Mental Health Professional I - School Mental Health (Lexington District #1)

State of South Carolina • Lexington County, SC

12h • Onsite

About The Position

The Mental Health Professional I provides school-based mental health counseling as an embedded professional at Pleasant Hill Elementary and Middle Schools. The role is based at the Lexington County Community Mental Health Center and provides a full array of clinical services to patients referred to the School Mental Health program under the general supervision of a program supervisor. The position is community-based and includes travel between schools and to required meetings. It is considered essential and may require call-back during crises, disasters, or emergencies.

The professional provides assessments, individual, family, and group treatment, and crisis intervention; maintains required clinical documentation and authorizations; participates in supervision and treatment-team activities; and consults with school community partners. The role requires 854 annual hours of direct patient services and adherence to applicable clinical, quality assurance, compliance, risk management, CARF, BHDD-OMH, and center policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Master's degree in guidance, counseling, social sciences, or a related field.
• Must be licensed, or willing and able to become licensed in South Carolina as an LMSW, LMFT, or LPC within the first six months of employment.
• Provide evidence of clinical experience delivering direct patient care for credentialing as a Mental Health Professional.
• Provide documentation of a practicum or internship during graduate study, or post-graduate clinical experience.
• Describe specific clinical activities in the application and/or resume.
• Ability to lift 5 pounds and operate a state vehicle.
• Ability to travel between schools and to required meetings.
• Ability to pass CPR and Managing Agitation in the Psychiatric Setting (MAPS) certification.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual ability in English and Spanish, or another language.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical assessments, individual, family, and group treatment, and crisis intervention services to assigned patients using therapeutic and evidence-based approaches and following access-to-care guidelines, caseload recommendations, and continuity-of-care procedures.
• Provide 854 hours annually of direct patient services in accordance with the LCCMHC Patient Care Hours Policy.
• Participate in clinical supervision and treatment-team meetings, pursue professional development, and demonstrate effective interpersonal and social skills and an appreciation of individual and group differences and similarities.
• Effectively use evidence-based practices and maintain related certifications.
• Provide consultation and training on mental health issues to school community partners as needed.
• Respond to non-patient mental health crises at the assigned school.
• Complete documentation according to QA/BHDD-OMH standards, comply with corporate compliance and risk management requirements, and complete prior authorizations on time.
• Complete all required annual trainings, including Safety, MAPS, and clinical trainings.
• Adhere to CARF standards and BHDD-OMH and center policies and procedures.
• Attend routine scheduled supervision, monthly consultation groups, and psychiatrist supervision through interdisciplinary staffing meetings.

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.
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available.
• Retirement benefit choices through the State Retirement Plan (SCRS) or State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP); enrollment in one of the plans is required for FTE employees.

What This Job Offers

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