with treatment team staff.
• Provides consultation to jail staff, Judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys and other court staff regarding mental health laws, issues and diagnoses.
• Provides training regarding forensic status to community organizations such as bar associations, chemical dependency treatment facilities, facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities and other organizations.
• Serve as a liaison between the mentally ill defendants/acquitees, the court, the community and the ODBH Regional Psychiatric Hospitals.
• Monitors mentally ill defendants who have been arrested, have been ordered to be evaluated for competency and sanity or have been found NGRI or ISTU-CJ.
• Assists with Summit County CIT program as needed.
• Pull daily jail census reports and send to relevant stakeholders.
• Works assigned schedule, exhibits regular and predictable attendance and works overtime as required to meet workload demands.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

The listing of duties and requirements listed in this description should in no manner imply that these are the only responsibilities to be performed by the employee who fills this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change any time, with or without notice. The outline of responsibilities above may vary without materially changing either the job classification or pay grade.

Scope of Supervision

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Equipment Operated

Computer; copier; printer; telephone and other standard office equipment/software.

Contacts with Others

Community, State, County and ADM Board Service Providers’ representatives, vendors, court officials and staff; attorneys; law enforcement officials; jail behavioral health employees; clients and client’s family members.

Confidential Data

Maintains confidentiality of sensitive records and treatment information, client files and protected health information in compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and established procedures.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a typical office environment with minimal exposure to dirt and dust and occasional exposure to outdoor temperatures. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet and occasionally moderate with typical office sounds and conversations of others able to be heard throughout the office area. This position requires travel to and regular work within the Summit County Courthouses.

Physical Demands / Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly exhibits manual dexterity when working on the computer and typing and frequently talks and hears when working with clients, court officials and other job contacts. The employee frequently sits for extended periods of time, stands and walks. Vision demands include close, relatively detailed vision, with the ability to adjust focus when typing or reading a computer screen. Employee occasionally lifts up to 15 pounds when moving files, boxes, equipment and other items.

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the position’s essential duties and responsibilities consistent with ADA, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and quantitative productive standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards.
• Must be able to hear, listen and speak clearly on the telephone.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of: mental illness diagnoses, medications and treatments; criminal justice processes; mental health system and regulatory requirements; Ohio mental health laws; mental health services; client rights; social work ethics; mental health program development; community and agency resources available to individuals with mental illnesses and/or addictions; local community mental health and social service network.
• Ability to: understand, interpret and apply laws, rules and regulations; actively listen and provide feedback; maintain objectivity during case hearings; set work priorities; respond to issues on a proactive basis and recommend viable solutions; organize work projects and manage multiple tasks simultaneously;; accomplish short and long range objectives and goals; exhibit flexibility in work schedule and job assignments; maintain confidential and sensitive information; develop and maintain effective working relationships with clients and other job contacts; maintain accurate and complete work records and files.
• Skill in: verbal and written communications; application of Microsoft Office software including Word, Excel, Access, and Power Point, and other job software; operation of standard office equipment.

Qualifications

An appropriate combination of education, training, course work and experience may qualify an applicant to demonstrate required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of an acceptable qualification is:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work (preferred), Counseling, or related field and a minimum of five years of experience working in the mental health field.
• Ability to document identity and employment eligibility within three (3) days of original appointment as a condition of employment in compliance with Immigration Reform and Control Act requirements.

Licensure or certification requirement

• A valid driver’s license and current automobile insurance.

Professional Certifications or licensure

• Active State of Ohio Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC) or Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) preferred.
• Active Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Professional Counselor (PC) may be considered with over seven years’ experience.