Source: New York State Jobs · Bespree is not the employer.
NYSPI is hiring a Licensed Master Social Worker to act as the Legal Affairs Coordinator (LAC).
The LAC will oversee the establishment and maintenance of a mandatory, standardized system for tracking patient legal statuses. The LAC will consult with OMH Counsel regarding patient legal status, court proceedings, and other legal matters, including coordination with local courts and the Office of the Attorney General.
The Legal Affairs Coordinator will report directly to the Director of Quality and have the following qualifications:
The responsibilities of the Legal Affairs Coordinator include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. Maintain the Master Legal Status Tracking Spreadsheet and ensure that all information is accurate, complete, and current.
b. Coordinate and ensure the timely preparation of legal documents, including retention applications and treatment-over-objection applications.
c. File, or arrange for the filing of, all legal documents with the appropriate court.
d. Serve as the facility liaison with court clerks for the scheduling and coordination of court hearings.
e. Communicate and coordinate directly with OMH Counsel and the Office of the Attorney General regarding patient legal status and court-related matters.
f. Ensure that legal documents are distributed to all appropriate parties, including Mental Hygiene Legal Service (MHLS), Operations, the Office of the Attorney General, the Clinical Director, the treating
medical provider, and the Health Information Management (HIM) Department, as applicable.
g. Notify the treating medical provider and unit administration of scheduled court dates and any related deadlines.
h. Attend court hearings, as appropriate, and promptly communicate court outcomes and required follow-up actions to the facility.
i. Obtain all court orders and other court-issued documents and:
i. Record the documents and relevant outcomes in the Master Legal Status Tracking Spreadsheet.
ii. Distribute copies to facility central administration, unit administration, the treating physician, the HIM Department, and other appropriate parties.
iii. Meet with the HIM Director at least weekly to verify that all patient legal statuses and expiration dates, including voluntary statuses, have been accurately updated.
iv. Update the Master Legal Status Tracking Spreadsheet to reflect patient admissions, discharges, changes in legal status, court determinations, and upcoming expiration dates.
j. Monitor approaching legal status expiration dates and court-related deadlines and provide timely notification to responsible clinical and administrative staff.
k. Identify discrepancies, missing documentation, or delays in legal-status processes and promptly escalate concerns to the Director of Quality and other appropriate leadership.
l. Develop and maintain standardized procedures, tools, and reporting mechanisms related to legal-status tracking and court coordination.
m. Prepare periodic reports regarding legal-status compliance, upcoming deadlines, identified risks, and outstanding action items.
n. Provide education and guidance to clinical and administrative staff regarding legal-status tracking procedures and documentation requirements.
o. Participate in quality-management, performance-improvement, risk-management, and regulatory-compliance activities as assigned by the Director of Quality.
Candidates from outside or within State Service can be considered for hire under the Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement – Statewide (NY HELPS) program if they are licensed and currently registered by New York State as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).
OR
Candidates within State Service can be considered transfer to a competitive class position if they have one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service in a title eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law.
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