Mental Health Clinician 1 (02-1429)

State of Alaska; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Job summary

The State of Alaska Public Defender Agency seeks a bachelor’s level clinician to deliver general mental health and social work services to clients. The role involves consulting on treatment plans, training staff, and advising on holistic service provision for clients and attorneys.

You will work with attorneys, investigators, and court staff in Anchorage, contributing to better case outcomes and protecting clients’ rights while maintaining strict background and credential requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in counseling, psychology, social work, child guidance, vocational rehabilitation, or a closely related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide general mental health and social work services to clients of the Public Defender Agency.
• Consult on therapeutic treatment services for clients and teams.
• Serve as a consultant and trainer to Agency attorneys and staff on holistic service provision and communication strategies.
• Advise on the therapeutic impacts of proposed case and treatment plans for clients.

Skills

Decision Making

Adaptability

Oral & Written Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in counseling, psychology, social work, child guidance, vocational rehabilitation, or related field

Job description

What You Will Be Doing

Seeking a bachelor’s level clinician to provide general mental health and social work services to clients of the Public Defender Agency. This position performs and consults on therapeutic treatment services for clients; and serves as a consultant and trainer to other Agency attorneys and staff on holistic service provision, communication strategies, and therapeutic impacts of proposed case and treatment plans for clients.

Our Organization, Mission, and Culture

The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel in many types of cases and the Public Defender Agency is appointed by the Court to represent people who are unable to afford counsel on their own. Support positions are an integral part of providing that representation and protecting our clients' rights. This position is essential to the success of the division by providing client support designed to improve case outcomes and improve client success.

The Benefits Of Joining Our Team

Support staff at the Public Defender Agency have the opportunity to learn about the legal system and hone their administrative skills to further their career development in the legal field. Most importantly, they get to do this while working as a team to provide meaningful contributions to Alaska, as the work we do impacts people’s lives and protects the constitutional rights of all Alaskans. This important work helps improve case outcomes for individuals charged with crimes, helps re‑unify families, and provides the foundation for successful re‑entry into communities.

Your first 12 months in the Agency are probationary and considered a training period, with formal and on-the-job training with your supervisor and your colleagues.

The Working Environment You Can Expect

The office is located in downtown Anchorage near the Nesbett and Boney courthouses, with parking provided. The hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM with an hour lunch at noon. The position interacts closely with attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and law office assistants across the state, and court system staff.

Who We Are Looking For

• Decision Making: Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
• Adaptability: Adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.
• Oral and Written Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral and written presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in counseling, psychology, social work, child guidance, vocational rehabilitation, or a closely related field.

Additional Required Information

Please read the below information carefully. This applies to your application submission.

At time of interview, applicants will be required to provide:

• College transcripts or copy of your degree
• Three professional references, two who have had supervisory experience over you, including current email and/or daytime phone number

Professional License Or Certification Required

Must have a license (Clinical Social Worker or a Licensed Professional Counselor) to practice social work or a temporary license to practice social work in Alaska or practice as a student in a social work program approved by the Alaska Board of Social Work Examiners.

ACOMS Clearance

Due to the nature of the work of the Public Defender Agency and access to ACOMS at the workplace, the individual who is selected for this position will be required to pass a background investigation and may be re‑fingerprinted. Full disclosure of ALL past criminal convictions (both misdemeanor and felony including suspended impositions of sentence) at the time of application is required. Convictions may lead to disqualification due to the requirements necessary to access these systems.

EDUCATION

If post‑secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position. Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or within 48 hours of the close of this recruitment to the contact person listed below.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Work Experience

If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full‑or part‑time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

EEO STATEMENT

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1‑800‑587‑0430 or (907) 465‑4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1‑800‑770‑8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811‑0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

Contact Information

Shannon Tetlow

Program Manager

[e-mail]

Careers With The State Of Alaska Offer MANY Benefits

The following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.

Insurance Benefits

• Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
• The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See https://drb.alaska.gov/help/plans.html for additional information.
• AVTEC
• Confidential
• Correctional Officers
• Marine Engineers
• Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
• Supervisory
• Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
• Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
• The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
• General Government
• Labor, Trades and Crafts
• Public Safety Employees Association
• Masters, Mates & Pilots
• Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)

Optional Insurance Benefits

• Group-based insurance premiums for
• Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
• Long-term and short-term disability
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
• Supplemental Survivor Benefits
• Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses

Retirement Benefits

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
• Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
• Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
• Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
• Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options

See https://drb.alaska.gov/retiree/ for additional information

Paid Leave & Other Benefits

• Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
• Twelve (12) paid holidays a year