What are the responsibilities and job description for the Forensic Specialist position at Peace River Center?
This a bachelor level position that is responsible for monitoring adult individuals with mental illness involved with the criminal justice system. This position requires regular travel, court appearances, submission of status reports to the courts, resource coordination, and conducting competency restoration training in both English and Spanish. Employee will work with minimum supervision.
General Expectations:
In the performance of their respective task and duties, all employees are expected to conform to the following:
- Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
- Interact professionally with other employees, customer and vendors.
- Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
- Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
Essential Duties/Requirements/Activities:
- Regular travel to local jails, hospitals, clients’ homes or assisted living facilities.
- Monitor clients’ progress and legal status in jail and community.
- Accurate completion of all necessary documentation in a timely manner.
- Provide community resource coordination.
- Frequent appearances in court.
- Timely submission of status reports to the courts.
- Provide competency restoration training to individuals adjudicated incompetent to proceed in both English and Spanish.
- Collection of data for reporting purposes.
- Assist with discharge planning from state hospitals as needed.
- Travel to state forensic hospitals as needed.
- Provide triage counseling and crisis intervention as needed.
Qualifications:
Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university or college with a major in counseling, social work, psychology, nursing, rehabilitation, special education, health education, or related human services field.
Experience:
Requires a minimum of one (1) year working with mentally ill adults.
Certifications:
- Certified Mental Health Professional Certification is preferred.
Training:
- Position requires that the individual maintains compliance with all PRC training requirements. Florida Forensic Examiner training required within 1 year of employment.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Requires good verbal and written communication.
- Requires flexibility and the ability to prioritize job duties.
- Must be capable of working independently with minimal supervision and as a member of a team.
- Ability to effectively interact with court and hospital personnel.
- Must be able to identify symptoms of mental illness.
- Ability to effectively interact with individuals with mental illness and intervene in crisis situations.
- Requires working knowledge of Microsoft Office – Outlook, Word and Excel.
- Spanish Speaking preferred.
Safety Equipment
- Universal Precautions
- Comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules and regulations
- Life Safety Equipment (fire extinguisher)
Transportation:
- Must have reliable transportation.
- Requires clean driving record. DMV check will be performed on offer of employment.
- Must have current Florida Driver’s License and continue to maintain during employment.
- Maintain current $25,000/$50,000 bodily insurance coverage on personal vehicle.
- Must meet DOT driving requirements and be a minimum of 25 years of age.
Machines, Tool and Equipment Used:
Computer, telephone, fax, copier.
Technology Requirement:
As an employee of Peace River Center, if you are not assigned a company-issued phone, you will be required to authorize the use of the Microsoft Authenticator app on your personal mobile device. This is necessary to access our payroll and communication system, Paycor, and Microsoft email as examples. This will ensure secure and efficient communication with the organization.
Supervisory Relationship(s)
Supervises - None
Work Environment:
Fast paced work environment. The populations cared for will include patients who are confused, delusional, irrational, agitated, or uncooperative. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Must understand and accept the possibility of exposure to inside environmental conditions such as communicable diseases and physical/verbal abuse from an out of control patient/client.
Salary : $25,000 - $50,000