Mental Health Professional II / Intellectual Development Disabilities (Charleston)

Salary: $61,801.00 - $69,985.00 Annually
Location : Charleston County, SC
Job Type: FTE - Full-Time
Job Number: 188297
Agency: Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Opening Date: 05/12/2026
Closing Date: 6/12/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Class Code:: GA56
Position Number:: 60013029
Normal Work Schedule:: Other
Pay Grade: GEN09
Opening Date: 05/12/2026
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.
Normal Work Schedule (Other):: Working hours will be discussed during the interview. This is an essential position and may require some after-hours work to help fill in when staff are out.
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 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.

Additional Requirements

• 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 mee 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.

Additional Comments

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. 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) - Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (OIDD) (formerly SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs) or Office of Substance Use Services (OSUS) (formerly Dept. of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services)?

• 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


Are you a graduate of an accredited college/university with at least a master's degree in guidance, counseling, the social sciences or related field?

• Yes
• No

04


Do you have two (2) years of experience in a clinical setting?

• Yes
• No

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