Mental Health Professional II - Intellectual and Development Disabilities (IDD) (Lexington)

Mental Health Professional

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 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, Lexington County Community Mental Health Center, 305 Palmetto Park Blvd, Lexington, SC 29072. Under general supervision, you will provide assessment/counseling interventions/treatment to patients with serious mental illnesses, 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 evidence-based services to children, adolescents & adults; provide individual psychotherapy using developmentally adapted evidence-based practices. Provide family therapy and caregiver coaching to supports skill development at home and in the community. Conduct intake assessments and the treatment planning using IDD/MI/SED appropriate tools and strategies. Use trauma-informed, non-coercive crises de-escalation strategies. Conduct modified suicide risk and crises assessments and consider communication limitations. Develop Personal Safety Plan. Modify therapeutic materials to meet the cognitive, sensory, and 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 & 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 is according to QI policies. Document services and contracts to patients. Keep billing disallowances to a minimum. Produce outcomes 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 patient SNAPs. Meet collaborative documentation standards.
• Adhere to Center, OMH, & State Corporate Compliance policies, procedures, and responsibilities. Make good faith effort to report violations; do not intentionally violate laws regulating the provision of health care. Adhere 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 and professional experience in guidance, counseling or the social sciences and two years of experience in clinical setting.
• Must be licensed or eligible for licensure in SC. If unlicensed, must be willing to work towards licensure in SC within six months.

Additional Requirements:

• Follow all established BHDD policies and procedures. This position requires the ability to stoop, climb, drive from location to location, lift and file. This position could be considered essential. Therefore, this position may be asked to report to work even if the center is closed during 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, development, autistic and mental disorders
• The ability to listen and understand, and effectively communicate information and ideas so that others will understand
• Some knowledge of basic health and welfare services provided by other public and private agencies
• The 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 *

*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.