Mental Health Professional I - Child & Adolescent Clinic Based (Kingstree)

About the role

The Office of Mental Health at the SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) seeks a Mental Health Professional I, Child and Adolescent to join our team. This position provides therapeutic services, counseling, and case management to children and adolescents.

Responsibilities

• Provide outpatient mental health therapy/counseling and case management focusing on the chronically mentally ill and those with emotional disturbances.
• Utilize individual, group, and family counseling techniques.
• Maintain an average bill time of 854 direct service hours annually.
• Attend staff meetings and ensure chart documentation and review are complete according to quality assurance standards.
• Perform assessments, screen for medication needs, and make necessary treatment recommendations.
• Develop and update treatment plans in collaboration with patients, families, and treatment teams.
• Aid in treatment scheduling and meetings.
• Support patients in accessing appropriate services, consult with local agencies, organizations, and human service providers.
• Monitor patient progress, including compliance with prescribed psychiatric medicines, and educate patients and their families about mental health treatment and diagnoses.

Requirements

• Masters’ degree in guidance, counseling, or the social sciences or a related field.
• Additional requirements include one year of clinical experience providing direct patient care or evidence of graduate coursework in three out of four areas: psychopathology, psychopathology diagnostics, medical ethics, and clinical assessment.
• Must show evidence of graduate coursework in three out of four areas: psychopathology, psychopathology diagnostics, medical ethics, and clinical assessment.
• Preferred qualifications include bilingual abilities in English and Spanish.

Qualifications

• Must demonstrate thorough knowledge of comprehensive community mental health programs serving adults, adolescents, and children, and their families.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals, families, and representatives of other professional disciplines.
• Self-directed, motivated, and able to function independently while exercising good clinical judgment.
• Participate in ongoing in-service training and other educational opportunities.

Skills

• Thorough theoretical knowledge of principles, methods, and counseling practices for the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral and mental disorders.
• Effective communication and listening skills to understand and convey information to others.
• Knowledge of mental health treatment and diagnoses.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance.
• 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).