• Location: Trenton, New Jersey (on-site). Service settings include the Mercer County courts, the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office, clinical treatment facilities, the county correctional facility, and other approved locations within Mercer County.
• Employment Type: Independent Contractor (1099)
• Schedule: Part-time, approximately 17 to 20 hours per week on average (approximately 900 hours annually), Eastern Time. Court sessions anticipated twice per month with team meetings on non-court weeks and clinical meetings with program participants as needed; primarily standard business hours with occasional communication outside those hours.
• Agency Environment: County prosecutor-led mental health diversion court under New Jersey's Statewide Mental Health Diversion Program; forensic behavioral health assessment and case management for justice-involved adults whose charges are connected to a serious mental health condition.

Position Overview

CLF Consultants LLC seeks a dual-licensed behavioral health clinician (LCSW or LPC, plus LCADC) to serve as the Senior Mental Health Provider for a county Mental Health Diversion Court program operated in partnership with the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office in Trenton, New Jersey. The diversion court redirects adults whose criminal charges stem from a serious mental health condition into supervised treatment and recovery. The clinician in this role is the clinical engine of that program: the professional whose assessments determine program suitability, whose treatment plans carry participants through recovery, and whose written reports the judge, prosecutors, and defense counsel rely on at every court session.

The work spans the full participant lifecycle. You conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments at program entry, including diagnostic impressions under DSM-5-TR criteria and analysis of the connection between the participant's mental health condition and the alleged offense. You build and monitor individualized treatment plans, coordinate psychiatric and therapeutic care across the Trenton-area provider network, assist participants with benefits enrollment including NJ FamilyCare and Medicaid, and intervene early when housing, transportation, or engagement barriers threaten a participant's progress. You attend court sessions twice per month, participate in team meetings on non-court weeks, and deliver written status reports on the court's cadence.

The successful candidate is a seasoned crisis assessor who is comfortable in courtrooms and correctional settings, writes clearly and defensibly, and finds professional meaning in recovery-oriented work with a justice-involved population. Forensic, diversionary, or court-related treatment experience is strongly preferred. This is a part-time independent contractor engagement with a predictable court-driven rhythm, supported by CLFC's program management infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments of adults referred to the diversion court, including mental status examination, substance use screening, trauma history, and collateral record review, in office, clinical, and correctional settings
• Document diagnostic impressions under DSM-5-TR criteria, clinical appropriateness for program participation, and the nexus between the participant's mental health condition and the alleged offense
• Develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment plans with measurable goals for psychiatric stabilization, therapy engagement, co-occurring substance use recovery, and life stability
• Provide ongoing case management: coordinate and schedule psychiatric, medical, therapeutic, and supportive service appointments; provide reminders and follow-up; keep participants actively engaged
• Assist participants with applications and enrollment for insurance, Medicaid, public assistance, and other benefit programs
• Refer participants to trauma counseling, grief counseling, group therapy, peer support, and emotional wellness services, and coordinate housing, transportation, employment, and financial assistance with community agencies
• Prepare and submit written participant status reports and clinical recommendations to the diversion court team on a twice-monthly court cadence
• Attend all court sessions, team status meetings, case conferences, clinical conferences, and program planning meetings, and recommend operational improvements as the program matures
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all participant records under HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and program confidentiality requirements
• Complete required background investigations, security clearances, and annual compliance training

Required Qualifications

• Current New Jersey licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Current New Jersey licensure as a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC)
• Minimum five (5) years of clinical experience conducting screenings and assessments of adults experiencing psychiatric crises, psychiatric emergencies, or behavioral health emergencies
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and monitoring individualized treatment plans
• Strong clinical writing: assessments, treatment plans, and status reports suitable for review by judges, prosecutors, and defense counsel
• Ability to work on-site in Trenton, New Jersey, including assessments in correctional settings
• Ability to pass New Jersey State Police criminal background checks and county security clearance, refreshed annually

Strongly Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in criminal justice, diversionary, forensic, or court-related treatment settings such as jail-based assessment, drug or recovery court, competency evaluation, or re-entry case management
• Working knowledge of New Jersey public benefit systems including NJ FamilyCare, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI, and county social services
• Established relationships within the Trenton and Mercer County behavioral health and social services provider network
• Training in trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, or co-occurring disorder treatment models
• Bilingual English/Spanish

Compensation and Engagement Details

• Hourly rate range: $76 - $92 per hour (1099 independent contractor), commensurate with experience and credentials
• Part-time engagement, approximately 17 to 20 hours per week on average, on a predictable court-driven schedule
• One-year initial engagement aligned to the county contract base year, with a potential second year aligned to the contract option year
• Professional liability coverage for program work carried by CLFC at the limits the county contract requires
• CLFC PMO administrative support: credentialing verification, background-check coordination, HIPAA-compliant case management and reporting infrastructure, and invoicing support
• Mission-impact role: your clinical judgment directly shapes recovery outcomes for justice-involved adults and the trajectory of a new county diversion program

About CLFC Healthcare and Communications

CLF Consultants LLC (DBA: CLFC Healthcare and Communications) is a nationwide healthcare staffing and language access services firm serving federal, state, and local government clients. Our network of 500+ healthcare professionals and 200+ interpreters supports nationwide coverage across clinical, behavioral health, and communication access disciplines. CLFC is a Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business committed to placing qualified professionals with mission-aligned organizations. Equal Opportunity Employer.