Forensic Program Manager

Job Title: Forensic Program Manager

Do you have a passion for helping others and want a career where you can make a difference? Then join our NTBHA team. We have proved to be a strong, self-sufficient and enduring foundation within our community. We are committed to connecting and serving our clients where they live.

Position’s Role Summary:

North Texas Behavioral Health Authority (NTBHA), based in Dallas is responsible for developing a collaborative system of care for children, adolescents and adults with severe mental illness and other serious emotional disturbances, as well as those experiencing a substance use disorder. This position’s actions and work must align with NTBHA’s values and goals, policies and procedures, and meet all documentation standards and regulatory requirements.

NTBHA is seeking a licensed professional with excellent organizational, clinical and management skills to startup and manage a Forensic Support Team in partnership with Dallas County and HHSC. The coordinator will participate in the design, implementation, refinement and adaptation of programs and in planning future program strategies. Programs will demonstrate long-term strategies of investment in local reform, research, experimentation, and communications that seek to create ensure their success.

In this role, the Program Manager will be called upon to deliver under pressure and consistently produce high-quality work; build effective relationships and work proactively with other departments and agencies; anticipate potential issues and propose solutions; offer assistance and service to team members; and present ideas for improvement and be able to create a project plan to execute these improvements. The administrator will have responsibility for and will share in additional administrative, clinical, programmatic, and budgetary operations, including monitoring performance, outcomes and cost effectiveness.

The Program Manager will keep abreast of current events, developments, and issues in the field to maintain a balanced and objective perspective and approach to programs; support and maintain relationships with county and municipal departments, treatment providers and related agencies.

Requires availability and flexible work hours (after hours) to meet program needs.

Travel can vary from 20% to 100% per day. This would include all counties within NTBHA Catchment area (Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro & Rockwall Counties).

This role may be required to use a fleet vehicle and/or a personal vehicle for business needs. This may include, but not limited to field & home visits, offsite meetings, co-located sites and/or pick up items for business needs, etc. If your program requires transport of individuals, this would only be allowed with a company vehicle and approval from management.

This position is classified as exempt and requires flexibility in scheduling to meet organizational needs, including adjusting work hours as necessary to ensure job responsibilities are completed.

Job duties, responsibilities, and skills:

• Work independently and make decisions consistent with applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Oversee the performance of the Forensic Support Team.
• Provide liaison between the Chief of Intensive and Forensic Services and community partners and agencies involved with program.
• Complete and submit reporting metrics required by HHSC.
• Recruit, train, and maintain Forensic Coordinator(s), who must be a Qualified Mental Health Professional-Community Services (QMHP-CS) or Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts (LPHA), as defined in 26 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Part 1, Chapter 301, Subchapter G, unless otherwise approved by HHSC. 
• Ensure all staff members are trained and demonstrate competence, prior to providing services, with:
• The requirements set forth in 25 TAC, Chapter 404, Subchapter E (relating to Rights of Persons Receiving Mental Health Services); and
• Identifying, preventing, and reporting abuse, neglect, and exploitation in accordance with Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Adult Protective Services or the HHSC Office of the Ombudsman as set forth in applicable state laws and rules.
• Maintain records that document FST services delivered by staff members who act within their scope of practice, and have demonstrated the following minimum knowledge, technical, and interpersonal competencies prior to providing services:
• Knowledge that mental health and substance use disorders are potentially recurrent relapsing disorders;
• Knowledge of the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, diagnostic criteria for psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders, and the relationship between psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders;
• Knowledge appropriate to their roles in the provision of effective mental health services, including counseling, psychosocial rehabilitation, and Illness Management and Recovery for FST participants, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy;
• Knowledge regarding the increased risks of self-harm, suicide, and violence in FST participants;
• Knowledge of the elements of an individualized treatment plan for FST participants;
• Basic knowledge of pharmacology as it relates to FST participants;
• Knowledge of the provision of care that is recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and person-centered;
• Understanding the benefit of incorporating peer specialists as part of the FST participant’s substance use and/or mental health recovery program;
• Basic understanding of criminogenic risk and needs and case management for people with current or former justice involvement.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and criminal justice stakeholders.
• Conduct an assessment using an agency-developed instrument to determine service needs and engagement frequency within five (5) business days of the court’s commitment order for competency restoration at a state hospital, OCR, or JBCR.
• Provide in-person services at a frequency commiserate with the outcome of the clinical assessment completed within five (5) days of the court’s commitment order to support participation in the FST program and ensure adherence to their treatment plan, if any.
• Program activities and services for individuals found IST and for whom competency restoration services have been ordered by the court shall include:
• Coordinate the provision of care for individuals waiting in jail or on bond in the community, providing referrals to physical and mental health treatment, if needed and as appropriate.
• Appropriately identify and request expedited admission to a state hospital if an individual decompensates.
• Identify individuals in jail awaiting admission to a state hospital who may be appropriate for OCR, JBCR, or outpatient 46B.102 commitment and engage the OCR, JBCR, or outpatient program provider to assess for appropriateness, verify program availability, and petition the local court to revise the individual’s commitment status. 
• Provide routine updates to state hospital, local mental health authority (LMHA) or local behavioral health authority (LBHA), and county court and jail staff on the status of each individual ordered to receive inpatient, outpatient, or jail-based competency restoration services, including changes in clinical status and transition plans for individuals moving between facilities or locations.
• Provide routine outreach and education to state hospital, LMHA or LBHA, and county court and jail staff on competency restoration system processes and timelines as they relate to the adjudicative process or provision of competency restoration services.
• Conduct a Standardized Clinically Based Competency Screens (SCCS) to assess the individual’s competency if there is evidence of restoration and communicate the outcome of the quick screens to the relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate with the LMHA or Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority (LIDDA) to obtain a Determination of Intellectual Disability (DID) assessment if the individual demonstrates behaviors that may indicate the presence of an intellectual or developmental disability.
• Upon return to jail from a state hospital or upon completion of an OCR or JBCR program, monitor the individual’s mental health status and report any concerns to the jail behavioral health provider until the court determines competency.
• Coordinate discharge planning and facilitate connection to community-based treatment, peer and family support, services to meet basic needs (e.g., housing and rental assistance, insurance benefits, food and clothing, etc.), and alternate placements (e.g. nursing homes or assisted living facilities) prior to jail release.
• Identify and implement best- and promising-practices related to service navigation and continuity of care as applied in other jurisdictions. 
• Collect, analyze, and report to HHSC data as provided in Section V.
• Other activities approved by HHSC.
• Conduct an SCCS of each person on the county forensic waitlist at or around 60 days of program participation. If the person meets Trial Competency Evaluation (TCE) criteria, conduct a TCE and notify the court of the evaluation findings.
• Engagement with LMHA, LBHA, or LMHA or LBHA subcontractors regarding referrals of people who may be appropriate for OCR or JBCR
• Referrals to external clinical and non-clinical services and support, inclusive of peer support and family partner services, recovery organizations, and mental health clubhouses.
• Transition and discharge planning.
• Outreach and education to court, jail, and state hospital personnel.
• Collection, analysis, and reporting to HHSC of program data.
• Bilingual ability preferred but not required.
• Must be able to work on and have knowledge of a PC (personal computer).
• Advanced Microsoft Office Suite skills - Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc., with an ability to become familiar with company-specific programs and software.
• Duties and projects may be assigned or changed to meet business needs.

Qualifications required:

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, human services, counseling or a related field.
• Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts (LPHA) in the state of Texas, RN, LPC, LCSW or LMFT.
• At least three years’ experience with direct care of persons with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders.
• At least two years of experience in program development, grant program operation and reporting, data tracking, design, and review.
• Ability to develop and maintain data and performance tracking for competency restoration programs at private psychiatric hospitals, maintain compliance with state-required monitoring and reporting of competency restoration programs, and coordinating efforts between local hospitals and HHSC.
• Knowledge of Texas competency restoration procedures and laws as well as competency restoration curriculum and process.
• Experience with participating in a treatment team that develops and monitors treatment plans for persons with severe persistent mental illness and substance use disorders.
• Have experience with the implementation of evidence-based curriculum for mental health services, preferably in competency restoration.
• Experience in and knowledge of trauma-informed care, harm reduction and recovery principles and standards of care.
• Experience with and familiarity of rules and requirements for competency restoration programs, forensic commitments, and TRR services.
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license. 
• Pass and maintain a clear background record as required for healthcare organizations under state and federal contracts. 

Benefits:

• 457(b)
• Paid time off
• Health, Dental and Vision insurance
• Health savings account
• Flexible spending account
• Tuition reimbursement

We are responsible for developing a collaborative system of care for individuals in crisis in the NTBHA service area. We are focused on trauma-informed, resilience-oriented care in all services provided.

Salary : $70,000 - $80,000