Job Description

Posting number: 17411

Department: Public Defender's Office

Job classification: Coordinator

Posting type: Open

Categories: Mental Health, Social Services, Nursing, Human Services, Counseling, Rehabilitation Services

Summary

We are seeking a compassionate, skilled, and dedicated Juvenile Justice Clinical Coordinator to

About The Harris County Public Defender's Office:

The Harris County Public Defender's Office is committed to providing high-quality, client-centered representation to individuals accused of criminal offenses who cannot afford counsel. Our office works collaboratively across legal and support teams to advocate for our clients, protect constitutional rights, and promote fairness within the legal system. We value professionalism, integrity, teamwork, and compassionate public service.

Position Overview:

The Bail Hearing Division of the Harris County Public Defender's Office seeks a dedicated and compassionate Client Care Coordinator to provide case management, care coordination, and supportive services to clients involved in the criminal legal system. This position is responsible for assessing client needs, facilitating access to community resources, coordinating service plans, monitoring client progress, and supporting successful reentry and stabilization within the community. The Client Care Coordinator works collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, including attorneys, clinical staff, correctional personnel, and community service providers, to address the behavioral health, social service, and reentry needs of clients. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong clinical judgment, professionalism, cultural competence, and the ability to effectively engage individuals experiencing mental health, substance use, housing, or other psychosocial challenges. This position requires the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accurate documentation, adhering to ethical standards, and ensuring compliance with all applicable office, county, state, and federal policies and regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinating services, monitoring progress, and delivering interventions to support clients.
• Collaborating with Senior Client Care Coordinator and Division Chief in assessing and delivering services to ensure stabilization on re-entry to the community.
• Providing crisis interventions to alleviate symptoms and prevent the need for more restrictive environments
• Assisting clients in accessing necessary care and services based on their individual needs
• Maintaining caseloads and meeting performance exceptions established by the office and the Bail Hearing Division.
• Demonstrating ethical conduct in all clinical and professional activities
• Adhering to office policies, procedures, and documentation requirements set by Office/County or Government agencies.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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

If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Examples of duties

Education:

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalent from an accredited educational institution.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Basic understanding of mental illness, common signs and symptoms, and the ability to identify difficulties with coping in community settings.
• Strong communication, listening, and interpersonal skills. Written documentation must be clear, concise, well-constructed, and grammatically correct.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others in a team environment.
• Effective time management and organizational skills, with the ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in standard word processing and computer applications.

Licensure:

• Must maintain a valid Texas Driver's License.

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.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from four-year accredited college or university with a major in a social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, rehabilitation, human development, nursing, or a related social, behavioral, or human services field.
• Preferred minimum of three (3) year' experience in the mental health field or related experience, preferably in a correctional facility.
• Basic understanding of mental illness, common signs and symptoms and able to identify difficulties with coping in community settings.

Supplemental information

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• Regular Full-time
• Regularly scheduled overnight hours.
• Slight variations in scheduled hours may occur based on the operational needs of the Division.
• Employees must maintain flexibility to accommodate reasonable schedule adjustments as necessary to ensure adequate staffing and continuity of services.

Salary:

• Depends on Qualifications
• Based on 26 pay periods

Position Location:

• 700 N. San Jacinto Street, Houston, Texas 77002
• Within the Harris County Jail facility.
• The position operates under the general direction of the Senior Client Care Coordinator and Division Chief.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• This position is primarily based within a correctional facility and requires regular interaction with incarcerated individuals and other justice-involved populations. Employees may be required to work in secure detention settings and must comply with all facility safety and security protocols. The work environment may involve exposure to emotionally charged situations, crisis interventions, and interactions with individuals experiencing acute mental health symptoms, behavioral disturbances, or significant psychosocial stressors. Employees may encounter individuals who are agitated, verbally hostile, resistant to services, or otherwise uncooperative. The ability to maintain professionalism, exercise sound judgment, de-escalate conflict, and respond effectively in challenging situations is essential. Employees may also be required to perform duties before, during, and after emergencies or disasters as directed by county leadership.
• This role is primarily sedentary, however, the ability to lift and carry up to 40 pounds is necessary to lift files and/or boxes of files, documents, etc.

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

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