Position Details

OCRP Lead Instructor MHP (Mental Health Professional)

Department: Forensic Services

Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Pay Range: $75,000 - $85,000 per year (DOE/DOQ)

Benefits:

  • Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
  • Vacation, Sick Leave, Float Days & Paid Holidays
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan
  • Life Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability
  • Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs
  • LifeFlight Membership
  • Education Allowance


JOB PURPOSE: The OCRP Lead Instructor / Mental Health Professional provides clinical and educational services within Peninsula Behavioral Health's forensic programs, with primary responsibility for the Outpatient Competency Restoration Program (OCRP).

This position provides behavioral health assessments, brief clinical interventions, and competency restoration support to individuals involved in the criminal legal system. Services may be provided to participants enrolled in OCRP as well as other forensic program participants when clinically appropriate.

The OCRP program utilizes the Breaking Barriers competency restoration curriculum, an educational model designed to help individuals understand legal concepts, court processes, and the roles of courtroom participants. The Lead Instructor participates in and supports the delivery of this curriculum alongside the OCRP team while helping participants address behavioral health symptoms, cognitive challenges, and other barriers that may interfere with their ability to understand and participate in legal proceedings.

Services are delivered in offices, community, and institutional settings including jails, shelters, housing sites, and other locations where participants reside or receive services. This position also provides clinical consultation and support to forensic program staff to help identify behavioral health barriers that impact engagement, stability, and competency restoration.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Clinical Assessment and Intervention

  • Conduct comprehensive bio psychosocial clinical assessments to identify behavioral health needs and medical necessity.
  • Conduct clinical intake assessments for forensic program participants, including evaluation of behavioral health needs and identification of barriers impacting competency.
  • Complete mental health assessments in a variety of settings including office, jail, community locations, shelters, and participant residences.
  • Provide brief therapeutic interventions and supportive counseling within the scope of forensic behavioral health services.
  • Provide ongoing assessment of participants' cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral health needs.
  • Identify behavioral health barriers that impact competency restoration, stability, and program engagement. 

Competency Restoration Education and Group Support

  • Participate as part of the OCRP team in facilitating Breaking Barriers competency restoration classes and psychoeducational groups.
  • Provide clinical support within competency restoration classes including clarifying concepts, supporting participant engagement, and addressing behavioral health barriers that may impact learning.
  • Collaborate with OCRP team members to create a supportive learning environment that promotes participant understanding of legal concepts and court processes.
  • Provide additional individual support to participants who require assistance understanding competency restoration material due to behavioral health symptoms or cognitive barriers.

Competency Assessment and Monitoring

  • Assess barriers to competency during participant intake using clinical assessment and available collateral information.
  • Identify behavioral health, cognitive, and psychosocial factors that may impact a participant's ability to understand legal proceedings or assist in their defense.
  • Collaborate with the OCRP team to develop strategies and support that address identified barriers to competency.
  • Complete required weekly status reports documenting participant engagement, progress, and ongoing barriers related to competency.
  • Communicate significant changes in participant presentation, engagement, or risk to the OCRP team and appropriate partners as needed.
  • Monitor participant engagement and progress during competency restoration programming and throughout overall program participation.

Forensic System Coordination

  • Collaborate with forensic navigators, legal system partners, and community providers to support participant engagement and competency restoration.
  • Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and case staffing to coordinate services for forensic participants.
  • Provide clinical consultation and guidance to OCRP and forensic program staff regarding behavioral health symptoms, competency related concerns, and engagement strategies.
  • Communicate relevant clinical information to appropriate team members to support participant care and program coordination.
  • Develops, authorizes, and reviews individualized treatment plans, documenting problems, needs, and measurable outcomes.

SECONDARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Performs relevant clinical and administrative tasks according to agency policies.
  • Demonstrates proficiency in utilization of the Agency's electronic medical record system.
  • Participate in team meetings, program development, and case consultation.
  • Provides information and education to community members.
  • Maintains high standards of professional conduct in interaction with clients, staff, and other community members.
  • Maintains professional competence through a program of professional development and in-service training.
  • Demonstrates flexibility in adapting to changing work demands.
  • Performs other duties as assigned or requested.
  • Maintains familiarity with and handles client information in accordance with Federal Regulations (42 CFR, Part 2), the Revised Code of Washington (RCW 71.05.390 and RCW 71.24), and other applicable laws pertaining to confidentiality of client and staff information.
  • Maintains physical security of confidential materials and assigned Agency property.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

  • Meets attendance and punctuality standards necessary for effective client care.
  • Maintains accurate, timely chart information in compliance with quality assurance guidelines established by funding sources, State and PBH.
  • Meet agency expectations for documentation of services.
  • Coordinate and prioritize work assignments so that tasks are completed on time and in a quality manner.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, LICENSE(S), CERTIFICATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: Masters' Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or related field

Licensure: Eligible for credentialing in Washington State with an Agency Affiliated Counselor License (assistance provided)

Experience: Two years' experience providing mental health treatment services. Experience working with individuals with serious mental illness, co-occurring disorders, and justice involved populations preferred.

Other: Valid Driver's License (must have satisfactory and insurable driving record to be able to drive company vehicles)

Additional requirements:

  • Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test and background check
  • Must be able to provide vaccination records for MMR, Hep B, Tdap and recent flu shot

PREFERRED ADDITIONAL CREDENTIALS:

Licensure: Washington State independent clinical license (LICSW, LMHC, or LMFT), Associate license, or eligibility to apply

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Essential:

  • Ability to multitask and effectively manage a caseload of individuals with diverse needs.
  • Knowledge of how mental health symptoms may present differently in clients at different stages of development.
  • Ability to educate clients about signs, symptoms, and treatment of their diagnosis.
  • Understanding of recovery oriented and trauma informed care
  • Ability to facilitate group based educational and therapeutic services.
  • Knowledge of social service delivery systems and community resources.
  • Ability to work effectively with individuals involved in the criminal justice system.
  • Ability to coordinate care with multiple service providers.
  • Ability to work independently.
  • Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
  • Capability to use sound judgment in problem solving and clinical intervention.
  • Practice of respectful communication with clients to enhance rapport and positive outcomes.
  • Ability to plan and prioritize work and meet the Agency's performance, quality assurance, and productivity standards.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

Physical Demands:

  • Moderate physical effort occasionally lifting up to ten pounds.
  • Must be able to operate a motor vehicle.
  • Must be able to tolerate sitting in a vehicle, office or community setting for the required number of hours in a workday.

Cognitive Skills:

  • Advanced verbal and written communication skills.
  • Must be able to enter data into a computerized electronic medical record.

Working Environment:

  • May be exposed to infections and contagious diseases.
  • Occasionally exposed to patients exhibiting assaultive behaviors
  • Able to visit with clients in office and community settings.

Working Demands:

  • Frequent pressure due to schedule demands
  • Contact with patients under a wide variety of circumstances.
  • Subject to varying and unpredictable situations
  • Handles emergency or crisis situations.

Principal Challenges:

  • Working collaboratively with interdisciplinary staff
  • Supporting individuals with complex behavioral health needs who are involved in the criminal justice system.
  • Addressing behavioral health symptoms that impact engagement and competency restoration
  • Ensuring compliance with agency and funding standard for documentation and delivery of services.
  • Works with a wide variety of clients with serious, persistent mental illness.

*Peninsula Behavioral Health does not discriminate because of a person's presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity including transgender status, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions, age (40), honorably discharged veteran or military status, or use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, state employee or health care whistleblower status.