Corrections Counselor

Incumbent works under the direction of the Director of Outpatient Services for Community Mental Health Center (CMHC), or designee performing individual and group education/counseling utilizing evidence based cognitive curriculum for inmates of the Douglas County Department of Corrections.

 Essential Functions:

• Develop and facilitate group education/therapy for Douglas County Corrections.
• Provide individual inmate education/counseling.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Participate in treatment team meetings with Corrections staff and outside agencies.
• Objectively document client's mental health status as evidenced by the client's behavior, communication, progress, treatment participation, etc. as required by law and applicable department policies/procedures.
• Perform periodic assessments.
• Establish and conduct educational groups, counseling groups, and individual counseling sessions for CMHC Psychiatric Outpatient Program (POP).
• Assist with coverage within the CMHC Day Treatment Program by providing group counseling and therapy.
• Monitor and document patient progress and effectiveness of the groups. 
• Assist CMHC in resolving patient crisis and service concerns.
• Ensure proper documentation is maintained. 
• Maintain client communication and record confidentiality as required by law (e.g. HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2).
• Participate in policy and procedure development, CMHC committees, and other groups.
• Maintain assigned caseload and productivity based on CMHC criteria.
• Ensure all services provided comply with professional standards, state, and federal regulations. 
• Perform quality assurance activities.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

 Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements:

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Clinical Psychology, Counseling, or Human Services required.
• Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP)/Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) or the ability to become a PLMHP/LMHP within six (6) months of employment required.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and own transportation at time of hire and throughout employment.
• Licensed Alcohol/Drug Counselor (LADC) or Provisional LADC is preferred along with three (3) years of community behavioral health care experience, experience performing assessments and recommending community programs, and knowledge of the ASAM criteria/ASAM training preferred.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal background check, post-offer drug screen, and physical assessment required.

 Physical Requirements & Working Conditions:

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The work is performed in a locked and unlocked psychiatric facility or in a locked correctional facility and/or community corrections setting. Work involves potential exposure to biohazards and infectious materials. Incumbents will be assigned to specific shifts; however, hours may vary (e.g. weekends, holidays, extra hours/shifts, emergency call-ins). Noise level is usually moderate but occasionally extreme. Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, limited resources, multiple priorities, emergency/crisis situations, and uncooperative/irate individuals who can be a danger to themselves and others.
• Work requires physical activity including extended periods of standing and walking, frequent sitting and bending, and occasional kneeling, climbing, stooping, crouching, reaching, and balancing. Incumbents will work with individuals who may be psychotic and present difficulty maintaining control; therefore, they must be able to independently lift 50 pounds, push 35 pounds, and pull 75 pounds of load over seven (7) feet.
• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance and color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.