Re-Entry Discharge Planner - Richmond Sheriff's Department

Job Description

Job Duties

The Re-Entry Discharge Planner will assist inmates in the Richmond City Justice Center with navigating community resources and services as they reestablish their lives in the community. The position serves as the single point-of-contact for participant referrals among collaborators and community partners. The Re-Entry Discharge Planner possesses a wide range of re-entry services and helps to guide inmates to services and programs that match their individual needs which plays an important role in ensuring inmates receive the assistance they may need.

Duties in this position require close coordination, collaboration, tracking and monitoring of program participants to ensure participants meet and follow the requirements of the program. Responsibilities also include working closely with partner agencies to ensure program participants are engaged and supported in services that include employment, training, housing, mentoring, and other comprehensive services.

Minimum Qualifications

The successful candidate will: 
• Coordinate discharge planning and additional assistance needs for re-entry 
   program participants.
• Respond to referrals in a timely manner.
• Interview inmates 1:1 to determine needs, make referrals, provide information, and assist with release planning.
• Ensure inmate's case planning encompasses key partners, support, and services.
• Complete required documentation to support skill training, needs assessments as assigned, and resource development for individuals.
• Coordinate with Justice Center behavioral health staff to provide highly coordinated support for detainees, transitioning to the community.
• Coordinate with Justice Center medical staff to provide highly coordinated support for detainees, transitioning to the community.
• Utilize motivational interviewing strategies (i.e., stage of change, crisis prevention and intervention techniques, and relapse prevention) to encourage participation of inmates in pre- and post-release mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and other pro-social programs, including Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).
• Provide a range of creative, innovative, and evidence-based motivational interventions within group settings, to support and engage individuals, with a strong focus on achieving sustainable recovery and community re-integration.
• Provide evidence-based assessment, case management, intervention, and educational services to inmates.
• Work collaboratively with external and internal program partners and participants in developing re-entry plans to support a positive transition from the Justice Center into the community.
• Assist program partners with marketing, recruitment, orientation, enrollment, and retention of program participants.
• Maintain productive relationships and contact with community partners and collaborators.
• Provide supportive services intended to support inmates' individual level outcomes, reduce recidivism, and reduce the number of substance-abuse related overdoses.
• Provide linkages to appropriate community treatment providers based on participant's risk factors and needs.
• Provide referrals and monitor linkages to appropriate community social services based on the participant's priority needs such as, but not limited to, housing, healthcare, childcare, food, transportation, and maintenance of finances.
• Maintain data collection and case management documentation.
• Work as part of a team to physically staff and provide on-site assistance to inmates requesting services through the Re-Entry Discharge Planner.
• Prepare required paperwork and program reports.
• Work closely with community partners and collaborators to develop guidelines and protocols for referrals to agencies, housing providers, employers, and other appropriate entities.
• Educate the community about the inmate's re-entry program by providing information on the needs for, and availability of resources necessary to inmate's success.
• Work closely with probation officers.
• Attend community events to build partnerships.
• Coordinate teamwork, resource acquisition and service planning needed to enable expedited release from the RCSO and coordinates linkages to initial post-release resources.
• Review re-entry and individual goals.
• Collect and compile data for reporting and performance measures.
• Maintain program-related data collection and analysis, outcomes measures, service evaluation and improvement.
• Assist inmates with applying for services such as Medicaid, Mental Health, SNAP, and other programs.
• Facilitate inmate groups to teach re-entry skills.
• Support linkages to mental health/substance abuse treatment, stable medication management, housing, employment, and assisting with benefit applications.
• Support group facilitators in the Justice Center.
• Collect donations and in-kind donations for inmate needs such as winter coats, hats, gloves, boots, backpacks, clothes, etc.
• Maintain professional development, continuing education, and training in criminal justice fields (i.e., chemical dependency, motivational interviewing, mental health, thinking for a change, corrections policies, and procedures, etc.).

Additional Considerations
• Knowledge of safety practices; public relations; human relations; agency policy and procedure; government structure and process; counseling; interviewing skills.
• Skill in word processing; equipment operation.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw conclusions; maintain accurate records; prepare meaningful, concise, and accurate reports; use proper research methods in gathering data; establish collaborative atmosphere in work unit.

Minimum Requirements
• Any equivalent combination of relevant training and experience including but not limited to: Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Criminal justice, 
  Psychology, or related field with three (3) years of experience in social services, case management, treatment and/or substance abuse services, or related experience.
• Must have ability to multi-task and remain organized.
• Intermediate knowledge of Excel required.
• Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to pass a satisfactory background clearance and pre-employment drug test.

Company Description

The Richmond City Sheriff’s Office is responsible for maintaining a secure jail and a safe court system and for providing seamless inmate transport and civil process to safety. We remain committed to performing these duties with unsurpassed integrity and professionalism and with progressive training that incorporates best practices and technology.

While partnering with the community, we strive to lower recidivism by providing faith-based and community-based programming that empowers ex-offenders to become productive members of society. If you are looking for a great career, we encourage you to continue with this applicant-friendly, online job application.

The Richmond City Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.
 

Benefits

• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Numerous educational partnerships with local institutions of higher learning providing reduced tuition
• Tuition Assistance
• Basic Life Insurance
• Group Health Insurance
• Optional Disability and Family Life Insurance
• Certified V3 Employer
• Direct Deposit
• Optional Deferred Compensation Retirement
• Virginia Retirement System Retirement with Hazardous Duty Supplement for Deputies
• 13 Paid Holidays
• 13 Accrued Vacation Days Per Year
• 15 Days Military Leave per Military Fiscal Year
• 13 Accrued Sick Days Per Year