Clinical Assessment Specialist (Adult Probation)

Harris County; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Harris County CSCD seeks a Clinical Assessment Specialist (CAS) to lead comprehensive risk and needs assessments using TRAS, conduct client interviews, and prepare detailed reports for court and department review.

You will collaborate with judges, therapists and probation staff, provide consultation on mental health and substance use issues, testify when needed, and maintain professional licensure while traveling to court and CSCD locations.

Qualifications

• Master’s or Doctorate degree in psychology or counseling.
• Must become Texas Risk Assessment System (TRAS) certified within the first two attempts.
• Competency in clinical assessment and differential diagnosis.
• Strong report writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Administer TRAS and CAST interviews to assess clients.
• Review collateral information for assessments.
• Conduct client interviews in person or virtually.
• Score TRAS, identify mental health/substance issues, and formulate recommendations.
• Prepare detailed reports shared with Court and CSCD personnel.
• Testify in court when required.

Skills

Clinical assessment

TRAS usage

Report writing

Court testimony

Education

Master’s or Doctorate in psychology or counseling

Tools

TRAS certification

Job description

Position Description

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.

About The Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD)

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

• 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 from 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 email correspondence, with judges, attorneys, prosecutors, court personnel, law enforcement officials, CSCD personnel, victims, and community members.
• Maintains membership and active participation in professional mental health organizations.
• Participate in clinical and interdisciplinary staffing.
• Participate in team, unit and departmental meetings.
• Travel to Court, other HCCSCD locations for assessments, meetings, training, etc. is required as needed.
• Testify in a court setting.
• Operates office equipment, computers, phones, telecommunication devices and other necessary required tools.
• Works collaboratively with other personnel.
• Fosters a positive work environment by communicating and behaving cooperatively, respectfully and amicably with supervisors, co-workers and the public.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Other Duties

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Master’s or Doctorate degree in psychology or counseling.
• Competency in clinical assessment. clinical disorders, differential diagnosis, current treatment methods, and in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual‑5‑TR is required.
• Proficiency in report writing, including the appropriate use of grammar and spelling, is required.
• Can provide clinical supervision for Licensed Psychological Associate and Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate as needed. Should clinical supervision be provided, then the applicant is required to remain in this position for the equivalent amount of time clinical supervision was provided.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• The successful candidate will demonstrate conscientiousness, openness to learning, flexibility/adaptability to change, and the ability to thrive within a dynamic workplace.

Licensure

• Current Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Psychologist with Provisional Status, Licensed Psychological Associate, Licensed Psychological‑Associate with Independent Practice, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or Licensed Professional Counselor‑Associate.
• Must become Texas Risk Assessment System (TRAS) certified and maintain certification within the first two attempts. Failure to pass the certification may result in termination of employment.
• Must have a valid Texas Class C Automobile Operator’s License or possess a current Texas Identification Card.

NOTE

Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

• Work experience and/or clinical training in correctional/forensic settings and/or psychological testing is preferred.

General Information

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work

• Regular Full-time | FLSA Status: Exempt
• Hours will range between 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Monday - Friday
• Five (5) days per week.
• Flexibility in work schedule/work location is required and determined by program needs.

Salary

• $ 38.30 Hourly ($6,638.40 Monthly) - $45.75 Hourly ($7,929.31 Monthly)
• Depends on Qualifications
• Based on 26 Pay Periods

Reporting Relationships

• Reports To Position: CAST Clinical Supervisor

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting, although there is an opportunity to work remotely on designated days after the introductory period and the employee is in good standing.
• Continuing Education opportunities and license renewal fees stipend are provided.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls, and to reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, talk, see, and hear.

Employment is contingent upon passing a background check and drug screen.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.