Director of Forensic Services

GULF COAST CENTER - JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Director of Forensic Services

Location: Galveston County

FLSA Status: Exempt

Working Status: Full Time with Benefits

Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Director of Crisis & Justice Services, the Director of Forensic Services provides administrative, clinical, operational, and strategic leadership for Gulf Coast Center forensic, jail diversion, competency restoration, specialty court, and criminal justice behavioral health programs operating in Galveston County and Brazoria County. The Director oversees all Center-based forensic services including Article 16.22 Early Identification and Magistrate Reporting processes, Article 17.032 Continuity of Care and Mental Health Bond services, Mental Health Dockets, Felony Mental Health Specialty Courts, Jail Based Competency Restoration (JBCR), jail reentry services, ACT Criminal Justice initiatives, and other justice-involved behavioral health programs. The Director serves as the lead forensic clinician and system liaison responsible for collaboration with county jails, courts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, sheriff's offices, mental health deputy programs, probation departments, HHSC, hospitals, and community providers. The position is responsible for program development, contract management, grant development, performance measurement, quality improvement, stakeholder engagement, budget oversight, policy development, and implementation of evidence-based practices designed to reduce criminal justice involvement and improve behavioral health outcomes for justice-involved individuals

Gulf Coast Center is committed to fostering an open, inclusive, and supportive environment that welcomes and embraces diversity in all forms. Gulf Coast Center defines diversity broadly including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, abilities (mental/physical), gender, gender identity, immigrant status, language, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and age. Gulf Coast Center embraces trauma sensitive and informed practices, provides suicide safer care, and fosters a safe and compassionate environment that promotes racial and health equity.

Job Duties: (To be performed with or without accommodation as based on ADA requirements)

The Director of Forensic Services will be responsible for the following:

Essential Job Duties:

Administrative and Leadership Responsibilities:

Directly supervise forensic clinical, case management, peer support, and jail reentry staff assigned to forensic and criminal justice programs.
Supervise the Program Manager for Brazoria County Forensic Services and provide oversight of forensic operations across both counties.
Develop, monitor, and manage program budgets, contracts, grants, staffing plans, and program performance measures.
Lead strategic planning efforts related to jail diversion, competency restoration, court diversion, forensic services, and continuity of care programs.
Develop and maintain policies, procedures, desk manuals, quality assurance systems, and compliance monitoring activities.
Prepare executive reports, grant reports, county reports, and presentations regarding program outcomes and criminal justice performance indicators.
Utilize data-driven management practices to evaluate productivity, service utilization, diversion outcomes, recidivism, competency restoration outcomes, and continuity-of-care performance.
Participate in recruitment, training, retention, performance evaluation, and professional development of forensic staff.

Criminal Justice System Collaboration:

Serve as Gulf Coast Center's primary behavioral health liaison to county jails, judges, magistrates, district attorneys, county attorneys, public defenders, probation, sheriff's offices, mental health deputy units, community supervision agencies, and HHSC.
Participate in Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils, jail diversion workgroups, competency restoration planning groups, mental health court steering committees, public defender initiatives, and community stakeholder meetings.
Assist county leadership with development and enhancement of jail diversion systems and behavioral health initiatives.
Collaborate with local criminal justice stakeholders regarding implementation of state mental health legislation and diversion opportunities.
Represent Gulf Coast Center in community forums, county meetings, HHSC initiatives, and statewide forensic behavioral health collaborations.

Forensic Services and CCP 16.22 Responsibilities:

Provide clinical direction and oversight for all CCP 16.22 Early Identification and Magistrate Reporting services.
Ensure timely completion of mental health and intellectual/developmental disability reports and continuity-of-care planning activities.
Oversee forensic case manager staff responsible for magistrate reports, continuity-of-care planning, and jail diversion activities.
Monitor program compliance with Texas Code of Criminal Procedure requirements and county contractual obligations.
Ensure effective coordination between jail medical providers, county officials, and Gulf Coast Center services.
Mental Health Court and Mental Health Docket Responsibilities:
Provide clinical leadership and guidance for Mental Health Court and Mental Health Docket operations.
Determine participant eligibility and treatment recommendations.
Develop and oversee re-entry plans and continuity-of-care services.
Monitor treatment participation and compliance.
Coordinate treatment updates among providers and court teams.
Promote access to psychiatric services, therapy, peer support, housing, transportation, substance use treatment, and community support services.
Assist courts with development of alternatives to incarceration and treatment-focused diversion plans.

Competency Restoration Responsibilities:

Provide oversight of GCC Jail Based Competency Restoration services.
Determine eligibility for JBCR participation.
Ensure delivery of competency restoration legal education and treatment interventions.
Provide consultation regarding competency restoration pathways and alternatives.
Monitor defendants awaiting state hospital admission.
Coordinate competency restoration outcomes with courts and attorneys.
Track and report JBCR performance metrics and restoration outcomes.
Train and mentor forensic staff responsible for competency restoration services

Jail Reentry and Continuity of Care Responsibilities:

Provide oversight of continuity-of-care services and jail reentry initiatives.
Oversee ACT Criminal Justice programs and jail reentry grant projects.
Ensure development of individualized transition plans for justice-involved individuals.
Promote linkage to psychiatric care, outpatient treatment, substance use treatment, peer support, housing, transportation, benefits, and community resources.
Monitor outcomes related to treatment engagement, recidivism reduction, and community stabilization.
Collaborate with county agencies regarding discharge planning and care transitions.

Grant Development and Project Management:

Identify funding opportunities supporting forensic, jail diversion, competency restoration, specialty court, and criminal justice behavioral health initiatives.
Develop grant proposals and funding applications.
Manage grant implementation, reporting, compliance, and outcome evaluation.
Coordinate startup and expansion of new criminal justice behavioral health programs.
Monitor grant performance measures and contractual deliverables.
Report outcomes to funding agencies, county partners, HHSC, and Gulf Coast Center leadership.

Workforce Development:

Ensure forensic staff receive orientation, competency restoration training, suicide prevention training, crisis intervention training, jail safety training, and ongoing forensic continuing education.
Promote evidence-based and trauma-informed practices throughout forensic services.
Ensure staff maintain required credentials and competencies.
Coordinate education regarding emerging forensic behavioral health practices and legislative changes.

Will be responsible and accountable for the adherence to and promotion of the agency compliance policy and will require communication with various departments to foster, develop and continue our community partnerships as it relates to the position.
Treat all individuals with the utmost courtesy, decency and respect.
Provide responsive, and efficient services.
Interact with staff, consumers, local entities and advocacy groups to provide a service that meets local needs.
Provide highest level of Customer Service for both internal and external customers.
Required to report personnel leave; flex time and emergency leave to assigned supervisor.
Strict adherence to the professional, ethical, and legal requirements set forth in GCC's Business Code of Conduct as well as the Corporate Compliance Plan.
Consistent adherence to the Center's Dress Code.
Consistent adherence to Center safety guidelines and expectations.
May be required to travel within Brazoria and Galveston Counties.
Out of region travel may be required to attend trainings.
Must maintain a clear driving record and driver's license in accordance with our Driver Policy.
Requires current Texas Driver's License, reliable transportation and must maintain current auto liability insurance.

Non-Essential Job Duties:

Oversees the daily operations of the Center's forensic services.
Participates in development of strategic plans and objectives for program management.
Oversees and recommends changes to all clinical and business operational policies and procedures.
Promotes integration of mental health, IDD, recovery and crisis services at program sites for better efficiencies and improved customer service.
Quality assurance or staff services and documentation.
Resolves all problems related to staffing, utilization of facilities, equipment and supplies.
Represents program and interacts with regulatory agencies, insurance carriers, and other professional and community groups.
Participates in the evolution and refinement of quality improvement processes.
Monitors programs compliance with HHSC standards, Texas Administrative Code and other governmental regulations and contract requirements.
Enhances program operational effectiveness, emphasizing cost containment and high-quality patient care.
Responsible to develop data driven management to utilize program data to evaluate each program's productivity and outcomes.
Participates in recruitment and retention of professional staff.
Evaluates performance and recommends merit increases, promotion, and disciplinary actions.
Responsible for preparing and monitoring balanced budgets for all assigned program areas
Participates in professional development activities to keep current with trends and practices in health care administration (conferences, journals).

Supervision:

Receives direct supervision from Director of Crisis and Community Outreach

Required Education:

Requires a Master's Degree with an LCSW, LMFT or an LPC.

Preferred Education/Licensure/Certifications:

Required Licensure/Certifications:

LCSW, LMFT or an LPC

Required Experience:

Minimum two years related work experience with behavioral health services.

Preferred Experience:

One or more years of related clinical experience.

Abilities/Traits:

Use Trauma Informed Principles in performing services to avoid creating any further trauma.
Utilize collaborative documentation as possible to have documentation in the record by shift end.
Open communication to inform supervisor of difficulties which obstruct completion of duties.
Ability to express self clearly and effectively, orally and in writing.
Requires ability to work within a team approach.
Requires proficiency with computer skills, programs and email.

Working Conditions:

Work will be performed in the Office, Field and/or Remotely setting(s).
May require varied work hours depending on need of clients.
Out of region travel may be required to attend trainings.
May require travel to various locations within Brazoria and Galveston Counties. Requires current Texas Driver's License, reliable transportation safe and current with all state requirements, and liability insurance.
Primary work sites will be the county jail and the justice center.
May periodically transport participants in personal vehicles.
Attend ongoing education to stay up to date on evidence based best practices and the law.

Special Projects:

Assist supervisor when requested to complete special projects and complete all assignments within a time frame negotiated with the supervisor. Completion of other duties as assigned by supervisor as it relates to the program and position.

Job Related Physical/Mental Requirements & Environmental Conditions:

Physical:

Ability to transport, adjust and/or move items up to 55 lbs.
Ability to ascend/descend stairs.
Ability to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time.
Ability to handle objects.
Ability to operate office equipment.
Ability to move around within an office setting and/or other locations as needed; may include ability to bend/twist, kneel/stoop and/or reach for items.
Ability to push/pull, crawl/squat as it relates to PMAB requirements; may be required to perform PMAB restraints as it relates to program requirements. Ability to detect and write effectively.
Ability to hear (with or without aid).
Ability to have visual acuity to operate a motor vehicle and observe objects within work setting.

Mental:

Ability to accept constructive criticism.
Ability to maintain regular attendance.
Ability to understand, communicate and comprehend accurate information with others in English.
Ability to reason and analyze effectively.
Ability to solve practical problems as it relates to position.
Required to pass and maintain all Center mandated trainings.

Work Site/Environmental Conditions:

Ability to work alone.
Ability to work closely with others.
Ability to work closely with clients and/or family members with poor hygiene. Ability to work long and/or irregular hours.
May be subjected to hostile environment.
May be subjected to high crime environment.
Potential exposure to tobacco products.
May be subjected to both inside and outside environmental conditions.
Subject to standard noise levels within working environment.
Travel by motor vehicle, van, bus or plane may be required.

Qualified individuals must be able to perform these functions with or without reasonable accommodations as based on ADA requirements.