Mental Health Professional I / Hospital Transition Specialist (Columbia Area)

Full Job Description

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? Join our team at the Office of Mental Health where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to our community.

We are seeking a Mental Health Professional I who is motivated to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges and achieve long-term wellness.

If you want to use your skills to build a healthier, more resilient community, we encourage you to apply.

This position is located at the SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) - Office of Mental Health, Columbia Area Mental Health Center, 2715 Colonial Dr, Columbia, SC 29203.

As the Mental Health Professional I, under general supervision of the Program Manager I for the Office of Transitions Programs, you will identify and execute activities that result in patient discharge from inpatient settings to integrated community residences and community-based behavioral health services, to include discharge plan development, accessing residential setting, patient assessment and linking to community-based providers.

Responsibilities for the Mental Health Professional I:

• Quality Management: Responsible for conducting CMHC Initial Clinical Assessments and DLA20s with patients choosing CMHC for outpatient provider to support continuity of services from inpatient to outpatient settings; coordinate and locate community-based residential setting options, based on patients' discharge plan; collect data for performance improvement; utilize the Avatar and EMR to document services provide; complete accurate and timely reports (such as Designed Examiner reports) to management as required.
• Leadership: Coordinate staffing with CMHC regarding program placement for patient when discharged; provide face-to-face and/or video introduction of patient to community providers to include care coordinator and peer support-specialist; attend treatment team meetings, discharge committee meetings, patient staffing and discharge planning staffing to provide community-based resources and/or options for discharge planning.
• Initiative: Identify, collect, and routinely update an inventory of integrated community-based residences for Transition Team distribution/resource directory; brokers needed community resources/services and develop resources where gaps exist.
• Skill Enhancement: Complete core competency trainings (such as SCEIS Learning, MAPS, etc.) and other job-related trainings as required or assigned; will maintain professional licensure (as applicable) and knowledge of and enforce policies and procedures.

Requirements

• A master’s degree in guidance, counseling, the social sciences or a related field.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to bend, stoop, climb, drive from location to location, lift and file; must perform duties in multiple settings.

Qualifications

• Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish (or another language) are a plus.

Additional Information

Post hire, employees must:

• Be able to access and coordinate interaction between multi-disciplinary staff when needed.
• Have thorough knowledge of methods, principles, and practices of clinical counseling and education services.
• Have extensive knowledge of psychopathology and patient management within a psychiatric setting.
• Be able to problem-solve and utilize a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach to patient transition.
• Have laptop computer skills, able to utilize a web-based database system of reporting, be highly organized and able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment.

Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education.

A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

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. Click here for additional information.
• 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 *
  • State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
  • State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

*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.