Clinical Mental Health Professional (Counselor)

Job Summary

Doyouhaveapassionforworkingwithunderservedcommunities?AreyouexcitedtostartyourCliniciancareer?Doyou want to make a difference for someone? Does working in a fast-paced environment excite you?

If you answered yes, then you need to apply for Travis County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) Clinical Mental Health Professional position. This position is located at either the Travis County Jail or the Travis County Correctional Complex and focuses on supporting inmates who have serious mental illness. Clinical Mental Health Professionals work with our inmate population to assess, observe, and monitor patient status and assist in creating individualized treatment plans.

Our Clinical Mental Health Professionals work 10-hour shifts, 4 days a week, with three days off each week or 8-hour days, five days a week.

This is a great position for someone who wants to develop their social work or counseling skills in a rewarding and fast- paced environment and wants a competitive Total Rewards Package. Travis County offers one of the highest rated retirement plans. We also offer vacation and sick leave, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, personal holidays, 12 company observed holidays, and longevity pay.

DISTINGUISHINGCHARACTERISTICS:

This is the first in a series of three (3) Clinical Mental Health Professional job classifications within the Social Services family and provides professional mental health services to inmates incarcerated in the Travis County Jail. This classification is distinguished from other Correctional Mental Health Professionals in that most activities are conducted under clinical supervision of senior mental health professionals. This classification requires work in a secure facility with inmates who have serious mental health illnesses and requires a flexible schedule in order to meet the needs of the department

Duties and Responsibilities

• Works with clinical autonomy and provides direct care to inmate-patients in the Travis County Jail who have serious mental illness by assessing, observing, and monitoring patient status, developing treatment plans, and reporting and documenting results.

• Works as part of a treatment team to improve, restore, and maintain the patient's level functioning while minimizing symptoms, exacerbation of chronic illness, impairments, and disabilities by utilizing an individualized treatment.

• Maintainsafetyandsecurityofself,othersandfacilityatalltimes.

• Completes regularly assigned screening and assessment of patient suicidal behavior, mental illness, substance use and vulnerabilities.

• Observes and monitors patient's physical, mental and emotional well-being by looking for behavior patterns and report observations to treatment team.

• Develops patient treatment plans.

• Completes daily documentation of patient status.

• Reports and documents any issues, concerns or problems with medications, or changes in patient mental or physical health.

• Participates as a member of the treatment team.

• Communicates patient treatment plans and concerns with mental health and medical staff and corrections officers.

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

EducationandExperience:

Master'sDegreeinCounseling,SocialWorkorPsychologyANDone(1)yearsocialserviceexperience.

Licenses,Registrations,Certifications,orSpecialRequirements:

ValidTexasDriver'sLicense.

Applicantsarerequiredtoattacharesumewiththeonlineapplication.

Atleastoneofthefollowing:

Licensed Masters of Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW),

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)*,

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)*,

Psychologist*

• Thosewithtemporary,provisional,associateorinternLPC,LMFTorPsychologistlicensesmustprovidedocumentationof on-going clinical supervision during employment until full licensure is achieved. Documentation of full licensure must be provided within 2 years of employment.

Preferred:

Two(2)years'paidexperienceinthecounseling,socialwork,humanservices,educationorcriminaljusticefieldsproviding direct services to individuals.

CertifiedCorrectionalHealthProfessional(CCHP)

Knowledge,Skills,andAbilities:

Knowledgeof:

• Mental illness, substance use, intellectual & developmental disabilities, head and traumatic brain injuries.

• Treatment and counseling strategies to address maladaptive behaviors.

• Criminogenic risk factors that lead to incarceration.

• Proper documentation practices.

• Preventativemanagementstrategiesofaggressiveindividuals.

• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.

• KnowledgeofandadherencetoHIPAAandotherfederalandstatelawsrequiringtheconfidentialhandlingofcertain health information.

Skill in:

• Active listening, critical thinking, active learning, service orientation, assertiveness, sound judgment and decisionmaking.

• Effective communication with those impacted by symptoms of mental illness such as depression, anxiety, mania and hallucinations.

• Development of treatment plans.

• Problem solving.

• Use of Electronic Medical Record, Microsoft Office Suite and other basic computer applications.

• Both verbal and written communication.

Abilityto:

• Discern potential problems and involve appropriate staff in problem solving.

• Resolve conflict and work with resistant patients to meet treatment goals.

• Maintain a safe and secure environment.

• Interact with patients in a caring manner.

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, other County employees and officials, community outreach and other organizations, clinical service providers, law enforcement personnel and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing,repetitive motion, driving, client/customer contact, and squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities.Theessentialduties,functionsandresponsibilitiesandovertimeeligibilitymayvarybasedonthe specific tasks assigned to the position.

Work Hours: Shift work required. Hours can vary by shift 24 hours a day. Works some holidays, works some nights, works some weekends.

Location: Austin, TX

Department: Sheriff

Criminal Background Check, Credit Check, Driving Record, Drug Test, Alcohol Test, Education, and Employment History Check Required.