Mental Health Professional I - Assessment - (Pickens)

Salary: $51,039.00 - $59,622.00 Annually
Location : Pickens County, SC
Job Type: FTE - Full-Time
Job Number: 189360
Agency: Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Division: Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Mental Health Center
Opening Date: 06/09/2026
Closing Date: 6/23/2026 5:00 PM Eastern
Class Code:: GA55
Position Number:: 60008598
Normal Work Schedule:: Monday - Friday (8:30 - 5:00)
Pay Grade: GEN08
Hiring Range - Min.: $51,039.00
Hiring Range - Max.: $59,622.00
Opening Date: 06/09/2026
EEO Statement: Equal Opportunity Employer
Agency Specific Application Procedures:: Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education using verifiable dates.
Veteran Preference Statement: South Carolina is making our Veterans a priority for employment in state agencies and institutions.


Job Responsibilities
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, Pickens County Clinic, 337 West Main Street, Easley, SC 29640.
As a Mental Health Professional I, provide assessment and diagnostic recommendations to assigned patients of the Pickens County Clinic of the Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Mental Health Center.
Responsibilities for the Mental Health Professional I:

• Provide clinical assessments to determine appropriateness of services and diagnostic impression for individuals initiating mental health treatment. Provide unplanned crisis intervention services to people presenting to the mental health clinic. Assessment clinician provides services to individuals of all ages.
• Ensure access to care standards are met by monitoring and responding to referrals and scheduling planned diagnostic assessments within agency standards. Conduct telephonic clinical screenings as appropriate to ensure patient needs are met in a timely manner.
• Maintain clinical documentation in accordance with BHDD Standards.
• Attend and participate in treatment team and staff meetings and makes recommendations for patient's treatment according to identified needs.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• Masters' degree in guidance, counseling, or the social sciences or a related field.
• Must be licensed or eligible for licensure in SC. If unlicensed, must be willing to work towards licensure in SC within six months of employment.

Additional Requirements:

• 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.
• Must qualify for credentialing and privileging as a mental health professional and in accordance with quality assurance standards and with concurrence by Office of Mental Health Quality Management.
• This position requires the ability to bend, stoop, climb, drive from location to location, lift and file.
• This position could be considered essential. Therefore, the employee in this position may be asked to report to work even if the Center is closed in the event of an emergency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish (or another language) are a plus.

Additional Comments

Post hire, employees must have:

• Sound theoretical knowledge of principles, methods, counseling practices, and procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral and mental disorders
• Ability to listen and understand and effectively communicate information and ideas so that others will understand.
• Some knowledge of psychopathology and patient management within the psychiatric setting
• Some knowledge of basic health and welfare services provided by other public and private agencies.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals, families and representatives of other professional disciplines.
• Be able to pass CPR and Managing Agitation in the Psychiatric Setting (MAPS) Certification.

This position is considered essential and may be called back during crises/disasters/emergencies.

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 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
• Retirement benefit choices *
  • State Retirement Plan
  • State Optional Retirement Program

*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.
Benefits for State Employees
The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.


Insurance Benefits
Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.


Retirement Benefits
State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.


Workplace Benefits
State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.


Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.
01


Have you ever been employed by the SC Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities - Office of Mental Health (OMH) (formerly SC Department of Mental Health)?

• Yes
• No

02


If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony criminal offense (other than in a Juvenile Court), you MUST list this information (unless you have taken steps to expunge your record.) This includes fraudulent checks, driving under suspension, disorderly conduct, shoplifting, etc. *Please note that conviction of a criminal offense does not bar you from employment in all cases; each conviction is evaluated individually. However, failure to list convictions is considered falsification of the application and WILL BE grounds for termination, if hired. It is your responsibility to know what is on your criminal record. If you have charges on your record that appear without a court disposition (result) you may be asked to provide that information if selected for employment. If you have questions, please inquire before you complete your application.PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ANSWERING THIS QUESTION WILL DEEM YOUR APPLICATION AS INCOMPLETE AND IT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.Please indicate your understanding to this statement by checking the box below.

• Checking this box indicates my understanding to the above referenced statement.

03


Have you been denied a professional license, or had a professional license revoked or limited by, and/or had any discipline or sanction imposed on you or your practice by a professional licensing board or body?

• Yes
• No

04


If you answered Yes to the question above, please provide a statement explaining the facts, name of the professional licensing board or body, any action taken by the board or body and your current status with that board or body.
05


Do you have direct patient care experience in a clinical setting, either post-Masters or during your graduate program (i.e., internship or practicum)? If so, please be sure that it is listed in your application and/or resume.

• Yes
• No

06


Please include a copy of your resume with this application.

• I have included a copy of my resume with this application.

07


If selected for the position, do you understand the following requirement - must be licensed or eligible for licensure as LMFT, LMSM or LPC in South Carolina. If unlicensed, must be willing to work towards licensure in SC within six months of employment.

• I understand that I must be licensed or eligible for licensure in South Carolina. If unlicensed, I must begin this process within the first six months of my employment with the Office of Mental Health.

08


Did you graduate with at least a master's degree in social work, counseling, guidance, or the social sciences from an accredited university or college?

• Yes
• No

09


Please indicate your salary requirements (please be specific and not put "negotiable" or "open").
Required Question