Behavioral Health Clinician (Corrections)

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management • Cranston, RI

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Within the Department of Corrections (DOC), this role involves applying mental health counseling fundamentals in the diagnosis and treatment of patients or persons in a correctional custody environment. The objective is to remove or alleviate social, emotional, or environmental problems of patients and promote their return to a normal and effective pattern of living. This position requires working under general supervision and may involve supervising other Behavioral Health Clinicians on a project basis. The role includes analyzing cases, formulating diagnoses, developing treatment plans, providing crisis intervention, and consulting with psychiatrists and other staff.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited program and possession of a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Social Work, Psychology/Forensic Psychology or a related clinical field.
• At least two years of employment in a clinical position in the provision of clinical and psychological services.
• At the time of appointment, must possess and maintain licensure as a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC); licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW); licensed clinical social worker (LCSW); licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT); licensed psychologist or be actively in process of obtaining such licensure in compliance with the requirements of the State of Rhode Island.
• Thorough knowledge of mental health counseling techniques and fundamentals used to diagnosis patient pathologies.
• Working knowledge of evidence based treatment interventions and their application in a clinical correctional setting.
• Working knowledge of predictive risk factors for suicide and the appropriate interventions used to mitigate suicide risk in a correctional setting.
• Working knowledge of the identification and treatment of patients designated severely and persistently mentally ill.
• Working knowledge of crisis intervention and deescalation techniques.
• Working knowledge of treatment planning techniques.
• Ability to work independently in the assessment of pathology and the development of treatment plans.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team.
• Ability to compose and revise treatment plans in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to build relationships with colleagues and maintain effective relationships.
• Ability to collaborate with probation and parole, classification, custody, outside agencies and other units as necessary.
• Ability to gather information pertaining to custodial investigations.
• Ability to document pertinent information in a clinical record.
• Ability to compose reports as necessary.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a correctional environment is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Apply mental health counseling fundamentals in the diagnosis and treatment of patients or persons in a correctional custody environment.
• Analyze and evaluate cases and recommend findings regarding the relationship and interaction between the patient's social situation and psychiatric pathology.
• Formulate initial and ongoing diagnoses and develop and revise treatment plans according to patient requirements.
• Consider social, emotional, or environmental factors to inform mental health counseling interventions.
• Provide initial and ongoing crisis intervention, including the identification of predictive risk factors for suicide and the implementation of a comprehensive suicide prevention treatment program.
• Provide a continuum of care to patients designated severely and persistently mentally ill.
• Consult with a psychiatrist or psychologist when serving as a member of a clinical team.
• Provide clinical consultation to staff members, including physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and other personnel.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary treatment planning meetings with superiors, a psychiatrist, or other professional personnel.
• Provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment of inmates at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.
• Engage in individual casework, assisting patients in facilitating their return to an adaptive and effective pattern of living.
• Engage in a multi-disciplinary team approach, working with the psychiatry staff, medical and para-medical staff, and security staff for the care of the patient.

Benefits

• For information regarding the benefits available to State of Rhode Island employees, please visit the Office of Employee Benefits' website at http://www.employeebenefits.ri.gov/
• Direct deposit for all employees is required for new hires after September 30, 2014.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level