MHP I ACT (Assertive Community Team) Addiction Counselor

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/Alcohol Addiction Counselor/Assertive Community Team 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, Waccamaw Center for Mental Health, 164 Waccamaw Medical Park Drive, Conway, SC 29526.

This position MAY be eligible for SCOMH Student Loan Repayment to cover some of the cost of your outstanding loan(s) balance associated with the completion of a healthcare degree that is relevant to the appliable position.

As the Mental Health Professional I, you will serve on the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team providing evidenced based services in an intensive non-residential treatment and rehabilitative services in accordance with the fidelity model.

This is a single fixed point of responsibility for treatment, rehabilitation and support needs for patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who require levels of community care and have not been well supported in lower level of care options.

Responsibilities for the Mental Health Professional I include:

• Conduct comprehensive substance use assessments plus track beneficiary's stages of change readiness and stages of treatment.
• Ensure patients are seen in accordance with their needs and the team's treatment approaches are consistent with beneficiary's stages of change readiness.
• Facilitate access to 12 step and community groups.
• Provide direct services to patients using cognitive behavioral approaches and relapse prevention, with outreach and motivational interviewing techniques in earlier states of change readiness.
• Enable the person-centered planning process for beneficiaries assigned to them.
• Participate in clinical supervision, treatment team meetings and pursue professional development.
• Serve as a consultant and educator to the ACT team members on the topic of integrated dual disorder treatment.
• Complete documentation according to State, Federal, Local, OMH, Quality Assurance, Corporate Compliance and CARF standards.
• Timely completion of the prior authorization process.
• Required to complete all annual trainings regarding safety, clinical operations, cultural affairs and MAPS (Managing Agitated Patients).
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with individuals, families and representatives of other professional disciplines.
• Presentation of comprehensive oral and written reports to peers, community members and senior leadership.
• Must identify and effectively utilize resources available in the community to accomplish agency and program objectives.
• Able to demonstrate knowledge of psychopathology family dynamics, group and family psychotherapy.

Requirements

• A master's degree in guidance, counseling or social services is a requirement.
• State of South Carolina licensure as a License Addiction Counselor Active or a master's in addiction counseling is a requirement. No exceptions.

Additional Requirements:

• Must meet OMH credentialing requirements which include specific graduate course work including Psychopathology/Psychopathology Diagnostics/Clinical Assessments - Practice with Family Therapy (DSM) and medical ethics.
• Must be able to show one year evidence of clinical experience providing direct patient care and working with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness. This experience maybe documented as a practicum, internship or post-graduate experience.
• Must provide current active Addiction Counseling state licensure with application or graduate transcript for addiction counseling.
• Ability to lift 20 pounds; ability to see, hear at normal volumes, stand, walk, reach, pull, stoop, bend and climb at least two (2) flights of stairs. Ability to tolerate noise level and circulate in patient areas for long periods of time. Must be able to work with repetitive patient behaviors.

Qualifications

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

Additional Information

Post Hire, Employee Must:

• Be able to provide a 10-year driving record.
• Be able to use a state vehicle for work related purposes.
• Use clinical judgement while working independently at times and be self-directed.

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.