Mental Health Professional I / Substance Use Counselor / ACT Team (Charleston)

Mental Health Professional I / Substance Use Counselor

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 / Substance Use Counselor 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 Mental Health Center, 2100 Charlie Hall Blvd, Charleston, SC 29414. Serving on the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team as a substance use counselor providing evidenced based services in an intensive non-residential treatment and rehabilitative services in accordance with the fidelity model. This is a single fixed point of responsibility for treatment, rehabilitation, and support needs for patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who require higher levels of community care and have not been well supported in lower level of care options.

Responsibilities for the Mental Health Professional I / Substance Use Counselor:

• Conduct comprehensive substance use assessments and assesses and tracks beneficiary's stages of change readiness and stages of treatment.
• Ensure patients are seen in accordance with their needs and the team's treatment approaches are consistent with beneficiary's stages of change readiness.
• Facilitates access to 12 step groups and other community groups.
• Provide direct services to patients using cognitive behavioral approaches and relapse prevention and uses outreach and motivational interviewing techniques in earlier stages of change readiness.
• Facilitates the person-centered planning process for beneficiaries assigned to them.
• Participate in clinical supervision, treatment team meetings, and pursues professional development. Serves as a consultant and educator to ACT team members on the topic of integrated dual disorder treatment.
• Complete documentation according to QA/SCOMH standards, comply with Corporate Compliance Policy and Risk Management Plan, and ensure timely completion of prior authorizations.
• Complete all annual required trainings to include Safety, MAPS, Cultural Affairs, and clinical trainings. Demonstrate adherence to CARF standards, and SCBHDD and Center policies and procedures.

Minimum and Additional Requirements:

• A master's degree in guidance, counseling, the social sciences or a related field.
• Be a licensed Addiction Counselor in South Carolina or Master Addiction Counselor.
• Able to lift 5lbs and operate a state vehicle.
• Requires a flexible schedule.
• Services are delivered in the community and patients' home.
• Position is considered essential and may be called back during crises/disasters/emergencies.
• 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.

Additional Comments:

• Have practical therapeutic knowledge of principles, methods and counseling practices and procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of addictions and mental disorders.
• The ability to listen an understand and communicate information and ideas so that others will understand.
• Knowledge of psychopathology, family dynamics, family and group psychotherapy.
• Ability to identify and effectively utilize resources available in the community to accomplish objectives.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective 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.