Mental Health Professional II / Intellectual Development Disabilities (Charleston)

Mental Health Professional II

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 II 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) - Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center, 2100 Charlie Hall Blvd, Charleston, SC 29414. Under general supervision, employee will provide assessment/counseling interventions/treatment to patients with serious mental illness, developmental disorders, and/or autism spectrum disorders and will ensure linkages for therapeutic needs to promote wellbeing for patients.

Responsibilities for the Mental Health Professional II:

• Provide evidenced based services to children, adolescents, and adults; provides individual psychotherapy using developmentally adapted evidence-based practices. Provide family therapy and caregiver coaching to support skill development at home and in the community. Conduct intake assessment and treatment planning using IDD/MI/SED appropriate tools and strategies. Use trauma-informed, non-coercive crisis deescalation strategies. Conduct modified suicide risk and crisis assessments that consider communication limitations. Develop Personal Safety Plan. Modify therapeutic materials to meet the cognitive, sensory, and that consider communication needs of each client. Incorporate visual supports, social stories, modeling, video modeling, and structured teaching strategies into therapy. Ensure patients are seen as per LOC guidelines; addresses patient barriers to services; ensure crises are staffed; ensure internal and external customer satisfaction. Meet patient care hour standards.
• Work closely with families, caregivers, case managers, school personnel, residential staff, ABA providers, and other treatment team members. Participate in interdisciplinary meetings and provides input. Coordinate care to ensure consistency across settings.
• Complete documentation according to QI polices. Documents services and contracts to patients, Keep billing disallowances to a minimum. Produces outcome and/or progress summaries that reflect patient improvement; Write objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time limited. Write objectives and interventions that address patients' SNAPs. Meet collaborative documentation standards.
• Adhere to Center, OMH and State Compliance policies, procedures and responsibilities. Make collaborative documentation standards. Does not intentionally violate laws regulating the provision of health care. Adheres to Code of Conduct.
• Participate in ongoing professional development. Maintain license/certifications. Comply with training requirements. Attend supervision. Participate in other meetings as required.

Minimum and Additional Requirements:

• A master's degree in guidance, counseling, the social sciences or a related field and professional experience in a mental health, human service or social service program.
• A master's degree and professional experience in guidance, counseling or the social sciences and two (2) years of experience in clinical settings.
• The ability to bend, stoop, climb, drive from location to location, lift and file.
• Services are delivered in the community and patient's home.
• May require some hours outside the traditional workday to meet the needs of the patients.
• This position is considered essential, therefore, the employee in this position may be asked to report to work even if the center is closed during an emergency.
• 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.

Post hire, employees must:

• Have sound theoretical knowledge of principles, methods, counseling practices, and procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral, developmental, autistic, and mental disorders.
• Have the ability to listen understand and effectively communicate information and ideas so that others will understand.
• Have some knowledge of psychopathology and patient management within the behavioral health setting; Some knowledge of basic health and welfare services provided by other public and private agencies.
• Have the ability to establish and maintain effective and maintain working relationships with individuals, families and representatives of other professional disciplines.

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.
• 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.