Clinician/Senior Clinician, Forensic Services - Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center/HCPC at UTHealth Houston at UTHealth in Houston, Texas

Job Description:

Position Summary:

We are looking for a full-time Clinician to join UTHealth Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus at Harris County Psychiatric Center/John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center in Houston, TX, 77021. This Clinician will be assigned to our competency restoration program, working with individuals diagnosed with mental illness and intellectual disabilities who have been found incompetent to stand trial by a court. This Clinician will provide professional case management and clinical therapeutic services focused on overseeing the care of the patient including, but not limited to legal education utilizing an evidenced-based curriculum in group and individual sessions; psychosocial therapy to teach skills to manage mental illness and interact effectively with their attorney; while working with a multidisciplinary treatment team to address barriers to competency.

Location: Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center/HCPC at UTHealth Houston

Dept.: BSC Forensic Services

Status: Full-Time

FLSA: Exempt

Position Key Accountabilities:

1. Provides indirect services to patients. Acts as an advocate for the patient/family with the treatment team.
2. Provides direct services to patients including: biopsychosocial/psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, and treatment that includes: individual, group and family therapy, crisis intervention and treatment planning.
3. Provides oversight of patient's care, progress in treatment, and progress toward discharge in order to prevent both the over-utilization and the under-utilization of inpatient treatment services. This is accomplished through feedback to and from the patient, significant others, the treatment team, and UR and community resources.
4. Works with a multidisciplinary treatment team to develop an individualized treatment, and a discharge plan that enables patients to quickly return to outpatient treatment programs. Works closely with physicians in identifying diagnoses to assist in the treatment process. Develops a discharge plan that will support patient's ongoing recovery and development.
5. Assesses the psychosocial functioning of patients at admission and throughout the treatment program; conducts interviews with patients and significant others to determine assets as well as challenges to optimal patient functioning both while in the program and upon discharge to a lesser restrictive level of care.
6. Establishes and maintains relationships with community resources to assist patients medical needs at discharge for on-going treatment, residence, financial support, transportation, education, and vocational rehabilitation.
7. Refers patients and family to community resources.
8. Applies for court ordered mental health services for patients unable or unwilling to consent to treatment deemed necessary to protect the life of the patient or others. Presents to the Probate Court, both in writing and in oral testimony, reports of the specific patients behaviors prompting the request for involuntary admissions for services.
9. Other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

Current license from the Texas Board of Social Work Examiners to practice as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Minimum Education:

Master's degree in a behavioral science.

Minimum Experience:

One year experience in a mental health setting.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds frequently and/or up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.