MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR 1 - UNDERFILL (RURAL NEVADA)

State of Nevada; Carson City (NV); On-site; USD 52,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance (medical, dental, etc

Vacation leave

Sick leave

12 paid holidays

Retirement program (PERS)

Deferred compensation

Job summary

State of Nevada—The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services seeks a Mental Health Counselor I to provide in-home and clinic-based counseling, assessment, and case management in rural offices across Nevada, with potential advancement to higher levels. Work involves coordinating services, crisis response, and collaboration with caregivers and child welfare staff.

Requires a Master’s degree in counseling or related field and licensure preparation (LCSW, LMFT, or LPC).

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology, social work or closely related field.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments through interviews, observations, and collaboration with families and community systems.
• Participate in treatment planning and coordinate services across teams.
• Provide individual, family, and group counseling and support services.
• Develop treatment plans and monitor progress to ensure least restrictive care.
• Prepare court or program documentation and maintain records for compliance.
• Provide crisis intervention and safety planning as needed.
• Coordinate housing and service contracts; monitor provider performance.
• Deliver community workshops and training for staff and stakeholders.

Skills

Counseling

Case management

Crisis intervention

Documentation

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in Counseling or related field

Job description

• No Nevada state income tax.

Job Summary

The Nevada DIVISION OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS) is recruiting for a Mental Health Counselor 1 underfilling a Mental Health Counselor 2 in one of the following rural offices: Carson City, Elko, Ely, Fallon, Pahrump, Winnemucca or Yerington under the Intensive Family Services (IFS)/Clinical Program. This position works under supervision and advancement to the next level may occur after meeting the minimum qualification, satisfactory performance, and with endorsement of the appointing authority. This position may also provide counseling, case management, direct clinical services, community and home-based services, and behavioral and human services to youth involved with the child welfare system. Mental Health Counselors provides in-home, family-centered, intensive services including counseling, skill-building, supportive services, advocacy, mental health assessments for children and their parents, and clinical case management to complex, high-risk families. Mental Health Counselors with IFS provide diagnoses to children in custody for access to services; higher level of care; crisis intervention; placement disruption services; and case consultation services for other DCFS program staff. IFS program does not replicate existing services and is not considered a mental health program, but rather a clinical child welfare program designed to intervene quickly with families and youth to prevent placement disruption or support youth and caregivers. This Mental Health Counselor position will focus on placement coordination and support for youth in custody to optimize placement stability, supporting foster caregiver retention, facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration for youth with more complex needs and who may require a higher level of care. This position will serve as a primary clinical link between foster parent and caregivers, the Licensing unit and child welfare staff. This Mental Health Counselor will facilitate and be highly active in the Placement Review Team, conduct clinically informed matching to align youth’s therapeutic needs with caregiver strengths and provide systematic advocacy to ensure foster families and caregiver receive the resources necessary to maintain placement integrity and the youth is placed in the appropriate level of care with sufficient oversight and coordination. To perform the full range of duties, licensure, or approval for (clinical) licensure or internship is required: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or Licensed Practicing Counselor. Mental Health Counselors provide Intensive Family Services (IFS) to families involved with the child welfare system in rural Nevada.

Essential Qualifications

Master's degree from an accredited college or university in counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology, social work or closely related academic field; OR an equivalent combination of education and clinical experience at or above a Master's degree and experience as described above.

Job Duties

• Conduct appraisals and assessments through interviews with the client, family members and community systems, personal observations, communication with clinicians and representatives of community agencies and organizations, and utilization of standardized techniques to determine client eligibility for services and appropriate course of treatment at the least restrictive level possible.
• Conduct or participate in treatment planning by attending treatment team meetings in which client goals are determined, and appropriate strategies and plans are developed and modified as necessary; coordinate and integrate services among members of treatment teams and client support systems; monitor treatment plans and evaluate effectiveness.
• Provide individual, family and group counseling and consultative services to clients, their families and support systems utilizing a broad array of intervention techniques required to effectively address client problems, which may include multiple psychosocial problems within the family unit.
• Utilize a family and community systems approach to develop and implement treatment plans by working with families and significant others in addition to the client; resolve client problems to prevent reoccurrence; provide recommendations for family reunification and adoption preservation.
• Develop and implement after care plans; advocate for clients through interactions with other agencies, organizations, community and support systems such as the courts, welfare, school, juvenile justice, probation and parole, or other similar agencies; monitor after care services to ensure achievement of the goals identified in the treatment plan; provide support and assistance to clients and their families to facilitate the return of clients to the least restrictive environment possible.
• Prepare documentation and reports to appraise the court or similar systems regarding clients’ mental and behavioral status; make observations, research client records, and integrate treatment team input to facilitate appropriate and informed decisions.
• Review client charts, discuss client treatment at case staffings, or make case presentations; make individual and standardized assessments; integrate and analyze information from all available sources and systems; document quality of care and ensure information is available to other members of the treatment team; complete required forms and reports and maintain documentation to ensure compliance with established laws, regulations, policies and requirements for agency reimbursement including billing forms.
• Refer clients to other agencies and organizations and identify resources based on client needs; ensure appropriate human resource services are available to the client to achieve identified treatment objectives.
• Provide crisis intervention to include client restraint or appropriate behavioral and environmental controls for clients who may be hostile, combative, aggressive or assaultive; follow established protocols and policy to protect clients, staff, family and others potentially at risk due to client behavior or family dynamics.
• Coordinate housing arrangements and write service contracts according to established procedures; monitor providers by conducting on-site visits to ensure quality care and services are provided according to the contract; evaluate appropriateness of housing arrangements and investigate complaints.
• Develop formal training programs for agency staff and service providers by researching appropriate topics or training materials; develop training modules, present training programs, and monitor ongoing training activities; develop and maintain training budgets and supplies; and participate in professional development opportunities to acquire necessary knowledge and skills related to the assignment.
• Provide workshops within the community, make public presentations, and participate in other forms of instructional activities to educate the community regarding mental health issues; establish rapport and promote understanding between the client, community and agency.
• Plan and coordinate new and continuing program development activities by conducting needs assessments; determine new or existing client needs; assess community resources and determine the resources required to implement new and existing programs; provide ongoing evaluation and assessment of program goals, objectives and activities.
• Provide clinical supervision of student interns, residents, and volunteers as assigned.
• Perform related duties as assigned.
• Under general supervision, Mental Health Counselor I’s receive training and acquire skills in performing professional clinical duties described in the series concept. This is the entry level in the series, and progression to Mental Health Counselor II is not automatic.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

General knowledge of: normal and abnormal human behavior and development; individual, marital, group and family counseling techniques; case management practices and procedures; crisis intervention techniques; treatment team dynamics; psychotropic medications including desired effects, common side effects, and drug interactions; laws governing abuse and neglect of clients/inmates; client/inmate rights and confidentiality of information; symptoms, characteristics and treatment of common mental and emotional illnesses; effects of substance abuse on mental and emotional health; services, roles and responsibilities of human services agencies in the community.

Ability to: provide individual, group, marital and family therapy; write concise, logical and clear reports regarding client status and treatment; assess and utilize community resources; establish rapport and appropriate clinical relationships with clients/inmates, their families and care providers; develop and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with co-workers, medical and health professionals, social service agency representatives and others; negotiate, write and monitor service contracts for client housing and services; prepare documentation for patient charts and billing purposes.

Recruiter Contact Information: Victoria Sheehan - [e-mail]

The State of Nevada is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building diverse, inclusive, and innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, national origin, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, domestic partnership, genetic information (GINA), or compensation and/or wages.

Please send direct Inquiries or correspondence to the recruiter listed on this announcement.

Benefits Include

• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance programs for employees and dependents/family are offered through the Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP).
• Vacation: Accrual of three weeks of annual leave each year.
• Sick Leave: Accrual of three weeks of sick leave each year.
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year.
• Retirement: Participation in the Nevada Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Employees do not contribute to Social Security but will contribute to PERS if their position is at 50% or more full-time equivalency. For more information on how PERS service may impact Social Security benefits, visit the SSA publication.
• Deferred Compensation: The State offers a voluntary Deferred Compensation Program.
• No Nevada state income tax.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Eligible due to public sector employment.
• Longevity Payments Eligibility: Employees who have received a performance rating of “standard” or better and have completed eight (8) or more years of continuous service are eligible for longevity pay.

Additional benefits

may apply to employees covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), depending on their designated bargaining unit. For more information, visit the Labor Relations Unit (LRU).

For more details about your rights and responsibilities as a State of Nevada employee, please review the State of Nevada Employee Handbook (PDF).

• State Holidays The holiday schedule for State employees is established by the Legislature.

The Following Are Legal Holidays

• January 1.............................................. New Year's Day
• Third Monday in January..................