The field of psychology generally deals with the study of the human mind with a focus on human behavior and personality (Csikszentmihalyi, 2014). Practitioners in this discipline help understand human behavior, memory, and mental health disorders. Psychology is a relatively broad field of study and practice as practitioners work in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, public institutions, corporations, correctional facilities, communities, governments, and individual patients (Csikszentmihalyi, 2014). Furthermore, the typical job duties the different practitioners in this profession vary accordingly to their specific area of specialty. Many psychology professions require an advanced degree (a master’s or doctorate degree) besides certification or registration with an accredited institution at the state or national level. This report documents the findings of an interview conducted with a professional working in a field relevant to psychology.
Description of the Interviewee
Jackson Pratt is a male adult aged 45 years. He is a Forensic Case Manager and holds a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology. He work for EAC Network which is a not-for-profit social service agency committed to empowering, assisting and caring for people in need throughout the Long Island and New York City region. The purpose of the organization is to reach people within the region through innovative programs that improve their quality of life.
Job Description
An ideal candidate for the position of Forensic Case Manager at ECA Network is expected to have a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology, Psychology, Criminal Justice or any related behavioral science field. The candidate should also hold a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, counseling psychology, forensic psychology, general psychology, sociology, or criminology. The person should also have a significant combination of education and experience in mental health, substance abuse or criminal justice.
Additionally, the candidate should exhibit in-depth knowledge of treatment programs and the capability to work cooperatively with treatment and mental health systems. Considering the growing significance of information technology in the criminal justice system, the position holder should also be proficient in computer applications, including spreadsheets, Microsoft Office applications, and other database software required in discharging his or her duties.
The Forensic Case Manager performs an array of responsibilities. First, the professional serves as a liaison to the courts and correctional facilities. In this duty, the position holder is tasked with providing screening services for cases within the judicial system for clients involved in alcohol or substance abuse and presenting substantial evidence of mental disorders to help in ascertaining appropriate treatment. Second, the person is expected to follow a comprehensive screening work with supervision in order to execute referrals to a correctional facility specializing in mental health, alcoholism, or substance abuse. The practitioner may arrange the transfer of the clients to the appropriate facility when required.
Third, he provides help to clients in applying for and receiving benefits (both public and private) and conducts investigations to recommend appropriate supportive services for the clients. Fourth, the Forensic Case Manager is mandated with documenting case details available for review by a supervisor at any time, such as client records. The last responsibility involves maintaining a caseload of clients and constantly monitoring individual participation in the treatment program. To achieve this, the position personnel goes through case management appointments, reviews clients’ progress reports, and schedule cases with treatment personnel.
Typical Day
The interview clarified that there is no way to accurately capture a typical day considering the variety of responsibilities a Forensic Case Manager carries out implies no two days are ever the same. Nonetheless, some days may involve talking with clients and their family members or service providers either face-to-face or over the phone. Some days necessitate screening clients with mental health problems. Some meetings may involve cooperation with co-workers and treatment personnel while others will involve interaction with individual clients. Filling out paperwork characterize most of the days including taking notes and entering data for assisting clients to comply with program requirements.
How the Position Relates to Psychology
There is a close relation between Forensic Case Managers and psychology because one of the major jobs the professionals undertake is evaluating criminals. Like other psychologists, forensic case managers are primarily involved in studying the behavior and mental well-being of the client (Gudjonsson " Haward, 2016). When working on court cases, the practitioners are required to ascertain the individual’s sanity (Gudjonsson " Haward, 2016). The courts, through judges and lawyers, may ask the professional for a competency hearing to determine if the suspect is capable of standing trial. As a mental health professional, the forensic case manager is expected to assess the criminal and forward the results to the criminal justice system. Therefore, holding this position allows the person to work in psychology as well as law enforcement.
Motivation and Satisfaction Related to the Position
The interviewee believes that working as a forensic mental health professional is a very fulfilling experience because one not only helps people get a fair trial but also see them evolve over time. He notes compassion and achievement are the major sources of motivation as he enjoys the feeling that he has contributed to the success enjoyed by the clients served by EAC Network. Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory of work motivation asserts that motivational factors such as increased responsibility and a sense of personal achievement generate higher job satisfaction that hygiene factors like job security (Lundberg, Gudmundson, " Andersson, 2009). Pratt also asserts that the position is never boring because there is always something new or challenging to learn as well as the diversity of people who the Network serves. In a scale of 0 to 100, the interviewed reported 90% satisfaction with his position.
Stress Level and Stressors
Despite his position being rewarding, Pratt admitted that he experiences acute stress related to the work he does on a daily basis. He cited lack of control over clients’ situations or problems, overwhelming workload, poor supervision, poor teamwork as the primary stressors. Michie (2002) explains that stressors - situations that are likely to trigger stress – are often unpredictable, uncontrollable, uncertain, unfamiliar, or involve conflict or loss of performance expectations. High workloads that surpass the available time and skills employees have can result in stress. Workers who perform the bulk of job may become frustrated, depressed, and irritated – all of which are symptoms of stress (Michie, 2002). Equally, subpar team – ineffective communication and cooperation between employees and even departments – may cause stress especially to the employee left to perform the bulk of the work. Moreover, poor supervision may potentially breed stress as ineffective managers may fail to offer appropriate direction, support or guidance.
Other Factors
The position has a flexible dress code as employees can put on any fit provided that is formal. The interviewee considered this flexibility as a motivation. Pratt has extensive experience in the discipline of forensic psychology having previously worked as a forensic case supervisor, associate forensic psychologist, forensic psychologist instructor, and a consultant in private practice. This track record confirms that forensic case managers like forensic psychologists and general psychologists can apply their expertise in a variety of fields. Additionally, Pratt works under a Case Manager Supervisor particularly in effectuating referrals to mental health or correctional facilities. He works 40 hours a week on average but the time often differs according to the day or week’s workload. Overwhelming workload calls for spending more hours at the workplace, which sometimes cause stress (Michie, 2002). In the short-term, Pratt seeks to connect more clients to the services EAC offer and assist in the navigation of the criminal justice system and mental health system to achieve successful trial and treatment. In the long-term, the interviewee looks forward to promoting the utilization of evidence-based practice in discharging his duties, developing and applying a holistic, comprehensive approach to forensic case management and advancing professional excellence through further education and training.
References
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2014). Toward a psychology of optimal experience. In Flow and the foundations of positive psychology(pp. 209-226). Springer Netherlands.
Gudjonsson, G. H., " Haward, L. R. (2016). Forensic psychology: A guide to practice. Routledge.
Lundberg, C., Gudmundson, A., " Andersson, T. D. (2009). Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory of work motivation tested empirically on seasonal workers in hospitality and tourism. Tourism management, 30(6), 890-899.
Michie, S. (2002). Causes and management of stress at work. Occupational and environmental medicine, 59(1), 67-72.
