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Court Liaison Specialist – LMSW (Court-based Intervention Resource Team)
Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES)
Description
Job Title: Court Liaison Specialist – LMSW (Court-based Intervention Resource Team)
Reports to: Director
Overview: The court liaison specialist conducts screening, assessment, court advocacy for individuals youth 17 years and older and also adults receiving mental health treatment in Rikers Island jail to facilitate their release to alternatives to detention (ATD) and alternatives to incarceration (ATI) services. This involves conducting court advocacy with prosecutors and judges to notify about screening and assessment findings that are informed by the administration of validated screening instruments, assessment, and service plan development. The court liaison social worker is expected to screen at least twenty individuals each week and appear at multiple court hearings in the Manhattan Criminal and Supreme Court to ensure the program achieves its admission targets.
We are looking for a skilled clinician able to evaluate mental illness, serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders. The social worker needs to be an effective advocate able to concisely explain verbally and in writing to judges why the defendant would be suitable for the CIRT and the participant’s status after release in CIRT ATD and ATI services.
Responsibilities:
• Accept caseload and daily assignment from Resource Coordinator and manage activities related to defendants with pending intake dates
• Conduct screening and assessment interviews using program protocol to inform eligible defendants about program services and engage them to consider the ATD and ATI disposition for their case
• Administer and score standardized instruments per the program protocol during the screening and assessment interview before Court 170.70/180.80 hearing
• Provide initial diagnostic impressions, service plan recommendations, advocacy strategy, and supervision requirements for ATD and ATI
• Communicate with community treatment providers and significant others such as family members, housing providers, care coordinators, ACT teams during screening and assessment to establish participants’ status in treatment, develop collaboration strategies to support court advocacy and ATD and ATI engagement
• Work collaboratively with court staff including court officers, defense attorneys, assistant district attorneys and judges to facilitate program admissions
• Advocate for the individual’s admission to the program by appearing before the judge to explain the defendant’s suitability for CIRT services
• Conduct outreach with defense attorneys to ensure they utilize our program services and complete advocacy with prosecutor and legal process such as clearing holds and warrants, etc.
• Conduct outreach to judges to ensure they are familiar with program services and program outcomes to support our advocacy efforts
• Complete and provide compliance letters and progress reports to the Court
• Meet monthly intake goals established by supervisory staff
• Enter screening/assessment, intake information, and progress hearing into program database
• Provide motivational interventions during screening and to individuals released to the program to ensure they engage in CIRT community services
• Inform community staff about legal requirements and directives given by judges to individuals released to CIRT
• Provide community staff with critical information about participants to support their ability to engage and respond to participants risks and needs
• Work with community staff and supervisor to conduct outreach as needed to facilitate participant completion of program services
• Provide culturally-competent services in accordance with CASES policies and practice
• Complete any other duties as required by the CIRT Director and senior staff
Qualifications
• Licensed Master in Social Work (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• At least two years of relevant experience working in human services with individuals with mental illness and criminal justice involvement.
• Experience understanding various models and theories pertaining to evidence-based treatment for mental illness and co-occurring disorders, and risk, need, responsivity principles for criminal behavior
• Skilled in delivery of motivational interviewing
• Excellent oral communication skills
• Excellent writing skills
• Highly organized and self-motivated
• Proficient in computers
• Fluency in Spanish preferred
Preferred Experience:
• Strong commitment to social justice
Contact
How to apply: E-mail cover letter and resume in Word format to [email protected]. Please list the title of the position you are applying for in the subject line. No phone calls please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.
Posted on 09/22/14; CVMHA ID #8188
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