Clinical Mental Health Professional

Job Summary

Clinical Mental Health Professionals are mental health professionals who provide direct intervention services to youth involved with Travis County Juvenile Probation, both within a residential and community setting. They develop, implement and manage goals, and objectives related to screening, assessing, monitoring, and providing treatment to juveniles. Works under clinical supervision and provides clinical services to youth involved with Travis County Juvenile Probation Department who may exhibit behavioral issues and/or mental health symptoms and/or substance use symptoms. May work within Assessment Services OR within Treatment Services providing one or more of the following functions: facilitation of psychoeducational therapeutic groups, working on multidisciplinary teams to develop treatment plans, conducting mental health and substance use assessments and producing forensic reports, providing individual and family counseling, providing crisis interventions and other therapeutic services identified by direct supervisor. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: This is the first in a series of three (3) Clinical Mental Health Professional job classifications within the Social Services family and provides professional mental health services to inmates incarcerated in the Travis County Jail. This classification is distinguished from other Correctional Mental Health Professionals in that most activities are conducted under clinical supervision of senior mental health professionals. This classification requires work in a secure facility with inmates who have serious mental health illnesses and requires a flexible schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Duties and Responsibilities

Maintain safety and security of self, others and facility at all times.

Completes regularly assigned screening and assessment of patient suicidal behavior, mental illness, substance use and vulnerabilities.

Observes and monitors patient's physical, mental and emotional well-being by looking for behavior patterns and report observations to treatment team.

Develops patient treatment plans.

Completes daily documentation of patient status.

Reports and documents any issues, concerns or problems with medications, or changes in patient mental or physical health.

Participates as a member of the treatment team.

Communicates patient treatment plans and concerns with mental health and medical staff and corrections officers.

Performs other job related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Master's Degree in Counseling, Social Work or Psychology AND one (1) year social service experience. Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements: Valid Texas Driver's License. At least one of the following: Licensed Masters of Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)*, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)* Psychologist* *Those with temporary, provisional, associate or intern LPC, LMFT or Psychologist licenses must provide documentation of on-going clinical supervision during employment until full licensure is achieved. Documentation of full licensure must be provided within 2 years of employment. Preferred: Two (2) years' paid experience in the counseling, social work, human services, education or criminal justice fields providing direct services to individuals. Certified Correctional Health Professional (CCHP)

Knowledge of:

• Mental illness, substance use, intellectual &developmental disabilities, head and traumatic brain injuries.
• Treatment and counseling strategies to address maladaptive behaviors.
• Criminogenic risk factors that lead to incarceration.
• Proper documentation practices.
• Preventative management strategies of aggressive individuals.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Knowledge of and adherence to HIPAA and other federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in:

• Active listening, critical thinking, active learning, service orientation, assertiveness, sound judgment and decision making.
• Effective communication with those impacted by symptoms of mental illness such as depression, anxiety, mania and hallucinations.
• Development of treatment plans.
• Problem solving.
• Use of Electronic Medical Record, Microsoft Office Suite and other basic computer applications.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Discern potential problems and involve appropriate staff in problem solving.
• Resolve conflict and work with resistant patients to meet treatment goals.
• Maintain a safe and secure environment.
• Interact with patients in a caring manner.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, other County employees and officials, community outreach and other organizations, clinical service providers, law enforcement personnel and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, driving, client/customer contact, and squatting to perform the essential functions. Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: Schedule will vary, Monday-Friday. Works some weekends

Location: 2515 South Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78704

Department: Juvenile Probation

Criminal background check, driving, education, and employment verification are required.

Drug Test, Alcohol Test, Psychological Exam This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position. You must ensure your application accurately reflects your skills and abilities as they relate to the position. Only periods of employment and experience detailed in the "Work Experience" section of the application will be considered in determining which applicants move forward in the selection process, as well as determining pay level for candidate(s) recommended for hire.

Benefits

Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment. FY2026 Travis County Benefit Guide In this valuable Travis County Benefits Guide you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees. Credit Union Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits. Deferred Compensation Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction. Direct Deposit Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit. Employee Assistance Program Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family. Employee Organizations Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction. Employee Health & Wellness Clinic Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs. Holidays An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year. Insurance Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County. The following benefits are employee paid: Dental Vision Supplemental Life, AD&D Dependent Life Short Term Disability Long Term Disability Long Term Care New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment. Longevity Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification. On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year. Parking A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex. Personal Holidays Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins: January – March 3 personal holidays April - June 2 personal holidays July