Forensic Transition Team Coordinator

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Forensic Transition Team Coordinator. The selected candidate provides tracking, release planning, and follow up services to pre-trial, sentenced, and civilly committed DMH eligible clients incarcerated in county, state, federal, and out-of-state correctional facilities. The Forensic Transition Team Coordinator meets with DMH clients in correctional settings and provides linkage to community-based services. The incumbent also gathers statistical information and tracks all DMH incarcerated clients via data collection systems.

Applicants will need access to reliable transportation for considerable work-related travel from the Area Offices to correctional facilities and places of detention, not only in the assigned areas but also relevant facilities and locations throughout the Commonwealth as required.

Please Note: Internal and external applicants must pass a national criminal offender record check required by the Department of Corrections.

Duties and Responsibilities (these are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Collaborates with state, county, federal, and out-of-state correctional clinical staff, DYS, Parole, Probation, DMH Case Management, DMH CM Supervisor(s), DMH Area Medical Director(s), DMH Area Forensic Director(s), DMH vendors, and court clinicians to facilitate timely identification of, and eligibility determination for, DMH Continuing Care clients.
• Conducts interviews and assessments in correctional institutions and settings.
• Files appropriate entitlement applications and referral forms and initiates coordination and collaboration with appropriate agencies to develop a comprehensive community service plan prior to a DMH client inmate’s release.
• Completes Psychosocial Assessment on appropriate DMH eligible clients.
• Coordinates inter-agency involvement and advocates with service providers including but not limited to the Department of Correction (DOC), Houses of Corrections (HOC’s), court clinics, Parole, Probation, DYS, Social Security, Medicaid, and DMH vendors to facilitate service provision to DMH client offenders.
• Provides linkage between correctional and mental health agencies.
• Engages social supports from client’s community (as available) and provides education regarding client’s mental illness and treatment needs as necessary.
• Monitors client response to service plan; attends meetings needed to discuss service plan effectiveness and modifications to service delivery.
• Monitors and documents client progress in treatment for no less than three months after release.
• Completes data forms and data entry as required.
• Performs related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the functions of the community mental health system.

• Basic knowledge of mental disorders and developmental disabilities.

• Knowledge of basic clinical skills and understanding of human behavior, social work, healthcare, and law.

• Ability to communicate effectively, think quickly and make independent judgments.
• Ability to negotiate, mediate and diffuse conflict.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with systems and community resources as they relate to disposition planning from the correctional system.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system.
• Knowledge of MGL c. 123.
• Given the population served bilingual or multilingual fluency.

DMH Mission Statement: