Mental Health Counselor

Responsibilities

• Counsels individuals and conducts bio-psychosocial assessments, mental status and mental health evaluations.
• Conducts individual, group and family counseling consistent with clients’ treatment plans and makes referrals for appropriate levels of care.
• Maintains accurate, complete and timely client records that comply with regulatory requirements and agency policy.
• Complies with confidentiality, HIPAA privacy and security regulations.
• Serves as a liaison to community agencies and organizations, fostering professional linkages and relationships.
• Facilitates specialized therapeutic groups and in-service staff training.
• Adheres to social work standards and ethical principles, and maintains professional relationships with other disciplines and community supports.
• Demonstrates competency in various communication and documentation skills.
• Knowledgeable about relevant laws and regulations governing substance abuse treatment programs.

Qualifications

• MSW degree needed for designated programs/divisions, or must obtain LMSW-Permit within 90 days of hire and licensure within one year for designated programs/divisions.
• NYS LMSW licensure for designated programs/divisions.
• NYS LCSW licensure.
• Experience working with DHS CARES Software.
• Knowledge of multi-disciplinary team experience.
• Knowledge of techniques for identifying and preventing potentially violent behavior, including crisis management techniques.
• Ability to develop, evaluate, implement and modify clinical treatment interventions.
• Competency in written, interpersonal, verbal and computational skills to present and document records.
• Knowledgeable about federal, state and local law and regulation governing substance abuse treatment programs.