Corrections Counselor 3

State of Nevada•Carson City, NV

12h•Onsite

About The Position

The Nevada Department of Corrections is seeking qualified candidates for Correctional Counselor 3. This recruitment is to fill existing vacancies at Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City. The incumbent will provide support services to offenders in a correctional setting, including assessments and psycho-educational classes. The mental health professional will provide case management and behavioral/human services to persons with mental illness, crisis intervention, and de-escalation of crisis situations with inmates. Under general supervision, the role involves providing group treatment to inmates through psycho-educational and other group formats, utilizing evidence-based and scientifically researched program models. Responsibilities include reviewing all pertinent historical clinical records before beginning treatment, evaluating inmates' mental health status and behavior for clinical needs and making appropriate referrals, evaluating all emergency or crisis requests, providing intervention strategy or treatment plans, and preparing a mental health summary to assure continuity of care for inmates being transferred. Corrections Counselors within the Nevada Department of Corrections provide mental health services to offenders in a correctional setting, including interviews, behavioral planning and implementation, consultation, psycho-educational classes, research, and training.

Requirements

Master's degree from an accredited college or university in clinical psychology, psychology, counseling, education, social work, or closely related field and three years of post Master's degree experience providing therapy, psychological testing and programmatic services in a correctional, rehabilitative, clinic or institutional setting; OR a Doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, educational psychology, social work, or closely related field which included a one-year internship in an applied program and one year of professional experience providing therapy, psychological testing and programmatic services in a correctional, rehabilitative, clinic or institutional setting; OR a Doctoral degree (Psy.D.) in clinical psychology from an accredited school of professional psychology, a one-year internship in an applied program, and one year of experience as described above; OR one year of experience as a Corrections Counselor II in Nevada State service.
Working knowledge of: assessment tools and instruments used in the diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of individuals in the population served; federal and State laws related to mental health, intellectual disabilities and substance abuse; correctional programs; agency, divisional and departmental policies and procedures; client/offender rights and confidentiality of information; personality disorders; educational and learning disorders; survey design and data collection; mental health and developmental service delivery systems; analysis and interpretation of statistical data; case management practices and procedures; crisis intervention techniques; individual, marital, group and family counseling techniques; treatment team dynamics; psychotropic medications including desired effects, common side effects, and drug interactions; services, roles and responsibilities of human services agencies in the community.
General knowledge of: chemical dependency and substance abuse; psychological and physical conditions encountered in a correctional setting; normal and abnormal human behavior, growth and development.
Ability to: make specific observations and recommendations regarding client/offender treatment and progress; coordinate treatment services provided by agency personnel and others; and provide correctional programming; work ethically and professionally with individuals who have been convicted of crimes; participate in program development projects; assess, develop and implement behavior plans and goals; assess and utilize social, agency, and community resources; establish rapport and appropriate relationships with offenders, their families and care providers; set priorities which accurately reflect the level of care needed by offenders; balance responsibilities with documentation requirements; modify intervention procedures to meet specific service needs of offenders or families.

Responsibilities

Interview individuals to determine treatment, programming, or placement needs; make behavioral health recommendations; interpret and integrate data with interview findings and behavioral observations; discuss results with offenders or other authorized individuals; prepare written reports on offenders interviewed which include potential behavioral health needs.
Participate as a member of the treatment team in staff meetings; share information and analyze treatment options; define, provide, and schedule appropriate care.
Provide counseling services, relaxation training, relationship counseling, substance abuse counseling, and pain management counseling to facilitate recovery and maintain offender in the least restrictive environment possible.
Provide crisis intervention by applying appropriate de-escalation techniques and principles in order to relieve the immediate problem; intervene with offenders who may be hostile, aggressive, combative or assaultive; follow established protocol in order to protect offenders, staff, and others who may be at risk; form a crisis debriefing team of mental health and security professionals and debrief staff involved in emergency situations to alleviate emotional concerns.
Consult and train staff regarding current policies and procedures to comply with statutory and ethical requirements and current scientific developments in areas relevant to agency services.
Participate in planning, developing and coordinating program services to meet the needs of the population served; participate in committees and facility activities in developing policies and procedures; and participate in quality review programs.
In a correctional setting, participate on the Unit Management Team to deliver services to offenders within their units.
Document activities in regular written reports and on charts to comply with legal requirements and maintain adequate records; prepare information and documentation necessary for billing and recommend third party payments as appropriate.
Conduct research and evaluation studies, for data collection and statistical purposes, to enhance services provided which may include interviews, offender characteristics, prediction of positive treatment outcomes, or prediction of recidivism or violence of an individual offender.
Perform related duties as assigned.
Under general supervision, Corrections Counselor III’s are assigned complex caseloads and provide care for the most severely mentally ill, developmentally, or learning-disabled offenders and provide for psycho-educational programs and groups.