MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR 2 (RURAL NEVADA)

State of Nevada; Carson City (NV); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Vacation

Sick Leave

Holidays

Job summary

State of Nevada in Carson City is seeking a Mental Health Counselor 2 for the Nevada DIVISION OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS) in rural offices. The role focuses on placement coordination, counseling, case management, and clinical services to youth in the child welfare system under the Intensive Family Services program.

The position requires licensure as LCSW, LMFT, or LPC and involves collaboration with foster caregivers, Licensing unit, and child welfare staff to ensure placement stability

Qualifications

• Master's degree in counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology, social work or closely related field and two years of postMaster's degree professional mental health counseling experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments to determine client eligibility and appropriate treatment levels.
• Participate in treatment planning and coordinate services among treatment teams.
• Provide individual, family and group counseling and consultative services.

Skills

Clinical counseling

Case management

Crisis intervention

Education

Master's degree in counseling/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 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 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.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Mental Health Counselors provide counseling, case management, direct clinical services, program development, policy implementation, community and home based services, and behavioral and human services to mentally ill, mentally disabled and or emotionally disturbed clients in an outpatient, residential, community or similar setting.

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 and two years of postMaster's degree professional mental health counseling experience; 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.

Positions at this level perform a variety of duties described in the series concept including primary clinical care, community services and or supervision of a limited number of paraprofessional and support staff. Counselors at this level may be responsible for a single program component, such as housing, residential home programs, alternative living programs such as respite, to include developing policy and procedures, obtaining and tracking services, monitoring the specific program budget, and training providers. This is the journey level in the series.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

This job specification lists the major knowledge, skills and abilities of the job and is not all inclusive. Incumbent(s) will be expected to have knowledge, skills and abilities from a previous level.

Working knowledge of:

theories and principles of counseling and psychotherapy; symptoms, characteristics and treatment of mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and emotional and behavioral disorders; 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; ethical standards of care and treatment; evaluation and assessment instruments; psychometric testing procedures and testing instruments; oral communication skills sufficient to confer with colleagues, clients/inmates and others; licensing regulations for various types of housing, residential and other living arrangements; pre-vocational training and supported employment procedures.

General knowledge of:

State and federal rules, regulations and laws pertaining to the agency’s mission; assessments, treatment and strategies used in providing clinical services to specific populations; clinical (peer) review procedures.

Ability to:

assess, develop and implement treatment plans and goals; write comprehensive evaluations, reports and recommendations; interpret intelligence tests and achievement test results; evaluate services provided to clients and investigate complaints.

Benefits Include

• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance programs for employees and their 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

• 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.................. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday

Third Monday in February................ Washington’s Birthday

Last Monday in May........................... Memorial Day

June 19................................................ Juneteenth Day

July 4.................................................... Independence Day

First Monday in September.............. Labor Day

Last Friday in October....................... Nevada Day

November 11........................................ Veterans' Day

Fourth Thursday in November........ Thanksgiving Day

Friday following the Fourth Thursday in November...................... Family Day

December 25........................................ Christmas Day

When January 1, June 19, July 4, November 11 or December 25 falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is the observed legal holiday. If these days fall on Sunday, the following Monday is the observed holiday. Eligibility for holiday pay is covered by the provisions of NAC 284.255

Do you have any of the following?

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology, social work or closely related academic field and two years of postmaster’s degree professional mental health counseling experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and clinical experience at or above a master’s degree and experience as described above.
• None of the above.

02

• Yes
• No

03

Please indicate which professional licensure you hold.

04

• Yes
• No

05

• Yes
• No

06

• Yes
• No

07

• Yes
• No
• Required Question