Mental Health Professional II - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Focused (IDD) (Anderson)

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 II 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, Anderson County Clinic, 1 Linwa Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621.

Under general supervision, employee will provide assessment/counseling interventions/treatment to patients with serious mental illnesses, developmental disorders, and/or autism spectrum disorders and will ensure linkages for therapeutic needs to promote wellbeing for patients.

Responsibilities for the Mental Health Professional II:

Provide evidenced based services to children, adolescents, & adults; provide individual psychotherapy using developmentally adapted evidence-based practices.

Provide family therapy and caregiver coaching to support skill development at home and in the community.

Conducts intake assessments and treatment planning using Intellectual and Development Disabilities (IDD) Mental Illness (MI) and Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) appropriate tools and strategies.

Use trauma-informed, non-coercive crisis de-escalation strategies. Conducts modified suicide risk and crisis assessments that consider communication limitations. Develop Personal Safety Plan.

Modify therapeutic materials to meet the cognitive, sensory, and communication needs of each client.

Incorporate visual supports, social stories, modeling, video modeling, and structured teaching strategies into therapy.

Ensures patients are seen as per Level of Care (LOC) guidelines; address patient barriers to services; ensures crises are staffed; ensures internal & external customer satisfaction.

Meets patient care hour standards.

Work closely with families, caregivers, case managers, school personnel, residential staff, ABA providers, and other treatment team members. Participate in interdisciplinary meetings and provides input. Coordinate care to ensure consistency across settings.

Complete documentation is according to Quality Improvement policies. Documents services and contracts to patients. Keeps billing disallowances to a minimum.

Produces outcomes and/or progress summaries that reflect patient improvement. Writes objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time limited.

Writes objectives and interventions that address the patient's' Strengths, Needs, Abilities & Preferences (SNAPs.) Meets collaborative documentation standards.

Adhere to Center, OMH, & State Corporate Compliance policies, procedures, and responsibilities. Makes good faith effort to report violations; Does not intentionally violate laws regulating the provision of health care. Adheres to Code of Conduct.

Participate in ongoing professional development. Maintains license/certifications. Comply with training requirements. Attend supervision. Participate in other meetings as required.

Performs other duties as assigned.

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.

Additional Requirements:

• Master's degree and professional experience in guidance, counseling or the social sciences and two years of experience in clinical setting.

• Ability to lift 5 pounds and operate a state vehicle.

In order to be credentialed for core services as a Mental Health Professional at the SC Office of Mental Health, applicants must provide evidence of clinical experience providing direct patient care. This experience may be documented as a practicum or internship during graduate program, or post-graduate clinical experience. Please be sure to provide specific clinical activities on your application and/or resume.

Qualifications

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

Additional Information

Post hire, employees must have:

• Practical therapeutic knowledge of principles, methods, and counseling practices and procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral and mental disorders.

Experienced therapist who manages their assigned cases and makes clinical decisions regarding their clients, largely independent of their supervisor.

These clinical decisions include therapeutic treatment (both in frequency and intensity), patient follow-up, decisions or linkage to the physician, and medication coordination.

• Responsibility for developing the treatment plan with the patient establishing treatment goals and objectives.
• On a daily basis they work with patients in crisis, making decisions that may involve the safety and wellbeing of patient.
• Ability to listen and understand and communicate information and ideas so that others will understand.
• Knowledge of psychopathology, family dynamics, family and group psychotherapy.
• Ability to identify and effectively utilize resources available in the community to accomplish objectives.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals, families and representatives of other professional disciplines.
• Ability to present clear and comprehensive oral and written reports.
• Routine supervision provided by supervisor, psychiatrist and monthly consultation groups.
• Employee's activities are governed by AOPMHC and OMH policy and procedure.
• Ability to lift 5 pounds and operate a state vehicle.
• Be able to pass CPR and Managing Agitation in the Psychiatric Setting (MAPS) Certification.

This position is considered essential and may be called back during crises/disasters/emergencies.

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.