Job Description

Evaluate community supervision clients who have mental health and/or substance abuse issues in order to determine treatment needs and assist with supervision decisions.  Produce legal documents (i.e. reports) which have a direct impact on client recidivism rates and public safety within Dallas County. 

Ensure that work meets established departmental standards, federal, state and local regulations and funding requirements, if applicable

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct clinical biopsychosocial assessment interviews (including dual diagnosis, mental health and substance abuse evaluations), including collecting and integrating information from a variety of collateral sources.
• Formulate accurate diagnoses and make substantiated treatment recommendations that reflect clients’ need and risk factors for court review and possible testimony.
• Provide written reports to probation officers and the courts, including DSM-5-TR diagnoses and treatment recommendations, in a timely manner.
• Conduct lethality assessments on potentially suicidal and/or homicidal clients as needed, including determining risk levels and appropriate interventions, notifying courts/judges as indicated, documenting outcomes.
• Provide consultation to probation officers regarding clients with mental illness and/or substance abuse problems. May participate in conferences with MIMR probation officers. May provide clinical support for problem-solving courts. Act as a liaison with mental health agencies and treatment providers to secure needed services for clients.
• May assist in training departmental staff on available clinical services for clients. May assist in keeping departmental staff apprised on the latest developments in the mental health and substance abuse fields.
• Build cooperative relationships with court and field personnel, the District Attorney's Office, the Public Defender's Office for the purpose of information sharing, problem solving, and positive public relations.
• May represent the department in oral presentations, hearings, trials, interacting with the judiciary, law enforcement and other agencies to communicate ideas and solve problems.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION / WORK EXPERIENCE / TRAINING

Education equivalent to a graduate degree Master's or doctoral degree in psychology or social work with specific coursework/training in clinical assessment. Licensed or license-eligible in the State of Texas. Accepted licensure includes PhD, PsyD, LPC, LPA, LMFT, and LCSW. Must be fully or provisionally licensed within one year of hire date. At least two (2) years of experience (may include practica or internships) in clinical assessment and the provision of clinical services to mentally impaired and/or substance dependent clients.

Formal training in clinical assessment and psychological testing preferred but not required.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS / KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Thorough or extensive knowledge of:

• Clinical disorders
•  Clinical assessment
•  DSM-5 diagnoses
• Current treatment methods and standards of care that are available and appropriate for clients based on their level of risk and need
• Ethical principles in the field of Psychology (adherence is required)

Since the majority of clients have multiple psychological concerns and reports must be produced within concise time frames, the following skills are critical:

• Strong diagnostic and conceptualization skills
• Strong time management skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Crisis management skills

Ability to:

• Synthesize information from multiple sources regarding a client’s mental health and substance abuse, individual history, and level of risk/need.
• Identify criminogenic risk factors as well as the nature of the client’s mental health and substance use problems as they relate to identifying the appropriate treatment/ interventions.
• Produce a clinical formulation.
• Complete evaluation reports in a timely manner.
• Communicate the assessment/testing results effectively in a verbal and written manner.
• Establish working relationships with ATRS support staff, probation officers, the courts, and community-based treatment agencies.
• Demonstrate an intermediate proficiency level in MS Word.

Ability to model a positive, professional attitude while working effectively under sometimes stressful and emotion-charged conditions. Ability to gain the confidence and cooperation of others.  Emotional maturity, resourcefulness, and initiative.

Ability to adapt to changing priorities, expectations, and inflexible deadlines. Strong observation, perception, and judgment skills.  Effective interpersonal, time management, problem solving, and listening skills. Ability to demonstrate discretion, sound work ethics, cultural awareness, and sensitivity.  Ability to deal effectively with a diverse workforce; manage time well, perform multiple tasks and organize time-sensitive activities. 

Ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and professional boundaries with employees, departments, probationers, and the general public.

Must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License, with a good driving record, and pass an extensive background check.

PHYSICAL / ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Primarily perform work inside a standard office environment. May perform work inside a secured facility with potential exposure to hepatitis, tuberculosis, lice, and other diseases. Ability to travel to various work site locations within Dallas County is required.  Requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, and the ability to lift files, boxes, and other materials up to 15 lbs., unassisted.

Company Description

The Dallas County CSCD is charged with public protection through the supervision of more than 50,000 offenders residing in Dallas County. We enforce the court ordered conditions of community supervision and provide the offender with a wide range of rehabilitative services and resources. Community Supervision is the supervised release of a defendant within the community in lieu of incarceration in jail or prison (versus parole, which is the supervision in the community upon early release from prison). Assessment, Treatment, and Research Services (ATRS) is a provider of substance abuse and mental health services within CSCD. The program provides these services to individuals on community supervision to assist in the successful completion of probation. Primary services delivered by ATRS directly include pre-assessment screening, assessment, crisis intervention, and individual/group counseling