Mental Health Clinician

Title : Mental Health Clinician, RDP

Division : Project 180

Pay Scale : $36.93-$46.52 / hour

Location :  Los Angeles, CA

The Organization

SSG-Project 180 turns lives around through innovative, wraparound services that keep people out of institutions and in their communities. Project 180 is a leader in the forensic treatment space, offering high-quality, specialized treatment programs that serve thousands of justice-involved individuals. Our programs span criminal justice intercepts and include pre-arrest interventions, court-based diversions, jail in-reach, and intensive post-release services. Project 180 operates in partnership with County agencies including the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Department of Health Services (DHS), and the Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD).

The Program

The Rapid Diversion Program (RDP) is a County-operated program that diverts criminal defendants out of the criminal legal system at the early stages of the court process. The program provides in-court mental health evaluation, linkage to treatment services, and case management support to participants, whose criminal case is dismissed upon successful program completion.

The Position

The RDP Mental Health Clinician is based out of a LA County courthouse. This individual screens defendants for program suitability, formulates treatment plans, and provides ongoing clinical recommendations and expertise to the team. This position reports to the RDP Program Supervisor and actively coordinates with external stakeholders and the case management team at their courthouse. Success in this role requires working collaboratively in a fast-paced environment with diverse stakeholders in pursuit of client diversion and success. The clinician would assist in covering screenings at other courthouse locations in the event of vacancies and leaves of absence.

Essential Functions

Assess potential RDP participants and make diversion recommendations to the court

• Engage potential diversion participants in services. Provide brief motivational intervention and information related to services offered through the RDP program.
• Review collateral information (i.e. discovery provided by the client’s defense attorney, mental health treatment history) and conduct a clinical interview. Assessment to include but not be limited to mental health diagnosis, readiness for change and needed community linkages.
• Formulate a diagnosis, comprehensive treatment plan and recommendations to court for potential diversion.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of behavioral health treatment resources and the LA County system of care. Establish and maintain relationships with community treatment providers and resources.
• Engage and join with collaterals (family members, court) as appropriate. Provide education related to mental health recovery to better support clients. Engage in client advocacy.
• Conduct reassessments when requested and make recommendations regarding ongoing participation in RDP and modify treatment recommendations as needed.
• Service delivery is consistent with ethical standards and a harm reduction, strength based, trauma informed framework.

Coordinate day-to-day operations with external stakeholders and case management team

Documentation and Reporting

Fulfill baseline Project 180 staff expectations

Participate in the Division’s 24-hour crisis line on a two-week rotating basis a few times per year (includes pay differential).

Skills and Abilities

Minimum Qualifications

Required :

Preferred :

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Environmental Conditions (Working Conditions)

Job duties are to be performed both in office and field settings, including the assigned courthouse.

Physical Requirements

The employee is expected to move about the worksite throughout the day, which may involve walking, standing, and climbing stairs, or using a mobility device, or similar. The employee is expected to drive, carry a maximum of 20 lbs, listen, and speak in order to complete job requirements.

Mental Requirements

The employee must be able to do any / all of the following : perform complex and varied tasks such as synthesizing information and making decisions without immediate supervision; handle routine distractions, interruptions, noise, and uncontrollable changes in priorities / work schedules; interact professionally and diplomatically in high-stress situations; create and follow plans; meet deadlines.