Mental Health Professional (Therapist/Clinician)

the South Dakota State Government•Pierre, SD

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The South Dakota Department of Corrections is hiring a Full-Time Mental Health Professional (Therapist/Clinician) to join the Behavioral Health team at the Women's Prison in Pierre, SD. This position provides essential mental health services to the offender population, including evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions. The Department of Corrections offers opportunities for creativity, making a difference in the lives of South Dakotans, professional development, and teamwork in a friendly work environment.

Requirements

Master's degree from an accredited institution in one of the following mental health fields: counseling, social work, psychology, or marriage and family therapy.
Experience working with clients that have been involved in the criminal justice system.
Experience working with clients that may have complex needs, dual diagnoses, and/or wide range of mental health functioning.
Knowledge of theories and techniques used in counseling, crisis intervention, and substance use disorders.
Knowledge of evidenced-based practices related to the rehabilitation of criminal offenders.
Knowledge of treatment planning, charting, and report writing.
Knowledge of suicide prevention and intervention specifically related to the correctional population.
Ability to effectively communicate and motivate treatment-resistant clients.
Ability to conduct clinical interviews, assessments, and evaluations.
Ability to diagnose mental health disorders.
Ability to conduct individual and group counseling or therapy sessions.
Ability to gather, interpret, report, and use information concerning clients.
Ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal counseling relationships with clients.
Ability to perform mental health evaluations, formulate treatment plans, and make recommendations on client care.
Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary staff setting.
Ability to respond to mental health crisis situations quickly and effectively.
Ability to make clinical decisions regarding offender's mental health.
Ability to work in a correctional facility.
Ability to adhere to the safety and security processes of such correctional facility.
Ability to participate in 24-hour Mental Health On-Call Rotation.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across facility programs and with external agencies.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to provide comprehensive clinical documentation.
Ability to work with a diverse population of offenders.
Ability to provide professional mental health treatment as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Must successfully complete a written and practical self-defense exam.
Must successfully complete CPR to AHA guidelines - this includes successful completion of the practical/hands on portion as well as the written exam.
Possess the physical ability to successfully complete the practical self-defense exam, which involves the following: lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist; stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled take down; use arms, palms of hands, shins, and feet to deliver blows; withstand impact (slow speed or with a safety bag) on own body from strikes/blows; rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for striking with foot or using a defensive tactic; get down on one or both knees and up again with multiple repetitions.
TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire.

Nice To Haves

Graduation with a master's or doctoral degree in a mental health field such as counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy or psychology from a program accredited by Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT or COAMFTE) or American Psychological Association (APA).
License eligible as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Work, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Psychologist.
Experience providing mental health treatment in a correctional environment.

Responsibilities

Provides professional mental health services to offenders to include formal and informal mental health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions.
Provides group and individual counseling and therapy, and crisis intervention to include participation in 24-hour Mental Health On-Call Rotation.
Assures both emergency and non-emergency transfer for offenders experiencing acute mental health needs.
Provides clinical direction to non-clinical staff in mental health care and treatment of offenders.
Assures continuity of care for offenders by making appropriate referral and providing necessary information and documentation for receiving units, facilities, or agencies.
Documents electronically in an accurate and timely manner to provide comprehensive offender mental health records.
Monitors offender treatment, listens to offender concerns, and provides counseling and direction.
Promotes and is accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment through conscientious observations, and sensitive item contraband control.
Informs supervisor of any violations of safety and security through the report writing process.
Attends training programs as assigned, including self-defense course to ensure self-protection skills.