Mental Health Professional I (Charleston)

State of South Carolina; South Carolina; On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision, life insurance

Sick leave and vacation time

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Retirement plan

Job summary

State of South Carolina, Office of Mental Health, Charleston Dorchester Community Mental Health Center, seeks a Mental Health Professional I to perform emergency and initial assessments, triage walk-ins and on-call duties. The role emphasizes collaboration with police, courts, and community partners to ensure access to treatment across Charleston and Dorchester counties.

The position requires a Master’s degree in a behavioral field and three years of post-graduate clinical experience, with

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in guidance, counseling, social sciences or a related field.
• Three (3) years post‑graduate experience in a clinical counseling program.

Responsibilities

• Provide emergency and initial clinical assessments and triage for psychiatric emergencies and routine appointments.
• Collaborate with community partners, courts, and law enforcement to corroborate assessment information.
• Documentation reflecting quality care, and adherence to QA standards.
• Provide crisis intervention and emergent services in Charleston and Dorchester counties.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Clinical assessments

Documentation

Collaboration

Education

Master's degree in psychology, social work, counseling, MFT, or related field

Job description

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? Join our team at the Office of Mental Health where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to our community. We are seeking a Mental Health Professional I who is motivated to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges and achieve long-term wellness. If you want to use your skills to build a healthier, more resilient community, we encourage you to apply.

This position is located at the SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) - Office of Mental Health, Charleston Dorchester Community Mental Health Center, 2100 Charlie Hall Blvd, Charleston, SC 29414.

Under general supervision of the Mobile Crisis Team Lead, the clinician will provide multiple clinical services that include emergency assessments, initial clinical assessments, phone triage, police drop offs triage and assessments, and mobile crisis assessments in the community. In addition, this clinician will serve as an after‑hours/on‑call clinician for the mobile crisis team. Position is located in the Charleston clinic and includes Charleston and Dorchester County for mobile crisis responses.

Responsibilities for the Mental Health Professional I:

• Provide advanced triage for walk‑ins, police drop‑offs and phone callers, and conduct screenings (C‑20s) for psychiatric emergencies and routine appointments.
• Conduct initial assessments and formulate appropriate dispositions for individual's admission into treatment.
• Performs functions of this position in an efficient manner as measured by patient care hours. Will collaborate with community partners, specialty courts (e.g. Probate and Mental Health Court etc.), and law enforcement to corroborate assessment information as needed and support our patient population’s access treatment.
• Documentation is reflective of quality‑of‑care expectation as measured by Collaborative Documentation.
• Collaboration and teamwork-This position provides crisis intervention and prevention and provides clinical assessments and emergent interventions to those individuals living with mental illness in both Charleston and Dorchester counties.
• Ensure patient functionality is measured by DLA 20 as required.
• Retain overall responsibility for meeting QA standards.
• Compile with all Corporate Compliance, policies and procedures and Federal and State rules and regulations and attends all trainings classified mandatory by Federal and State regulations and Center policy.

A master’s degree in guidance, counseling, social sciences or a related field.

Additional Requirements

• This position is considered essential and may require reporting for duty in the event of weather or similar emergency events.
• This position does require on call shifts after hours.
• A driver's license and working vehicle are required.
• Services are provided in the clinic, community, schools, encampments, residential care facilities, community centers, and detention centers.

In order to be credentialed for core services as a Mental Health Professional at the SC Office of Mental Health, applicants must provide evidence of clinical experience providing direct patient care. This experience may be documented as a practicum or internship during graduate program, or post‑graduate clinical experience. Please be sure to provide specific clinical activities on your application and/or resume.

• A Master’s or Doctoral degree from an accredited program, university, college in psychology, social work, counseling, MFT, or other behavioral discipline deemed equivalent by SCBHDD and three (3) years post‑graduate experience in a clinical counseling program.

Post hire, employees must:

• Have working knowledge of mental health legal principles and practices; of methods, principles and practices of clinical counseling and educational services.
• Have considerable knowledge of psychopathology and patient management in a psychiatric setting.
• Have working knowledge of basic health and welfare services provided by other agencies.
• Have ability to effectively plan coordinate and manage complex treatment and the ability to conduct detailed assessments, draw conclusions and recommend required actions.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long‑term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices *
  • State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
  • State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.