Mental Health Professional I - Mobile Crisis (Anderson)

Job Responsibilities

Under direct supervision, you will provide assessments for patients being discharged from local hospitals, consultation, crisis intervention, and short-term case management services. The overall purpose of this position is to assure timely access to outpatient mental health services for patients and to divert future hospitalizations during mental health crisis and provide on-call back-up.

• Provide emergency assessments of patients experiencing crisis. Conduct face to face consultations as needed, arriving on-site no later than 60 minutes after the receipt of call.
• Participate in on-call rotation.
• Formulate level of care and disposition. Educate patients on community resources and make arrangements for immediate disposition regarding transfers and referrals.
• Serve as a provider of the crisis intervention, by administering brief individual and/or family therapy to address crisis and identify triggers for crisis behavior to include development of crisis safety plan up to initiating the process of involuntary commitment.
• Participate in weekly Assessment/Community Response staff meetings, individual supervision PRN, and daily treatment staffing.
• Serve as liaison to local community mental health center to provide updates on Office of Mental Health patients.
• Complies with all applicable Quality Assurance, Corporate Compliance and Cultural Competence policies, procedures and regulations, and all Federal and State laws as well as attend all trainings classified mandatory by Federal & State regulations. Engage in additional trainings to maintain professional development.
• Perform other duties as required.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• Masters’ degree in guidance, counseling, or the social sciences or a related field.
• Must be licensed or eligible for licensure in SC. If unlicensed, must be willing to work towards licensure in SC within six months of employment.
• Must qualify for credentialing and privileging as a mental health professional and in accordance with quality assurance standards and with concurrence by Office of Mental Health Quality Management.
• The position will be assigned to a regional location and will cover a multi-county area, will require frequent travel in the assigned region, and will provide on-call coverage a minimum of one week per month.
• The position requires the ability to bend, stoop, climb, drive from location to location, lift and file.
• This position could be considered essential. Therefore, the employee in this position may be asked to report to work in the event of an emergency even if the Center is closed.

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 and mental disorders.
  • Ability to listen, understand, and effectively communicate information and ideas so that others will understand.
  • Some knowledge of psychopathology and patient management within the psychiatric setting.
  • Some knowledge of basic health and welfare services provided by other public and private agencies.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals, families and representatives of other professional disciplines.
  • Be able to pass CPR and Managing Agitation in the Psychiatric Setting (MAPS) Certification.
• 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.
• Benefits for State Employees
• The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.
• Insurance Benefits
• Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.
• Retirement Benefits
• State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.
• Workplace Benefits
• State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.
• Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.

Application Instructions

• Have you ever been employed by the SC Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities - Office of Mental Health (OMH) (formerly SC Department of Mental Health)?
• If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony criminal offense (other than in a Juvenile Court), you MUST list this information (unless you have taken steps to expunge your record.) This includes fraudulent checks, driving under suspension, disorderly conduct, shoplifting, etc. *Please note that conviction of a criminal offense does not bar you from employment in all cases; each conviction is evaluated individually. However, failure to list convictions is considered falsification of the application and WILL BE grounds for termination, if hired. It is your responsibility to know what is on your criminal record. If you have charges on your record that appear without a court disposition (result) you may be asked to provide that information if selected for employment. If you have questions, please inquire before you complete your application. PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ANSWERING THIS QUESTION WILL DEEM YOUR APPLICATION AS INCOMPLETE AND IT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
• Checking this box indicates my understanding to the above referenced statement.
• Have you been denied a professional license, or had a professional license revoked or limited by, and/or had any discipline or sanction imposed on you or your practice by a professional licensing board or body?
• If you answered Yes to the question above, please provide a statement explaining the facts, name of the professional licensing board or body, any action taken by the board or body and your current status with that board or body.
• Do you have direct patient care experience in a clinical setting, either post-Masters or during your graduate program (i.e., internship or practicum)? If so, please be sure that it is listed in your application and/or resume.
• Please include a copy of your resume with this application.
• If selected for the position, do you understand the following requirement - must be licensed or eligible for licensure as LMFT, LMSM or LPC in South Carolina. If unlicensed, must be willing to work towards licensure in SC within six months of employment.
• Did you graduate with at least a master's degree in social work, counseling, guidance, or the social sciences from an accredited university or college?
• Please include a copy of your master's degree transcript with this application.
• This position requires participation one week per month in back-up on call rotation on evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., 24 hours on holidays, weekends and center closing due to inclement weather.
• Can you meet this requirement?
• This position requires being a SC Notary after employment.
• Can you meet this requirement?
• This position is community based and requires frequent travel within the Anderson-Oconee-Pickens catchment area during the workday utilizing a state vehicle.
• Can you meet this requirement?
• Please indicate your salary requirements (please be specific and not put "negotiable" or "open").*