Mental Health Counselor

CFG Health; Lambertville (NJ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

CFG Health Systems, LLC is seeking a qualified Mental Health Counselor to provide comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment within a correctional facility. You will conduct evaluations, develop tailored treatment plans, and coordinate care with the multidisciplinary team.

The role requires handling high-risk cases within defined timeframes, maintaining accurate records, and contributing to quality improvement while adhering to safety and privacy regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or related mental health field is required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Active, unrestricted license as LCSW/LSW/LPC/LAC in the facility’s state.

Responsibilities

• Perform mental health and substance abuse evaluations in accordance with NCCHC, APA, ACA, and PBNDS standards.
• Develop individualized treatment plans including housing, medication referral, counseling, and referrals for ongoing care.
• Conduct initial clinical assessments within ten days for high-risk individuals.

Skills

Critical thinking

Independent decision making

Empathetic care

Interpersonal communication

Basic computer skills

Team collaboration

Professional resilience

BLS certification

Education

Bachelor’s degree in psychology or related mental health field

Master’s degree preferred

License: LCSW/LSW/LPC/LAC in state

Job description

Position Summary

The Mental Health Counselor provides quality mental health and substance abuse treatment services to patients in accordance with all established philosophy.

The Mental Health Counselor provides quality mental health and substance abuse treatment services to patients in accordance with all established philosophy.

Functional Demands

• Ability to pass all required health and other screening tests.
• May be required to work nights, weekend, and holidays.
• On-call duty may be required (available to work on short notice) as per site requirement.

Organizational Expectations

• Provides a positive and professional representation of CFG Health Systems, LLC.
• Keeps patient information confidential and respects patient’s right to privacy.
• Promotes culture of safety for patients and employees through proper identification, reporting documentation, and prevention.
• Maintains competency and knowledge of current standards of practice, trends, and developments in related scope of job role or practice.
• Adheres to infection control policies and protocols.
• Participates in ongoing quality improvement activities.
• Completes required orientation and trainings directed by facility.
• Follows facility and OSHA safety rules and procedures while on assignment.
• Follows facility and CFG Health Systems Occurrence Protocol.
• Adheres to PREA regulations.
• Punctual and dependent for assigned/confirmed shifts.
• Maintains security clearance for the assigned facility.
• Identifies and utilized appropriate channels of communication with supervising staff.

Position Responsibilities

• Performs and documents mental health and substance abuse evaluations patients of the assigned correctional facility consistent with the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) standards of care, American Psychological Association (APA), applicable state corrections standards, American Correctional Association (ACA) and Performance Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS) as appropriate.
• Develops treatment plans based on individual need to include, but not limited to housing location, medication referral, brief counseling, and referrals for ongoing mental health or substance abuse treatment.
• Conducts an initial clinical assessment within ten (10) days on all individuals who are identified as “high-risk”.
• Reports reactions to treatments and medications, as well as changes in the patients’ emotional or physical condition.
• Provides brief individual or group counseling when clinically appropriate.
• Assists in the monitoring of patients on suicide watch or special housing status.
• Collaborates with the Multidisciplinary Mental Health Treatment Team in order to determine a patient's appropriate level of mental health care to include discharge planning.
• Records all care information concisely, accurately and completely, in a timely manner, in the appropriate format and on the appropriate forms.
• Maintains daily and monthly statistics in collecting documentation of services for audits and participates in the Continuous Quality Improvement process (CQI).
• Promotes a therapeutic environment to ensure inmates are treated in a professional, ethical and tactful manner.
• Performs other position-related duties as assigned, depending on assignment setting.
• Attends scheduled in-service programs and staff meetings as scheduled.

Position Requirements

Minimum Education

• Graduate from an accredited school facility with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology, social work, or related mental health field.
• Master’s Degree preferred.
• Current, unrestricted license to practice as Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) in the state the facility is located (maintain a current copy of license on file at the facility at all times)

Minimum Work Experience

• At least one year of professional experience, in-group and individual therapy, crisis intervention and psychological evaluation and substance abuse treatment experience.
• Previous correctional health care environment preferred.

Required Skills

• Strong critical thinking and assessment skills.
• Ability to make decisions independently.
• Assertive, empathetic and able to provide care objectively.
• Strong interpersonal communication and customer service skills.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to function independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to command the respect and confidence of patients and staff; and philosophically committed to the objectives of the facility.
• Maintains an active Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon written request to your supervisor for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities functions.

• May regularly be required to stand, sit, walk, reach, bend, kneel, crouch, or stretch, for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to communicate and understand written and verbal communication.

The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.