Mental Health Liaison

Experience Required

2 years

Minimum Education Required

Associate Degree

License(s) Required

State of Montana Driver License

Compensation

$26.00 - $28.00 / hourly

Hours Per Week

40

Number Of Positions

1

Shift

Day

Job Description

Position: Mental Health Liaison

Salary: $26.00-$28.00/hour DOE

Schedule: Full-time with Benefits

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Department: Juvenile Detention Center

Department Administrator: Jason Severson

Each applicant is required to provide the following:

 Completed Cascade County Employment Application.

 Detailed resume of work experience.

 Copy of valid MT Driver’s License.

 Answer to JDC Supplemental Questionnaire.

Education/Experience/Training:

 Associate Degree in Psychology, Human Services, Counseling, Criminal Justice or closely related behavioral field and a minimum of two (2) years of experience within the Center with a minimum of two (2) years of experience working with youth or youth-in-crisis in a corrections/detention environment, community mental health and/or psychiatric hospital is preferred.

 Or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities to do the job.

 Prior experience working as a Detention Officer in a juvenile correction/detention setting preferred.

Certifications required:

 CPR, First Aid and CPI Certification preferred or the ability to obtain certification provided by employer.

 Must attend and successfully complete Montana Corrections/Detention Officer Basic Training (CDOB) within one (1) year of hire. After attending CDOB, Officer will submit paperwork to P.O.S.T to receive their Basic Certificate for CDOB.

 Valid Driver’s License issued by the State of Montana.

JOB SUMMARY

The Mental Health Liaison (Liaison) at the Cascade County Juvenile Detention Center (Center) will work in a dual capacity as an Officer in the Detention Units and as a Liaison to help identify the clinical needs of individual youth offenders who may present with substance abuse, mental illness and co-occurring disorders. The Liaison will conduct psychoeducational groups, one-on-one check-ins with youth, provide, coordinate and document clinical needs and services for individual youth and the general offender population within the Center and clinically support offender transition from detention to community or placement. The Liaison assists with transporting of youth to placements, court and other specified places, performs a variety of searches including searches of people, buildings, cells and vehicles, completes detention documentation such as youth files, medical records, property inventories, incident reports, youth progress notes and daily shift logs. Approximately 80% of the Liaison’s duties will involve direct contact with individual youth offenders and 20% performing related behavior management tasks. The Liaison must possess a strong professional commitment and dedication to the mental health needs of juvenile offenders. The Liaison will participate in meetings, conferences and workshops as directed by the Administrator in addition to the completion of 20 hours of annual training in areas of juvenile justice and supervision, mandatory CPR/First Aid, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (CPI), mechanical restraints and perform other duties as required or assigned.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Facilitate psychoeducational groups and document youth participation and progress; Provide guidance to youth on appropriate social behaviors, anger management and conflict resolution; Assist with de-escalation of youth through verbal communication during critical incidents; Act as a role model to youth and staff; Assist with the Behavioral Management Program and facilitate group activities related to art therapy, team building, self-improvement, etc.; Complete youth suicide re-assessments as needed and identify ongoing suicide precautions; Communicate with members of the youth’s treatment team including Center staff, family members, community probation officers, therapists, case managers and teachers via telephone, email and in person to develop and implement clinical care plans; Prepare and maintain confidential youth mental health files; Monitor and communicate changes in youth’s medications to their Therapist; Facilitate the release of information and obtain and transmit youth records as requested for evaluation and clinical care purposes; Conduct and document clinical screenings and interviews with youth under the direction and supervision of the youth’s Therapist; Review clinical documents and provide other administrative assistance to the youth’s Therapist as needed; Review youth files and written reports from staff to identify and help provide appropriate clinical intervention; Detention work consisting of youth intake and discharge paperwork, fingerprinting, shift logs, report writing and completion of files; Assist detention staff with carrying out essential tasks and duties related to daily activities; Complete suicide and cell checks on time and according to the youth’s observation status; Urinalysis collection, screening and documentation; Constant and direct supervision and surveillance of youth and visitors in a variety of settings including the monitoring of phone calls, visits, school, personal hygiene and housekeeping; Organize daily activities to meet established standards and enforces Center rules; Meal preparation and adherence to menu plan; Assist Compliance Supervisor with menu planning, shopping, etc. Physically restrain uncontrollable youth using both passive and mechanical restraints and participates in security, restraint and search procedures; Document and report on youth’s daily behaviors; Document information gathered through observations and reports; Monitor and document security precautions that ensure safety of youth, staff and the community; Must be detail oriented to ensure paperwork is accurate, complete and filed accordingly; Notify the appropriate staff to report problems or unusual conditions and, when necessary, discipline youth according to Center policies and procedures; Resolve interpersonal conflict in a straightforward and timely manner and set priorities; Understand the purpose, mission and philosophy of the Center and be willing to carry out the Center’s policies and procedures as written; Possess a working knowledge and understanding of the Cascade County Operations Manual; Maintain strict standards of confidentiality; Maintain appropriate interaction with youth using professional boundaries and proper and sound judgment; Understand and adhere to security precautions that ensure the safety of youth and Center staff; Must be capable to care for youth and be able to subdue uncontrollable youth using passive and mechanical restraints; Perform other duties as required or assigned.

Knowledge and understanding of:

Principles and Practices of the Montana Youth Court Act, Administrative Rules of Montana, Montana Code Annotated (M.C.A.), youth probation and corrections; Non-Violent Crisis Intervention and safety and security principles of detention, suicide prevention/intervention, CPR/First Aid, communicable disease and blood borne pathogens, youth behavior and culture and the dynamics of abuse and neglect, cultural sensitivity and social and economic causes of youth crime and delinquency, adolescent development, chemical dependency issues and the grief-loss cycle, emergency response procedures, key, tool and utensil control, professional boundaries and the chain of command; Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA); Supervisory practices, techniques and methods; Basic understanding of principles, terminology and techniques for mental health assessment, behavioral assessment and therapies, theories of psychotherapy, personality theory and dynamics, treatment planning and evaluation, state statutes related to clinical mental health practice, medications related to mental health; HIPPA privacy and security rules at the federal, state and local level; Center and County safety policies and procedures; Detention intake and protocol; Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook and Internet/web-based programs.

Skills in:

Program development, implementation and measurement; Interpersonal communications and leadership, de-escalation of youth through verbal communication; Applying mental health knowledge, principles and techniques; Clinical interviewing, youth counseling, monitoring and identifying needs; Facilitating clinically supervised psychoeducational coursework; Persuading youth to work for positive change; Working with youth in a culturally sensitive, non-judgmental, respectful and professional manner; Applying clinical knowledge and quick decision making during tense or volatile situations; Maintain calm demeanor during emergencies and while executing safety plans.

Ability to:

Develop effective working relationships with detention staff and administration, probation officers, placing agencies, families, advocates and other interested parties of youth offenders; Interact with the public and other employees in a professional, respectful and courteous manner; Work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team; Exercise sound judgment and decision-making skills within established policies and procedures; Perform a wide variety of clinical, operational and administrative tasks with accuracy and speed under pressure; Display sound judgment under stressful situations; Communicate well with others both orally and in writing; Coordinate and exchange information with all staff members; Set priorities and ask for help and clarification when needed; Identify problems that adversely affect the organization and its functions and offer positive suggestions for improvement; Resolve interpersonal conflict in a straightforward, appropriate and timely manner; Accept responsibility and be self-motivated; Accept supervision and resolve disputes and complaints from youth and staff; Work with potentially oppositional, offensive and violent youth who present with substance use, mental illness and co-occurring disorders; Address mental health emergencies over the phone or in person; Maintain appropriate interaction with youth using professional boundaries and sound judgement; Basic understanding of substance use, mental illness and treatment diagnoses; Apply knowledge and skills to practical treatment modalities for youth offenders; Document clinical observations clearly and concisely; Prepare and maintain clear and concise reports, records and summaries; Organize and carry out individualized treatment programs targeting significant presenting problems; Observe work hours and demonstrate punctuality; Arrange personal and professional schedules to provide on-call services as needed and work extended hours, nights, weekends and holidays as needed; Proficiently operate a computer in order to complete required job duties; Interact with the public or other employees in a professional, respectful and courteous manner and practice good public relations and phone etiquette; Carefully observe the behavior and activities of youth on various shifts and manage youth when they become physically aggressive; Ability to train, assign, supervise, instruct and evaluate the work of youth.

The successful applicant shall serve a 1-year probationary period and will have a criminal background check conducted. The results thereof may disqualify the applicant from consideration for employment with the County.

Notice to Applicants: Applicants who are claiming Veteran’s or Handicap Preference must provide a DD-214 Discharge Document (Part 4) or DPHHS Handicap Certification and Employment Preference Form with their application for employment so Cascade County may apply the preference during the selection process.

Cascade County makes reasonable accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with the applicant’s ability to compete in the recruitment and selection process or an employee’s ability to perform the essential duties of the job. For Cascade County to consider such arrangements, the applicants must make known any needed accommodations.

CASCADE COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Is this a registered apprenticeship?

False

Place of Work

On-site

Requisition ID

2026-JDC-MHL