Clinical Assessment Specialist (Adult Probation

Clinical Assessment Specialist (CAS)

The Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD) is one of the largest probation departments in the United States, supervising more than 70,000 individuals and employing over 600 staff members across 6 locations. We provide a wide range of services including community supervision, outpatient counseling, cognitive-behavioral programming, and residential treatment, designed to strengthen our clients' abilities and support their long-term success.

With a focus on utilizing evidence-based practices, we aim to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism for all clients under supervision.

Position Overview:

As a Clinical Assessment Specialist (CAS) at the Centralized Assessment and Screening Team (CAST), you will be at the intersection of clinical insight and the criminal justice system informing judicial decision making and setting the foundation that is essential to the success of clients placed on community supervision. The CAS will accurately assess each client's risk, needs and responsivity factors as well as completing psychological evaluations assessing for substance use, mental health and/or dual diagnosis issues, and identify appropriate supervision and intervention needs for these criminal justice-involved individuals.

You will be informing judicial decisions and guiding the pathway for client's success on community supervision and beyond. The CAS conducts these comprehensive assessments utilizing the Texas Risk Assessment System (TRAS) to evaluate clients' criminogenic risk and needs through clinical client interviews and collateral record reviews as well evaluate any mental health and/or substance abuse issues. The CAS prepares detailed and comprehensive reports that summarize assessment findings and formulates recommendations regarding supervision and intervention levels, and the reports are shared with the Court and HCCSCD personnel in making informed placement decisions for clients.

• Conducts comprehensive assessments by administering various components of the Texas Risk Assessment System (TRAS) and the Centralized Assessment and Screening Team (CAST) interview process to assist individuals in the criminal justice system.
• Obtains and reviews collateral information from various criminal justice databases in preparation for conducting assessments with clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Conducts thorough client interviews, applying professional and clinical judgement to ask pertinent follow-up and clarifying questions. These interviews may be conducted in person or virtually.
• Evaluate findings form the client interview and collateral records to effectively score the Texas Risk Assessment (TRAS) tool, determine the presence of substance abuse and/or mental health disorders, and synthesizes assessment and testing results and produces a clinical formulation.
• Composes detailed and professionally written reports that include pertinent information gathered throughout the assessment process, which include details from client interviews, collateral sources, TRAS results, diagnostic findings, and potential psychological testing. Strong writing abilities are essential for success in this function.
• Utilizes assessment results to formulate individual recommendations concerning a client's level of intervention, suggested programs, and case management strategies. Assessment reports and recommendations are shared with the Court and Department personnel to make informed decisions on the appropriate placement of clients.
• Adept in assessment administration and interpretation related to personality, dual diagnosis, serious mental illness, and malingering as needed.
• Proficient in use of diagnostic tools and screening instruments for substance use disorders, mental health disorders, and personality disorders.
• Assists in providing consultation to the Courts and Community Supervision Officers regarding clients with mental illness and/or substance abuse problems.
• Assists in training departmental staff of the latest developments in the mental health and substance abuse fields.
• Maintains professional and effective communication, including…