| WCSI Position Title: | Criminal Justice Liaison |
Summary
This is a full-time non-exempt position primarily responsible for providing support and assistance to “intercept” persons with mental illness and co-occurring disorders to ensure: opportunities for diversion, appropriate re-entry to their community, timely movement through the criminal justice system, prompt access to treatment and support services and linkage to community resources. Works as an interdisciplinary team member. Work assignments will be discussed at bi-weekly planning meetings. Goals and objectives will be developed, and priority assignments identified. Maintains all records and other relevant paperwork accurately and promptly. May require work during non-traditional hours based on needs of district magistrates, county court or other criminal justice entities. Scheduling is a cooperative effort between the liaison and the supervisor. Primary work week would be 37.5 hours/week with a 30-minute lunch unless otherwise agreed upon.
Compliance:
As with all
WCSI positions, it is the expectation that employees adhere to WCSI, County, State
and Federal guidelines, regulation, policies and laws which govern the business
and service of WCSI.
This position
requires the employee to perform their daily job duties and responsibilities in
a structured work environment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Include the following, (other duties may be assigned as deemed necessary by management):
:
Case
Management Activities:
Develops strategies for resolving issues of persons with mental illness and
co-occurring disorders entering or moving through the criminal justice system
at any level of involvement using the concepts of the “Sequential Intercept
Model”. The Criminal Justice Liaisons
will work collaboratively with representatives from various entities in the
county including local district justices, courts, crisis services, police,
adult probation office, public defenders, district attorneys, county prison, and
behavioral health providers.
Referral,
service linkage, community support networking and development, and case monitoring
are essential job duties. Documentation of all service management contacts are
maintained in client charts. Completes all service activity documentation
accurately and promptly. Responsible for achieving assigned services rendered
rate.
Works as a Base
Service Unit Team Member. Provides crisis services including telephone,
walk-in, and mobile crisis services on an as needed basis. May include coordination
of 302 and 201 hospitalizations, including completion of all required legal documents
and emergency phone coordination with county, local community hospitals,
emergency medical services, and police.
Monitoring
and Coordination Activities:
The Criminal Justice Liaison will
develop a knowledge base and eventual expertise of the criminal justice system
and how this system interfaces with the behavioral health system. An important
role of the Criminal Justice Liaison is to incorporate ongoing education to the
collaborative community systems to improve their knowledge base of navigating
the behavioral health system.
The
Criminal Justice Liaison will be responsible for working collaboratively with
community resources to reduce some of the barriers to providing service to this
population. This ongoing collaboration and coordination will transition persons
with mental illness and co-occurring disorders more successfully in obtaining
treatment and support services as they move through the criminal justice system
at any point of involvement. A
comprehensive list of resources will be identified and maintained by the Liaison
for quality service delivery. This
resource list will at a minimum contain the following areas: mental health and
drug/alcohol treatment, crisis intervention, housing, vocational,
transportation and any other support services to meet the individual’s needs for
diversion and decreasing recidivism into the legal system
Specialization:
Manages needs for those
clients who are in the early stages of the criminal justice system. Works with
District Magistrates, community providers district attorneys, public defenders,
etc. to work for the possible intercept of the individual from the criminal
justice system. Provides education on the Behavioral Health System to Criminal
Justice professionals and judges. Will be required to develop outreach presentations
on the Behavioral Health system and participate in outreach activities at committees
and meetings for criminal justice professionals (i.e., judges, magistrates, district
attorneys, public defenders, etc.), and other community providers.
Advocacy Activities:
Advocates for the client to ensure responsiveness from natural, community,
generic and specialized services. Advocacy includes providing information,
removing barriers, and creating options and resolving problems.
Case Documentation:
Maintains Administrative Management records, documents contacts with
clients and collateral contacts. Updates forms as needed. Reviews charts for
compliance with department standards. Prepares for quality assurance audits by
WCSI compliance department. Efficiently completes paperwork and other program
related material.
Professional/Technical Responsibilities:
Extensive knowledge of theories, principles, and techniques related to the
criminal justice system. Ability to establish/maintain effective working relationship
with clients, associates and agency personnel. Knowledge of community resources
and ability to facilitate coordination activities. Ability to prepare clear,
concise reports and to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Strong skills in professional presentation, communication and group
facilitation. The Criminal Justice Liaison is responsible for collecting and
maintaining data specific to referrals, diversion and client engagement.
Supervisor Responsibility
Qualifications
:
Education and/or Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Social Service-related field. Previous Case management experience and/or criminal justice system experience preferred.
Language Skills:
Strong Interpersonal skills, effective oral and written communication skills.
Certificates, Registrations, Licenses:
Valid PA Driver’s License, Proof of Valid Auto Insurance, Act 34 (Criminal Record), and Act 33 (Child Abuse) and FBI Clearance. There will be monthly screenings of PA Medicheck List, LEIE (List of Excluded Individuals/Entities) and SAM (System for Award Management).
Other:
As a requirement of employment, certain personal information (Birth Date, Driver’s License, Diplomas, Transcripts, etc.) can be shared in a confidential communication as related to regulations, licensure and/or insurance carrier contracts.
As with all WCSI positions, this position will adhere to all random drug screening requirements, as set forth by WCSI Policy.
ENVIRONMENT, PHYSICAL and MENTAL CONDITIONS
Physical/Mental Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to operate a motor vehicle, sit, stand, walk, bend and lift objects of up to 10 pounds. The employee regularly uses a computer, phone, fax, copier, and other essential office equipment to carry out daily work assignments.
Work Environment:
While performing the duties of this job, Criminal Justice Liaison services are provided in a structured office setting and may take place where the client resides or needs the service. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to a combination of office and outside/travel conditions and regularly exposed to moderate levels of noise. Exposure to outside weather conditions will exist. office and outside/travel conditions and regularly exposed to moderate levels of noise. Exposure to outside weather conditions will exist.
The work environment for this position requires the employee to have the skills and ability to perform their daily job duties and responsibilities in an unstructured work environment.
Position Funding:
This position’s funding is determined by WCSI’s allocation process. Incumbent in this position may be required to complete a WCSI Time Study, frequency determined by Fiscal Management, for purposes of this allocation process.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
It is WCSI’s business philosophy and practice to provide reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all qualified individuals with disabilities.
This position description is not an employment agreement or contract, but rather a description of the expectations of job duties and responsibilities as assigned to this position. Management has the exclusive right to alter the scope of work within the framework of this position description and the position classification, at any time without prior notice.
