Mental Health Professional II - MEDC

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and you have a passion for making a difference in the lives of South Carolina's youth, consider joining the dedicated people of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).

MISSION: It is the mission of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to impact and transform young lives, strengthen families, and support safer communities through targeted prevention and rehabilitation. JOB PURPOSE: QMHPs aim to provide effective assessment, treatment, and case management services to address the criminogenic needs of short-term and/or long-term youth, supporting their well-being and aiding in their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. By addressing the criminogenic needs of youth through targeted intervention and individually tailored and responsive services, which includes family and community engagement, QMHPs contribute to creating a safer, more supportive, and therapeutic environment that aligns with the agency mission and vision to impact and transform young lives, strengthen families, and help youth discover their strengths and abilities and become productive and successful citizens. JOB DUTIES: Assessment and Treatment Planning: Conduct thorough assessment of assigned youths’ criminogenic needs to identify areas of targeted engagement and intervention. Develop individually tailored and responsive treatment plans based on youths’ criminogenic needs, collaborating with other professionals and disciplines to support comprehensive care.

Engagement, Intervention, and Progress Monitoring: Provides evidenced-based and evidenced-informed treatment and rehabilitative services that align with youths’ individual treatment plan. These treatment and rehabilitative services include but may not be limited to individual, group, and/or family engagement and collaborative services, crisis intervention, case management, facilitation of psychiatry clinic, participation in multidisciplinary treatment teams, monitoring of progress, etc.

Documentation: Ensures that all provided services and engagement with youth, families, and associated entities (i.e., community agencies, etc.) are appropriately and accurately documented per agency policies and procedures, in concert with ethical and legal guidelines and standards.

Crisis Intervention: Provides clinical assessment, support, and intervention to youth and staff during times of reported crisis. This may include but may not be limited to assessing the youth for possible suicidal and/or homicidal ideation, speaking with staff, de-escalation of youth and/or staff, providing recommendations, communicating with other disciplines, psychiatric referral, etc. Crisis response and intervention may take place during both work and after-work hours, as QMHPs and MHPs serve in an on-call rotation.

Professional Development: Engages in required and volitional in-person and online training per agency policies, licensure requirements, and/or as assigned.

Performs other job duties as assigned. STATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: A master's degree in guidance, counseling, the social sciences or a related field, and professional experience in mental health, human services or social services program.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Knowledge of counseling skills, techniques, and interventions.

Knowledge of child and adolescent development, mental and behavioral health, and family systems, including best practices and treatment modalities (e.g., motivational interviewing, DBT skills, cognitive behavioral interventions, etc.) to address issues in these areas.

Knowledge of psychopathology and diagnostic assessment.

Knowledge of applicable ethical and legal standards.

Knowledge of effective case management and treatment planning principles.

Ability to integrate information from various sources.

Ability to engage youth and families from varied backgrounds, lived experiences, and cultural perspectives.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Ability to identify need for technical assistance/consultation and develop resources to meet those needs.

Little to no overnight travel is expected.

Provide on call services on a rotating basis with other mental health professionals.

This position performs job duties relating to the custody, control, transportation, or recapture of youth within the jurisdiction of DJJ, and the employee may have direct and indirect contact with youth within the jurisdiction of DJJ.

Role requires ability to be flexible and adapt within a potentially high-stress environment, with an emphasis on safety and security, and effective management of youth behaviors.

Must be able to work varied hours. PREFERRED AGENCY REQUIREMENTS:

A master’s degree in counseling, counseling psychology, applied psychology, or social work with at least one year of direct clinical experience; state licensure as an LPC-A, LPC, LPC-S, LMSW, or LISW-CP. The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice offers an exceptional benefits package for FTE positions that includes:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Health, dental, and life insurance
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days of sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• State retirement plans and deferred compensation programs
• Discount Programs such as TicketatWork and WeSave

Applications are incomplete if you fail to answer all supplemental questions, education, and work history. Incomplete applications are not referred to hiring managers. Applications are accepted until 5:00 p.m. on the stated closing date.

You will be asked to provide a certified transcript if selected for a position requiring a degree. A background investigation will be conducted that may include but is not limited to, criminal records, driver's license, and child abuse registry prior to an offer of employment. Additionally, a medical examination and drug testing may be required. Please provide an explanation for any gaps in employment. A resume may be attached to your application but not substituted for completing the work history section of the application.

Sign-On Bonus: Agencies may give sign-on bonuses to individuals recruited to critical needs jobs at the beginning of their employment with the agency. Bonuses cannot be offered or given to employees moving from other agencies by transfer, promotion or demotion. Sign-on bonuses are limited to one per employee, per year.