Licensed Mental Health Professional

About the Agency & Program

The Department of Public Safety's mission is to safeguard and preserve the lives and property of the people of North Carolina through preparation, prevention, and protection with integrity and honor. The agency houses many public safety divisions, including Emergency Management, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Samarcand Training Academy, and the North Carolina National Guard.

The North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) mission is to enhance North Carolina's resiliency through active collaboration, communication, and coordination of protection, prevention, mitigation, response and recovery measures. NCDPS has implemented the Responder Assistance Initiative (RAI) within NCEM to bolster access to mental health and wellness resources for NCDPS and first responder agencies throughout NC. The RAI team includes licensed mental health professionals, professionally trained peer support consultants, and wellness coordinators regionally situated throughout the state. The program provides a continuum of care including behavioral healthcare, wellness initiatives, peer support/intervention, and consultation for public safety organizations. The program is expanding eligibility to external law enforcement and first responder entities, with potential to extend support to family members of responders who endure secondary trauma.

About the Position

This Licensed Mental Health Professional position with the NC Responder Assistance Initiative is a regional position based in Fayetteville. The selected candidate is required to travel within the Fayetteville County region comprised of Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, and Wake counties, with occasional travel to other parts of the state. The role addresses the mental health needs of Dept. of Public Safety employees and external partner agencies (police, fire, EMS, dispatch, emergency management) exposed to traumatic events and critical incidents inherent in first responder occupational settings. The program is composed of licensed mental health providers, wellness coordinators, and peer support professionals situated across the state as regional providers.

Note: Candidates licensed at the Associate or Provisional level will be considered if supervision is available. If selected, the candidate will be considered a Trainee; salary will be assessed according to months of experience at the date of application, with progression through phases and salary increases as each additional level of experience is reached until fully licensed to practice without Board-mandated supervision.

Responsibilities

• Providing direct counseling services and care coordination at an advanced level
• Conducting individual, couples, and family therapy; program briefings; community outreach; training; and crisis intervention
• Providing behavioral health screening, consultation, and crisis intervention on a regular basis via telephone and face-to-face meetings
• Conducting biopsychosocial evaluations, individual, couple, family, and group treatment with participants and eligible family members
• Delivering outcomes-driven, evidence-based and best-practice clinical interventions
• Developing and implementing treatment plans, collaborating with providers, preparing clinical and discharge summaries, developing and facilitating referrals as appropriate
• Providing regional critical incident response
• Consulting with clinical and administrative leadership regarding clinical or organizational problems to obtain recommendations concerning resolution of concerns with individuals or agencies as a means for addressing problematic patterns and trends within the specific setting
• Traveling to various responder organizational units to provide outreach, education, and services within region and across the state as needed

Qualifications & Requirements

Minimum Education and Experience

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Required Licensure

Applicants must be licensed in one of the following credentials:

• Health Services Provider - Psychologist (HSP-P)
• Licensed Psychologist (LP)
• Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSW-A)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFT-A)
• Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)
• Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHC-A)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (Management Preferences)

• Experience conducting clinical assessments or diagnosis; developing or implementing treatment plans; conducting individual, couples or family therapy; or providing crisis intervention
• Experience providing interventions on complicated cases
• Skilled in administering and interpreting selected screening/assessment instruments
• In-depth knowledge of theoretical approaches to treatment, as well as a working knowledge and utilization of the DSM-5-TR
• Considerable knowledge of the range of trauma symptoms contributing to physical, emotional, and psychological distress with specific experience as it relates to the population served by RAI
• Skilled in determining and conducting appropriate therapeutic intervention
• Skilled in supporting and/or engaging in critical incident debriefings and providing psychoeducational training on a variety of behavioral health topics associated with victimization/trauma/stress reactions to small and medium sized groups

Pay

Salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations for the advertised position. For associate/provisional licensees hired as Trainees, salary will be assessed according to months of experience at the date of application, with increases as each additional level of experience is reached until fully licensed.

Schedule

This is a full-time permanent position (40 hours per week). All new hires are required to report in-office/on-site for the first 90 days of hire. Travel within the assigned region (12 counties) and occasional statewide travel is required.

Benefits

State Benefits are provided. Employees with student loans may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (visit studentaid.gov for details).