Mental Health Counselor- Lea County

About the Role

Provide comprehensive mental health assessment and treatment in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team members in the development, review, and monitoring of individualized behavioral/mental health treatment plans.
• Complete behavioral/mental health assessments for patients referred based on admission, staff referral, or self-referral, ensuring timely completion per urgency requirements.
• Provide regular follow-up to assigned patients to monitor mental status and functioning, and inform supervisors and psychiatric staff of significant changes.
• Deliver crisis interventions, including precautionary measures, daily follow-up, and emergency procedures as needed.
• Conduct individual and group counseling, as well as psychoeducational groups, to assist patients in defining and achieving personal, social, educational, and vocational goals.
• Observe patients to detect psychiatric symptoms, mental deficiency, abnormal behavior, or maladjustment.
• Maintain accurate, legible, and up-to-date patient records in accordance with policy.
• Coordinate and inform applicable parties regarding patient discharge or transfer, and act as a liaison with community agencies.
• Administer, interpret, and report on psychological test data as permitted by testing standards or under supervision.
• Provide clinical supervisory oversight for non-psychiatric behavioral/mental health staff as requested.
• Provide on-call mental health services if assigned.
• Conduct in-service training on behavioral/mental health topics for the company and community agencies.
• Maintain professional boundaries to preserve the integrity of the therapeutic process.
• Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including peer reviews, record reviews, and committee membership, and modify clinical practices based on recommendations.
• Acquire and maintain current clinical knowledge, skills, and professional standards.
• Ensure compliance with agency and company policies, federal and state laws, regulations, and guidelines, including HIPAA.
• Maintain confidentiality and deliver care in a nonjudgmental, nondiscriminatory manner to protect patient autonomy, dignity, and rights.
• Perform other duties as assigned, including reporting to work during emergencies as an "essential" employee.

Core Competencies

• Problem Solving: Collaboratively resolve problems, present solutions, and take responsibility for finding answers when unsure.
• Team Building: Foster a cohesive working environment, help others learn, share knowledge, and respect workplace diversity.
• Communication: Express opinions clearly and appropriately in written and verbal form, using audience-appropriate language, and actively listen to others.
• Documentation: Ensure medical records and documentation are accurate, thorough, timely, and completed using required formats.
• Effective Time Management: Organize and prioritize work, plan meetings, keep appointments, and multitask effectively.
• Attentive to Detail: Provide accurate and consistent work, minimizing miscommunications through detailed documentation.
• Accountability: Follow through on commitments, demonstrate dependability, take responsibility for mistakes, and communicate progress.
• Stress Tolerance: Handle stressful or adverse situations effectively, remain calm in emergencies, and stay focused despite distractions.
• Safety Consciousness: Maintain awareness of and minimize safety risks in the environment.

Requirements

• Degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Active professional license to practice in the applicable state.
• Current tuberculosis documentation and active CPR certification.
• Ability to pass a background investigation and obtain agency security clearance where applicable.
• Minimum of two years of direct care experience with individuals with mental illness.

Preferred Physical Requirements

• Possess general good health and sufficient stamina, agility, and visual/auditory abilities to perform all required duties.
• Physical activity includes walking, climbing, standing, sitting, bending, stooping, carrying, and repetitive mental tasks (e.g., checking report entries).
• Ability to respond quickly to emergencies within scope of practice.
• May work throughout a large facility or group of facilities, or travel between multiple sites.
• Potential exposure to hazardous materials, including bloodborne pathogens, infectious diseases, and physical injury from patients.
• Ability to identify and minimize safety risks in the environment.