BHS III-Counseling

Texas Health & Human Services Commission•CARLSBAD, TX

7d•$5,102 - $6,336•Onsite

About The Position

The BHS III - Counseling assists with counseling-related services that support mental wellness for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Duties include observing individuals, developing and evaluating staff instructions and training, and supporting the generalization of counseling gains outside the clinical setting. Work is performed under review and supervision of a lead clinician, with interventions aligned to needs established by the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT), including nonpharmacological support for people receiving psychotropic medication. The position also conducts data collection and reporting, program evaluation, and participates in Unit and Interdisciplinary Teams and quality assurance and enhancement activities. The role may include planning, assigning, and supervising others’ work. The BHS III works with individuals who may have complex needs and exhibit aggressive, self-injurious, or other challenging behaviors. The work schedule varies with service needs, and the position operates under moderate supervision with some latitude for initiative and independent judgment. The position is hired and directly supervised by the Unit Director in consultation with the Director of Behavioral Health Services under the Unit Model, or by the Director of Behavioral Health Services under the Departmental Model. Professional supervision is provided by the Director of Behavioral Health Services or designee. The role conducts clinical assessments and ensures development and approval of counseling plans; may assist with or develop behavioral health service plans, including psychiatric support and skill acquisition plans; trains staff in counseling and behavioral health topics; monitors counseling plans and individuals’ responses to treatment; and contributes counseling and behavioral health perspectives to service planning. It also assists with monitoring restraint and emergency procedure use, reviewing psychotropic medication use alongside nonpharmacological approaches, and collecting information for evaluations of intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. The position requires keeping current in relevant counseling, behavioral health, and training practices and may support disaster response, recovery, or continuity-of-operations activities, potentially on an alternate shift or at another location. This is a full-time, regular, exempt position at the San Angelo State Supported Living Center, located in Carlsbad, Texas. It is a day-shift position, is not eligible for telework according to the posting’s position details, and involves travel up to 5%. Work hours may be flexible or extended to meet service needs; overtime, weekends, holidays, and rotating or on-call schedules may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, social work, counseling, education, applied behavior analysis, or a related discipline.
Knowledge and experience administering counseling and behavioral health services to people with intellectual disabilities.
Knowledge of the etiology and characteristics of developmental disabilities.
Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and departmental and agency policies.
Knowledge of and ability to provide personal counseling and related behavioral health services.
Knowledge and skills in discipline-specific assessments, including intelligence and adaptive behavior assessments.
Knowledge and skills in trauma-induced behavior and counseling plan development, implementation, and evaluation.
Ability to train staff in generalization plans and basic psychological and behavioral concepts.
Ability to work within a professional supervision model and make decisions within broad guidelines and parameters.
Knowledge and skills using personal computers and relevant software.
Effective written and oral communication skills.
Ability to work effectively within an interdisciplinary team.
Ability to organize and prioritize work and complete basic duties with moderate supervision.
Commitment to facility workplace and service values.
Must pass fingerprint-based criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and applicable registry and exclusion-list checks.
Must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.
Must be willing to work weekends and holidays; overtime, extended hours, and flexibility in work hours may be required.
Male applicants aged 18–25 must be registered with Selective Service.
State Supported Living Center employees are subject to random drug testing.

Nice To Haves

Eligible to pursue licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor upon hire.
Experience in a clinical practicum or clinical project related to caregiving, or other experience in caregiver settings.

Responsibilities

Conduct clinical assessments and ensure the development and approval of counseling plans that meet individuals’ needs.
Assist with or develop behavioral health service plans, including psychiatric support plans and skill acquisition plans, under lead clinician review and supervision.
Conduct or ensure staff training in counseling and behavioral health services, trauma-induced behaviors, individual counseling plans, and related topics.
Monitor and evaluate counseling plans to ensure effective implementation.
Document treatment response using data tables, graphs, progress notes, and other records.
Participate as an effective member of Unit and Interdisciplinary Teams and contribute counseling and behavioral health information and programming perspectives.
Assist in monitoring and evaluating restraint and emergency procedure use and ensure accurate, timely documentation.
Assist with reviewing psychotropic medication use to ensure it is accompanied by adequate nonpharmacological approaches.
Assist in collecting information for evaluations of individuals’ intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior.
Provide observations, staff instructions, training, and mentoring to support mental wellness and generalization of counseling gains.
Participate in quality assurance and quality enhancement activities related to counseling services.
Maintain current knowledge of relevant counseling, behavioral health services, and training techniques.
Perform special assignments and other duties as assigned, including supporting disaster response, recovery, or Continuity of Operations activities.
Attend work regularly and meet assigned shift requirements, which may include rotating schedules, extended shifts, overtime, on-call duty, weekends, and holidays.
May plan, assign, and supervise the work of others.