Clinical Care Coordinator - Forensic Services - Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center, Midland TX

Signet Health is seeking a qualified and experienced Social Worker, Registered Nurse, or similar licensure for this position at our brand new hospital in Midland, TX.  BA and experience required. 

Competitive compensation package. 

Reports To: Director of Clinical Services

Position Overview

The Clinical Care Coordinator – Forensic Services serves as the central operational and clinical coordination point for forensic admissions and inpatient treatment progression within the hospital. This position ensures efficient referral review, admission coordination, and continuity of care for forensic patients while maintaining strict compliance with Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) regulatory and reporting requirements.

The role requires advanced coordination skills, knowledge of forensic psychiatric processes, and the ability to navigate complex systems involving courts, correctional facilities, community providers, and state agencies. The coordinator works to remove system barriers, support timely admissions and treatment progression, and ensure safe and appropriate discharge planning.

This role is critical to maintaining patient flow efficiency, regulatory compliance, and appropriate placement within the forensic mental health system.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Forensic Referral & Admission Coordination
• Review forensic referral packets for clinical appropriateness and regulatory completeness.
• Verify required documentation including court orders, competency status, legal commitments, and supporting clinical records.
• Collaborate with admissions, medical staff, utilization management, and forensic leadership to support admission determinations.
• Communicate admission decisions and required follow-up documentation with referring entities.
• Coordinate admission logistics with correctional facilities, courts, and transport entities.
• Track referral status to reduce admission delays and improve throughput.

2. Patient Flow & Treatment Progression Coordination

• Monitor patient movement through forensic treatment phases including competency restoration and stabilization.
• Collaborate with treatment teams to anticipate barriers affecting patient progression or discharge readiness.
• Support timely completion of clinical evaluations and required legal documentation.
• Assist teams in coordinating transitions to step-down facilities or community placement when appropriate.
• Escalate systemic or process barriers impacting bed availability or length of stay.

3. HHSC Compliance & Regulatory Coordination

• Maintain working knowledge of HHSC forensic policies and hospital admission criteria, and reporting requirements.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory timelines and documentation expectations.
• Support preparation for audits, monitoring visits, and compliance reviews.
• Assist departments in ensuring regulatory documentation standards are met.

4. Interagency & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Serve as liaison among:
• Courts and legal representatives
• Correctional and detention facilities
• Community mental health centers
• State hospital systems
• External providers and agencies
• Facilitate communication to resolve admission or transition delays.
• Support continuity of care planning between facilities and community providers.

5. Discharge & Transition Coordination

• Participate in discharge planning discussions to support safe and timely transitions.
• Assist in coordination with community providers, legal authorities, and supervision entities.
• Ensure documentation and communication align with legal and regulatory requirements.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree required in: Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Criminal Justice, Behavioral Health or related field

Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum two (2) years experience in inpatient behavioral health, forensic mental health, or care coordination.
• Experience working with forensic or legally involved populations strongly preferred.
• Experience interacting with courts, correctional facilities, or state agencies preferred.
• Knowledge of utilization management or regulatory compliance processes desirable.

Licensure / Certification (Preferred but not required):

• LMSW, LCSW, LPC, LMFT, RN, or similar credential.

Core Competencies:

Clinical & Regulatory Knowledge:

• Understanding of psychiatric treatment processes
• Familiarity with forensic mental health systems
• Knowledge of competency restoration processes
• Working knowledge of HHSC requirements and reporting expectations

Operational & Coordination Skills:

• Strong systems-thinking approach
• Ability to manage complex workflows
• High organizational capability
• Effective prioritization in high-demand environments

Communication & Collaboration:

• Professional communication with legal and correctional stakeholders
• Ability to navigate sensitive interagency dynamics
• Strong interdisciplinary collaboration skills

Problem Solving & Decision Support:

• Ability to identify process bottlenecks
• Skilled in resolving coordination challenges
• Proactive in preventing admission or discharge delays