TJJD- Program Specialist V-VII-Health Specialist-Mental Health Professional

General Description

Career Ladder Promotion Opportunity:
This position is in the approved TJJD career ladder for Health Specialists. Personnel in this career ladder have the working title of Mental Health Professional. Placement on the career ladder is dependent on education, licensure, and experience. Mental Health Professionals may be promoted based on meeting the established eligibility criteria per agency policy until they reach the top level of the ladder.

Progression to the highest pay level on the career ladder is dependent on experience and performance.

TJJD addresses the multiple and complex needs of the youth committed to the agency as well as their families through a trauma informed multi‑disciplinary integrated approach that includes implementation of the agency approved Texas Model of Trauma Informed Corrections and a Mental Health Treatment Program (MHTP). The MHTP provides enhanced psychiatric and psychological assistance to youth diagnosed with moderate to severe mental health problems and/or illnesses, which allows the general rehabilitation case managers to focus on risk reduction and protective factor enhancement strategies to reduce the risk of reoffending.

This collaboration allows for holistic and individualized treatment of youth in need of MHTP services.

• Provides a range of direct psychological services to youth adjudicated delinquent of felony offenses and committed to the agency by a juvenile court.
• Conducts trauma informed groups, individual, family, trauma, and crisis counseling sessions; and administers and interprets psychological evaluations of youth at risk of suicide or in need of specialized treatment services.
• Assists in monitoring the agency’s Texas Model of Trauma Informed Corrections treatment program, and reviews and monitors specialized treatment programs.
• Assists with related in‑service training for facility staff.
• Collaborates with facility administrators, specialized treatment, case management or program specialist staff, parole officers, and contracted staff, as well as halfway house staff.
• Participates in or leads evaluations of programs in high or medium restriction facilities, or contracted programs.
• Participates in Multi‑Disciplinary Team (MDT) staffing for youth transitioning into the community and as they exit the agency system.
• May train, lead, assign, and/or prioritize the work of others.
• May be required to work in excess of 40 hours per workweek, different shift patterns, be on‑call, and travel occasionally.
• Conducts trauma informed psychological evaluations (including stage assessment), suicide risk assessments, and suicide monitoring.
• Develops behavior modification interventions and other clinical evaluations and incorporates specific recommendations regarding transition and re‑entry planning and risk assessment.
• Participates in Administrative, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meetings.
• Conducts individual, group, trauma, and crisis counseling sessions; and facilitates family reintegration services, as appropriate.
• Participates as a member of the multi‑disciplinary treatment (MDT) team; provides clinical consultation relating to assessment (risks), treatment (needs), intervention strategies, and behavioral modifications to members of the MDT team and other staff.
• Monitors youth receiving treatment by contracted service providers.
• Contributes to the development, maintenance, and delivery of in‑service training for facility staff as it relates to the agency’s rehabilitation and treatment programs.
• Documents direct services provided to youth and families.
• Engages in activities designed to enhance professional development and to maintain current licensure or certification.
• Coordinates and collaborates with program staff in program planning, development, implementation, analysis, and documentation of agency program(s).
• Provides advice and counsel by interpreting policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and standards related to the program.
• Assists in developing program policies, procedures, standards, and manuals in accordance with program objectives and goals.
• May analyze the application of and variations within programs to develop action plans for…