Legal Support Assistant Jobs in Appleton, WI (NOW HIRING)

Job Description

Our Mission: Fostering an environment where all recognize and achieve their potential

This role provides services to clients in the Fox Valley and surrounding areas of Wisconsin.

The counties ACC Community Connections currently serves include: Portage, Waupaca, Outagamie, Winnebago, Waushara, Fond du Lac, Adams, Marquette, Dodge, Green Lake, Calumet, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Washington, and Ozaukee.

Psycho-Legal Educator for JBCR/OCRP

Job Purpose

This professional position is responsible for assisting clients involved in the Jail Based Competency Restoration Program (JBCR) and/or the Outpatient Competency Restoration Program (OCRP) understand the legal system, court processes, and their rights.

The Jail Based Competency Restoration Program offers an alternative to traditional state hospital inpatient treatment for individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial. This program aims to restore competency in a jail setting to reduce wait times for state hospital beds. The Outpatient Competency Restoration Program provides treatment for adults found incompetent to stand trial but who are likely to regain competency with treatment. This program offers services in a community setting, avoiding the need for inpatient care, such as a mental health facility.

This position will be a part of the Forensic Case Management team that provides community-based case management services grounded in the dual philosophies of community safety and best practice recovery methods.

Job Responsibilities

The Psycho-Legal Education Provider develops and implements the legal education treatment plan using screening/assessment tools and the competency evaluations completed by DHS forensic examiners. This position provides updates and information to the forensic mental health team members concerning each individual's progress toward attaining competency and any other psychosocial/clinical areas of concern. The role will meet with clients in the community (i.e. county jails, various community-based locations, client’s residences, and/or wherever the client need lies within the 15 counties covered by ACC).

The Psycho-Legal Education Provider performs initial intakes upon assignment from a Director of Case Management by scheduling meetings with the client and collecting data for treatment plans and updates. This role will quickly establish treatment relationships with the individuals being served and assist Forensic Case Managers as they coordinate with other service delivery systems as appropriate for treatment, up to and including discharge planning.

This position will participate in internal and external trainings and maintain professional relationship that align with the expectation of the forensic mental health system. 

Key Responsibilities:

Legal Education and Clinical Interventions:

• Upon referral, provide legal education to assigned clients in the community (which may include county jails) using a variety of formats (In-person and/or Virtual), educational tools, and techniques tailored to each client’s needs.
  
• Conduct initial assessments, review professional evaluations, and administer post-tests to track client progress and readiness to return to court.
  
• Conduct behavioral health screening/assessment to assist the development of psychosocial treatment plans for forensic clients. 
  
• When appropriate, use clinical interventions to address barriers to competency such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), etc. 
  
•  Ongoing monitoring of issues that may impact need for changes in level of care (inpatient, outpatient, jail-based). 
• Collaboration:
  • Work closely with forensic case managers, clinicians, psychologists, court personnel, jail staff, family members, and community service providers to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach to each client’s competency treatment process.
  • Connect clients with additional support services as needed to promote their well-being and competency restoration.
  • Be available to consult with forensic evaluators as needed regarding client’s treatment/progress
• Documentation:
  • Maintain detailed and timely progress notes in the program’s electronic health record system and ensure all documentation is up to date.
    
  • Provide quarterly updates regarding client progress toward treatment goals 
• Training/Consultation:
  • Be available for clinical consultation to forensic case managers in the development, implementation, and monitoring of the overall treatment plan. 
    
  • Connect clients with additional support services as needed to promote their well-being and competency restoration.
    
  • Attend conference calls, webinars, and face-to-face meetings/trainings, and conferences for professional development.
    

Qualifications

Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or Related Field (Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Health Education, etc.)

Experience working in mental health, social services, or the criminal justice system.

Strong organizational, planning, project management, problem resolution, communication, presentation, facilitation, and influencing skills required.

Must be highly skilled in documentation and possess the ability to quickly learn and access the technological use of the DHS Electronic Health Record System.

Experience with Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as visual aids technology. 

Must have a valid driver’s license and access to an insured vehicle.

Must be able to pass a criminal background check as set forth by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Department of Corrections as well as a Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check and out of state background check if applicable.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent creative and conceptual thinking abilities
• Strong people skills
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
• Advanced organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple assignments and diverse stakeholders

Professional Competencies

A foundational understanding of Wisconsin State Statute 971.13.

Knowledge of clinical assessments, diagnosis, planning and intervention skills, standards for those with mental illness, AODA, and co-occurring diagnoses.

Knowledge of best practice standards in the area of services to persons living with mental illness, substance use, and or co-occurring diagnoses.

Knowledge of and support for principles of Trauma Informed Care, Recovery, & Client Centered Care.

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; the ability to effectively exchange information with various stakeholders in a manner that makes meaningful results possible.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, administrative superiors, colleagues, the general public, and community partners in a manner that supports collaboration.

Ability to collect, organize, and utilize data for program improvement purposes.

Agency Competencies

TRAUMA INFORMED CARE COMPETENCIES

Collaboration and Mutuality:
Seeks to partner with colleagues and clients to achieve desired results. Engages clients with the goal of them becoming active participants in decisions. Recognizes that each individual brings different skill sets and life experiences, each of which can contribute to solutions. Understands the interests and significance of the concerns of others. Communicates openly with colleagues or clients with whom they are working. Consciously ignores any idea that one person’s views hold more value or importance than that of another.

Cultural, Historical, and Gender Awareness:
With both clients and colleagues, actively moves past cultural stereotypes and biases based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, religion, gender-identity, etc. Offers access to gender responsive services, leverages the healing value of traditional cultural connections, and recognizes and addresses historical trauma.
As an employee of the organization, suggests additions or changes as identified to corporate policies and procedures that are responsive to the racial, ethnic, and cultural needs of individuals served, recognizes and addresses historical trauma.

Empowerment, Choice, and Voice:
Readily recognizes the strengths and experiences of others, validates, and then builds on them. Encourages others to lead utilizing their strengths and experiences.
Seeks opportunities, even if seemingly insignificant, to give authority or power to others. Involves others in decision making processes.
Seeks out opportunities to offer choice and control to colleagues and clients.
Employs personal creativity to identify ways to introduce choice to others. Respects the choices of others even if (and especially when) they do not align with personal beliefs.

Trustworthiness and Transparency:
Believes that the organization, its employees, and clients have the ability to do what they say they will do and that the action(s) will be done in a fair and just manner. Share information freely in an effort to benefit the organization and its people.
Understands the benefit of honest, forthright communication but delivers in a way that does not create further trauma that can be caused by manipulation, backstabbing, offensive speech and/or behavior, and harassment. Makes others feel comfortable by responding in a way that conveys interest in what they are saying.

Safety Minded:
Strives to contribute to a workplace environment in which fellow colleagues and clients feel physically and psychologically safe. Accepts a level of responsibility for maintaining a physically safe environment for colleagues, clients, and visitors. Supports an environment where colleagues and clients feel welcome, respected, and supported. Maintains communication with colleagues and clients that is honest, respectful, and compassionate.

WORKPLACE COMPETENCIES

Communication: Ability to articulate thoughts and express ideas and complex information effectively using oral, written, visual and non-verbal communication skills along with employing listening skills to gain thorough understanding of facts. Asks clarifying questions of clients and colleagues to ensure understanding. Ability to communicate with compassion and empathy. Notices and accurately interprets what others are feeling, based upon their choice of words, tone of voice, expressions, and other nonverbal cues. Anticipates how others will react to a situation. Finds non-threatening ways to approach others about sensitive issues.

Problem Solving: Employs analytical skills along with innovative and creative thinking to identify solutions. Ensures decisions are made based on policies, rules, and organizational procedures.
Examines different perspectives and options when considering solutions. Seeks to meet the needs of different constituents in the solution of problems.

Time Management Skills: Organizes and plans how to divide time among a number of competing obligations. Able to adapt schedules to accommodate changing priorities.

Work Environment

The work is performed in home office settings. The Psycho-Legal Education Provider will need to travel to various designated locations. Flexible work hours are within the parameters of Monday – Friday, 7:00am – 6:00 pm. However, there may be occasions to adjust the schedule to accommodate client needs.

The work is primarily sedentary; there is no heavy lifting, excessive standing, or bending.
Must have the ability to drive a car.

Direct Reports

There are no staff that directly report to this position.