Mental Health Professional I / School-Based (Columbia Area MHC)

State of South Carolina • Richland County, SC

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Mental Health Professional I provides advanced assessment, crisis management, short- and long-term individual and family therapy, and case management services to children and families with psychiatric needs. Working under general supervision, the role aims to reduce psychiatric symptoms and improve positive functioning across ecological systems. Services are delivered in a school-based setting at Columbia Area Mental Health in Columbia, South Carolina.

The position provides clinical services to support recovery, stabilization, and independence in accordance with each patient's plan of care. It also involves family therapy, collaboration with colleagues and community partners, school consultation and education, and prevention services. The employee maintains required documentation, supports quality assurance and accreditation standards, responds to patient requests, and complies with legal and agency requirements.

Requirements

• Master's degree in guidance, counseling, or the social sciences.
• Two years of experience in a clinical setting.

Nice To Haves

• Licensure as an LPC, LISW, or similar credential.
• Bilingual ability in English and Spanish or another language.
• Knowledge of the etiology and treatment of behavioral and emotional disorders.
• Familiarity with relevant systems of care and agency characteristics.
• Strong attention to detail and task completion, and dependability.
• Knowledge of the impact of mental illness on children, adolescents, and their families.
• Knowledge of intervention theories and methods.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with individuals, families, and other professionals.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical services that promote patient recovery, stabilization, and independence based on the plan of care.
• Maintain timely, high-quality records, including collaborative documentation.
• Provide family therapy as a regular component of treatment.
• Collaborate and work as part of a team within the Center and community, including participating in supervision groups and staff meetings.
• Maintain competency in at least one Evidence-Based Practice.
• Measure patient functionality using the DLA20.
• Respond to telephone messages, emails, Teams messages, and inter-office mail.
• Meet Quality Assurance and CARF standards.
• Respond appropriately and promptly to patient requests for services.
• Comply with the BHDD-OMH Compliance Plan and applicable legal responsibilities and requirements.
• Complete annual compliance and ethics training and submit conflict-of-interest and acknowledgment forms.
• Provide school consultation, education, and prevention services, including staff in-service training, consultation to faculty and staff, classroom presentations, Parent-Teacher Organization presentations, and critical incident debriefing or adverse incident response.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouses, and children.
• 15 days of annual vacation leave per year.
• 15 days of sick leave per year.
• 13 paid holidays.
• Paid parental leave.
• South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program.
• State Retirement Plan or State Optional Retirement Program; enrollment in one is required for FTE employees.
• May be eligible for SCOMH Student Loan Repayment to help cover qualifying outstanding education loans.

What This Job Offers

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