The Chester County Department of Mental Health/ Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is seeking a proactive individual to serve as the Cross Systems Re-entry Coordinator. This position is a key member and partner of our ‘Stepping Up Initiative,” a national initiative to reduce the number of individuals in our jail and working in collaboration with system-wide stakeholders to promote successful community re-entry for long term community tenure. The position’s primary goals are to work with adult inmates with high level, multi-system complex needs, to connect each individual to services and supports to ensure a successful community re-entry with a focus on reducing the risk of recidivism.
This position requires the ability to work flexible and extended hours as necessary, understanding that confidentiality is key to this position along with professionalism. This position also requires strong decision making, prioritizing, planning skills, as well as excellent communication skills. The position requires creativity, initiative, and the ability to establish and maintain effective collaborative relationships with professionals, community stakeholders, and the public.
The Cross System Re-Entry Coordinator’s primary goal is to work with adult inmates who enter and will be released from Chester County Prison within a 6–8-month period, and have high level, multi-system complex needs. The coordinator is responsible for linking the inmate to community-based services and supports, promoting successful community reintegration, while reducing their time at the prison and their likelihood of recidivism. The coordinator will cultivate positive and collaborative relationships with prison staff, other county departments and community providers. Additionally, this position will develop, implement, and support cross-system collaboration across a spectrum of services to best serve and meet the needs of adult incarcerated re-entrants. The Cross System Re-Entry Coordinator will conduct routine follow-up calls/visits with re-entrants to ensure successful community stabilization. It is expected that this position will be in alignment with the Chester County Stepping Up Initiative and Chester County Re-entry Coalition.
A person in this position is expected to demonstrate the system of care practice model, which maximizes all resources around an individual or family. This system of care includes child and adult serving agencies and community partners that join with an individual or family to meet their goals.
- Proactively and assertively engage with identified individuals within the prison system that have multi-system needs. Conduct biopsychosocial and other relative assessments as needed, gather collateral information to determine needs, identify strengths/resources, and develop a re-entry plan that aligns as much as possible with re-entry timelines.
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Work collaboratively with the various service and treatment providers, court systems and community partners, including but not limited to: Probation & Pretrial Services, County Solicitors, Public Defenders, Court of Common Pleas, District Attorney, other court personnel, Departments of Aging, Community Development (DCD), Managed Behavioral Health (OMBH), Mental Health/Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (MH/IDD), Drug and Alcohol Services, Human Services, and other relevant systems, including facilitating individual system of care meetings as needed.
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Develop and maintain partnerships with community resources including housing programs, nursing care facilities, behavioral health (drug & alcohol and mental health) programs, and other community resources to provide efficient and effective re-entry planning and care coordination.
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Provide Information for individuals as it is appropriate with the District Attorney, Public Defender, private attorneys, treatment agencies, Department of Community Development.
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Complete necessary referrals and applications for various Behavioral Health supports and services across the array of community providers and resources.
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Coordinate and outreach with community case managers to ensure seamless support is provided for individuals incarcerated for effective release planning as appropriate.
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Collaborate with Chester County Prison to ensure completion of online medical assistance applications and activation of benefits on the day of discharge. This includes but is not limited to applications, discharge letters, employability assessment form signed by the medical director, photo id, and required signatures.
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Collaborate with the Chester County Prison in securing all eligible benefits through completion of all relevant applications including securing all required forms for a successful determination of benefits for community re-entry (Birth Certificates, state identification, medication/Scripts, guardianship, benefits)
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Connection to all aging related programs, services, and supports including facilitation of skilled nursing facility referrals, working with admissions personnel to secure an appropriate option for placement, and any required documentation to determine eligibility for services.
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Maintain service documentation of case and collateral contacts, care coordination, and next steps for every individual being supported through the work of the coordinator. All documentation must include date, length of contact, key collaborations, and recommended next steps. All service documentation must be kept indefinitely.
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Maintain an overall database that incorporates all required data elements to share with partners in cross system meetings that assist with program evaluation and key performance indicators, as determined by the team. (i.e., services recommended, connection to community services, was first appointment made at community service
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Be the primary point of contact for Community Development/211 system at Chester County Prison. Through access to the HMIS system, conduct a referral, screening, and registration into the homeless system. Provide appropriate information for the HMIS system to start referral process prior to release.
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Facilitate monthly Stepping Up Stakeholder Cross System Team meetings to review complex cases.
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Perform other duties, tasks, and special projects, as required.
Qualifications / Requirements:
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Bachelor's degree in behavioral health or related field (Psychology, Counseling, Criminology, Human Behavior/Development, Sociology, Human Services, Criminal Justice or other social service) from an accredited college or university and 1 year of professional-level experience in an appropriate field; or
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An equivalent combination of experience and training. Preferably experience in working within the criminal justice and multi-social service systems.
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Must have a valid driver’s license and use of a private vehicle.
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Must obtain and pass an initial fingerprint background check, PA Criminal Clearance and Child Abuse Clearance and subsequent yearly background checks.
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Obtain and maintain Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) Certification. To be obtained after employment begins.
Clarification of Requirements: You may substitute related education for the required experience or appropriate experience for the required education. Unrelated experience or education will not be accepted.
Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:
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Experience working in a correctional setting.
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Master's degree in behavioral health or related field.
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3 years professional level experience in a social service-related field
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Criminal Justice system experience.
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Mental health, drug and alcohol, health care, or social service experience
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Experience in behavioral health screening and assessment work to determine level of care.
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Knowledge of Chester County diversionary programs
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Knowledge of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services regulations, procedures, bulletins, and policies.
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Excellent verbal and written communication skills
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Accurate and detail oriented with advanced organization skills.
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Ability to work independently/take initiative in order to proceed with objectives.
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Ability to work as part of a team.
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Ability to interface effectively with all levels of County management.
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Strong analytical skills.
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Strong professional ethics.
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Ability to maintain a professional image at all times.
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Ability to facilitate achieving resolution in conflict situations.
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Ability to maintain confidential information and handle confidential matters.
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Flexibility and adaptability.
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Advanced interpersonal skills.
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Customer service experience.
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Able to use common sense understanding to carry out written or verbal instructions.
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Strong time management skills.
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Strong negotiation skills.
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Ability to establish priorities (remain focused on daily operations).
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Able to carry tasks to completion.
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General knowledge and understanding of County of Chester policies and procedures.
Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.
Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have:
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Intermediate Word skills
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Intermediate Excel skills
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Basic Access skills
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Basic PowerPoint skills
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Basic Outlook skills (Email and Calendar)
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Basic Microsoft Project skills
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Basic Internet Explorer skills
Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, climb stairs, drive a vehicle, and talk or hear. Occasionally, the employee will need to stand, bend, twist, stoop, kneel, crouch, or squat; push, lift, or carry items up to five pounds; push work with arms above shoulder height; work with office machinery; and able to travel and attend meetings off site.
The specific vision requirements for this position are as follows:
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Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less)
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Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)
Work Environment:-
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Other:-
Ability to work flexible and extended hours as necessary.
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Confidentiality is crucial to this position.
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This position requires professionalism.