Forensic Re-Entry Coordinator

Bucks County, PA; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bucks County Public Defender’s Office is seeking a Forensic Re-Entry Coordinator to develop individualized transition plans for clients awaiting release from incarceration who require such plans as a condition of release.

The role requires coordinating with county facilities, probation and parole, and community resources to identify needs, arrange treatment, housing, and entitlements, and remove barriers to release.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Psychology, Sociology, Social Welfare or Social Work or related Human Services field; Master’s preferred.
• At least two years of experience as a case manager, case worker or similar role.
• Ability to work with diverse client populations and adhere to confidentiality requirements.
• Ability to coordinate with attorney staff and service providers.

Responsibilities

• Identify individuals with SUDs and co-occurring mental health conditions for transition planning.
• Coordinate linkage to community resources (treatment, housing, entitlements).
• Assist with securing funding for treatment and benefits.
• Collaborate with facilities, probation, parole, and community providers to plan release transitions.
• Create individualized transition plans incorporating client input and timely timing.

Skills

Case management

Communication skills

Interagency collaboration

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's in Psychology, Sociology, Social Welfare or Social Work

Master’s Degree preferred

Job description

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POSITION SUMMARY

The Bucks County Public Defenders Office’s forensic reentry coordinator shall be responsible for creating individualized transition plans for clients of the Bucks County Public Defender’s Office who are incarcerated awaiting release who require such plans as condition precedent to their release.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Work in conjunction with staff at the Bucks County Correctional Facility and the Bucks County Department of Probation and Parole to identify individuals with SUDs and co-occurring mental health conditions for individualized transition planning;

• Coordinate and monitor the identification and linkage of individuals to community resources and supports including, but not limited to, drug and alcohol treatment, behavioral health treatment, transitional and supportive housing, financial entitlements and health insurance;
• Solve any barriers to release, in conjunction with the Bucks County Correctional Facility and community-based resources;
• Conduct assessments, as permitted by law, in the Bucks County Correctional Facility and at other locations as required to help determine drug/alcohol dependence, mental health condition, etc.;
• Refer to and negotiate with community resources to meet client needs;
• Collect prior hospital and treatment records when necessary to assist with assessment and/or treatment;
• Contact family members and other support systems to gather information to assist with assessment and treatment planning;
• Assist clients with securing funding for treatment when necessary;
• Obtain and review information from and collaborate with project partners and community drug and alcohol and behavioral health service providers to support individual planning, assessment and harm reduction.
• Create individualized transition plans in a timely manner to prevent individuals suffering from SUDs and co-occurring mental health conditions from being required to remain incarcerated awaiting such plans;
• Create individualized transition plans which incorporate input from the client to ensure their comfort with and commitment to the plans;
• Coordinate with the Bucks County Correctional Facility, the Bucks County Department of Probation and Parole and community-based resources including treatment, transitional and supportive housing and certified recovery specialists to guarantee a seamless transition from incarceration to the community;
• Continue to work with justice-involved individuals who are released from incarceration to assist with continued access to treatment and other community resources and to remove barriers to treatment.
• All functions will be performed by the forensic reentry specialist and shall be conducted as quickly as possible to prevent the needless incarceration of individuals with SUDs and co-occurring mental health conditions.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor’s in Psychology, Sociology, Social Welfare or Social Work or related Human Services field. Master’s Degree is preferred;
• At least two years of experience as a case manager, case worker or similar experience;
• Must be able to work with diverse client population;
• Must be able to work well with others;
• Must have good organizational skills;
• Must be able to handle a number of tasks simultaneously;
• Must have excellent verbal and written communications skills;
• Must be able to take direction and guidance from attorney staff members;
• Must adhere to the confidentiality requirements of the Public Defenders Office;
• Must be able to go to various locations including state, federal and local prisons and mental hospitals;
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

Position:

Forensic Re-Entry Coordinator

FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Physical Demands: (Check all that apply)

Balancing

X

Stooping

X

Pushing

X

Climbing

X

Crouching

X

Pulling

X

Crawling

Kneeling

X

Handling

X

Standing

X

Sitting

X

Talking

X

Turning

X

Reaching

X

Hearing

X

Seeing

X

Color Vision

X

Depth Perception

X

Mobility

X

Lifting: (Check one)

Carrying: (Check one)

Sedentary

(Up to 10 lbs)

Sedentary

(Up to 10 lbs)

Light

(Up to 20 lbs)

Light

(Up to 20 lbs)

X

Medium

(Up to 50 lbs)

X

Medium

(Up to 50 lbs)

Heavy

(Up to 100 lbs)

Heavy

(Up to 100 lbs)

Very Heavy

(Over 100 lbs)

Very Heavy

(Over 100 lbs)

Aptitudes: (Check all that apply)

Form perception

X

Problem solving

X

Motor coordination

X

Working speed (ex.wpm)

Finger dexterity

X

Manual dexterity

X

Computer/VDT ability

X

General learning ability

X

Clerical perception

X

Environmental Conditions: (Check all that apply)

Extreme cold

Extreme heat

Temperature changes

X

Wet conditions

Humid conditions

Exposure to fumes

Exposure to blood and body fluids

Noise and vibration

Exposure to chemicals

Poor ventilation

Inclement weather conditions;

Inside/outside weather conditions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.