Victim Advocacy - Mental Health Counselor I/Ii/Iii

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Under direction to provide crisis intervention, assessment, counseling and advocacy services to children and non-offending caregivers impacted by abuse and trauma. Operate as the mental health liaison for the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) and community agencies.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

The Mental Health Counselor I, II, and III exercise no supervision.

IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Mental Health Counselor I, II, III

Provide crisis intervention, trauma-informed assessments and mental health psychotherapy to children and their non-offending caregivers impacted by abuse and trauma. Maintain case files, treatment plans, and monthly progress reports.

Compassionately provide personal advocacy for victims and offer appropriate services/information to include legal system information, victim rights, and child abuse education.

Provide testimony in court proceedings that pertain to mental health services and assist with court preparation/court accompaniment for child abuse victims and their caregivers.

Respond to the CAC after-hours for emergency cases for advocacy and crisis intervention services.

Present cases and participate in clinical review, peer review, MDT case review, and service status meetings.

Participate in initial and ongoing training as it relates to child abuse, trauma-informed mental health services, advocacy, child sex trafficking, and investigation/court system.

Respond to community members who make inquiries, provide tours of the CAC, manage donations, and maintain storage areas.

Drive personally owned vehicle to various schools in Taylor County to provide needed therapy services.

Participate in community awareness activities.

Facilitate vicarious trauma related training for staff and MDT members.

Mental Health Counselor II, III

Consistently conduct community awareness presentations and mental health training.

Create reports in the case tracking system, analyze data, and formulate solutions to issues.

Assist with audits, site visits, accreditation and protocol revision.

Mental Health Counselor III

Apply for all grants and submit statistical reports to include Other Victim Assistance Grant (OVAG), Victim of Crime Act (VOCA), and Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) grants.

Oversee mental health college intern program.

Present Mental Health reports and statistics, and participate in CAC Board meetings.

Assist with strategic plan and monitor progress.

OTHER JOB RELATED DUTIES

Perform other job-related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Mental Health Counselor I

Knowledge of:

Trauma-focused, evidence-based mental health treatment modalities and best practices.

Community resources for families in need, self-care techniques, Child Advocacy Center model, child abuse and its impact on family dynamics, and child development.

Role of interagency partners in child abuse investigations.

Skill to:

Provide Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

Maintain a high level of confidentiality and handle sensitive situations and information.

Communicate professionally both orally and in writing.

Use MS-Office including Excel, Access, Outlook, Power Point, and Microsoft Word.

Use Google Suite including Sheets, Docs, and Gmail. Operate a computer and standard office equipment.

Manage high stress situations and think critically to problem solve and resolve issues.

Actively listen, assess clients, create treatment plans, and thoroughly document work.

Ability to:

Adjust to change with flexibility and a positive attitude.

Manage significant emotional stress, use good judgment, and adhere to high professional standards.

Facilitate group meetings involving professionals from various agencies and maintain cross-cultural awareness in the performance of all responsibilities.

Accurately enter data in case tracking system, and create reports, forms and presentations.

Stay organized and manage time well.

Provide court testimony.

Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, both internally and externally.

Follow and embrace the City of Abilene Core Values - Respect, Integrity, Service Above Self, and Excellence in All We Do.

Perform as a team member in a manner that accomplishes the Division's mission and treats team members with dignity, courtesy, and respect.

Mental Health Counselor II

In addition to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required for the Mental Health Counselor I, these are additional requirements for the Mental Health Counselor II position:

Skill to:

Conduct professional large group presentations and trainings.

Create reports, analyze data, and formulate solutions to issues.

Mental Health Counselor III

In addition to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required for the Mental Health Counselor I/II, these are additional requirements for the Mental Health Counselor III position:

Knowledge of:

Team-building strategies, managing vicarious trauma in the workplace, grant writing, and broad array of mental health treatment modalities.

Skill to:

Professionally lead people and manage problems in a timely manner.

Experience and Training Guidelines:

For positions with more than one level, all listed requirements at the lower levels are required at the higher levels. Any combination equivalent to experience and training to provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be qualifying. Knowledge, skills, and abilities may be obtained through:

Mental Health Counselor I

Experience:

One (1) year of relevant experience as practicing mental health professional with abused children is required.

Court testimony and collaboration with law enforcement, Department of Family and Protective Services, and District Attorneys is preferred.

Education/Training

Master's Degree in mental health counseling or social work field is required.

Completion of the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training provided by Public Health within one (1) year of employment is required.

Completion of the Trust-Based Relational Intervention Training (TBRI) provided by Public Health within one (1) year of employment is required.

License or Certificate:

A valid Texas driver's license, the ability to obtain one within ninety (90) days of employment is required, or a military waiver is required.

Provisional license to practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is required.

Mental Health Counselor II

Experience:

Three (3) years of experience as a practicing mental health professional with abused children and collaboration with a CAC is required.

Court testimony and collaboration with law enforcement, Department of Family and Protective Services, and District Attorneys is required.

Conduct a minimum of ten (10) presentations or trainings is required.

Education/Training:

Master's Degree in mental health counseling or social work field is required.

Completion of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training is required.

Completion of Trust-Based Relational Intervention Training (TBRI) is required.

Completion of 24 hours of specialized training in victim advocacy provided by Public Health is required.

Completion of Motivational Interviewing Training (MI) provided by Public Health is required.

License or Certificate:

A valid Texas driver's license, the ability to obtain one within ninety (90) days of employment is required, or a military waiver is required.

Provisional license to practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is required.

Mental Health Counselor III

Experience:

Six (6) years of experience as a practicing mental health professional with abused children and collaboration with a CAC is required.

Court testimony and collaboration with law enforcement, Department of Family and Protective Services, and District Attorneys is required.

Successful submission of grant applications and reports are required.

Conducted a minimum of twenty (20) community presentations and training is required.

Education/Training

Master's Degree in mental health counseling or social work field is required.

Completion of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training is required.

Completion of Trust-Based Relational Intervention Training (TBRI).

32 hours of advanced advocacy training provided by Public Health is required.

License or Certificate:

A valid Texas driver's license, the ability to obtain one within ninety (90) days of employment is required, or a military waiver is required.

Provisional license to practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is required.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training Certification is required.

Special Requirements:

Physical, mental, and emotional health is vital for success in a work environment with daily exposure to information and images of the abuse of children, emotional caregivers, and stressful/tense situations.

Ability to work in a standard office environment.

Ability to travel for training purposes and court testimony.

Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:

With or without accommodation, the "X" indicates the overall strength demand of the position during a typical workday:

___ Sedentary - lifting of no more than 10 pounds

___ Light - lifting no more than 20 pounds; carrying up to 10 pounds

X Medium - lifting no more than 50 pounds; carrying up to 25 pounds

___ Heavy - lifting no more than 100 pounds; carrying up to 50 pounds

___ Very Heavy - team lifting over 100 pounds; carrying more than 50 pounds

Physical Demand Codes: The following describes whether or not the position is expected to exert the physical demands listed during a typical workday as well as the overall frequency of the task:

Codes for how often:

N = No

E = Extensive (100 - 70% of the time)

M = Moderate (60 - 30% of the time)

I = Infrequent (20 - 10% of the time)

A = Almost Never (<10% of the time)

Code / Task

I Standing

M Sitting

M Walking

A Lifting

A Carrying

A Pushing/Pulling

A Overhead Work

M Fine Dexterity

I Kneeling

I Crouching

N Crawling

M Bending

A Twisting

A Climbing

A Balancing

E Vision

E Hearing

E Talking

___ Other: _____________________

Other details

• Pay Type Salary

• Min Hiring Rate $52,954.90

• Max Hiring Rate $74,120.00

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• Police, 4565 S. 1st, Abilene, Texas, United States of America