What are the responsibilities and job description for the FORENSIC SPECIALIST position at New Horizons of the Treasure Coast Inc.?
New Horizons is the largest mental health and addiction recovery provider on the Treasure Coast (and beyond), serving 15,000 children and adults annually through inpatient crisis services, 24-hour help line and mobile response team, and outpatient programs conveniently located across Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties. In addition, New Horizons assists 22,000 students in area schools, and we work closely with the courts, law enforcement, jails, and hospitals to help improve the health of individuals and the quality of life in our community.
New Horizons is a nonprofit agency seeking a caring and compassionate Forensic Specialist in our Forensic division to provide monitoring to forensic individuals with a mental health and or co-occurring disorders that have committed felony charges. This individual should be eager to teach, want meaningful work that offers opportunities for growth, and believe that their efforts can make a difference in the lives of the people we serve. Now under new management, New Horizons offers competitive pay, amazing benefits, and comprehensive training.
- Health Insurance (covers mental health)
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Disability Insurance (STD; LTD)
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Sick Leave
- Paid Training
- Employee Assistance Program
- Life Insurance
- Retirement plan (403b)
As a Forensic Specialist your responsibilities will include:
- Monitors identified mentally ill individuals in jail at risk for commitment to the Department of Children and Families pursuant to Chapter 916, F.S.
- Conduct Forensic activities for assigned individuals to include: service brokering, monitoring, and advocacy
- Maintain close working relationships with local jail mental health personnel, judicial assistants in the circuit, the Office of the Public Defender, the Office of the State Attorney, and the Clerk of the Court's Office
- Attend all scheduled court hearings involving mentally ill individuals adjudicated incompetent to proceed or not guilty by reason of insanity, including the determination of competency hearings.
- Prepare for and discuss alternative dispositions at hearings
- Participate in the development of the psychosocial assessment and the service/treatment plan within 30 days of admission.
- Responsible for conducting visits to individuals within 10 days of notification of conditional release to evaluate and assist with transition to community.
- Develop a community transition strategy for each identified client and work closely with the individual, interested family members when authorized, local mental health provider agency staff, state treatment facilities, District/region SAMH office, and placement sites
- Conduct Forensic activities to state hospital individuals to ensure continuity of care and coordination of appropriate service provision throughout hospital admission and transition.
- Track individuals on conditional release
New Horizons will need you to have the following qualifications:
- Minimum of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college with major coursework in a human services field OR
- a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college in an unrelated field and two (2) years human services experience
- Two years human service experience if degree is not in Criminal Justice or Human service field.
