Clinical Therapist (Crisis Intervention & WCC) (may underfill as Sr. Mental Health Counselor)

Waukesha County Department of Health & Human Services is recruiting for one Full-Time Clinical Therapist position. Position may be underfilled as Senior Mental Health Counselor or Mental Health Counselor. This position will be a hybrid position within the Crisis Intervention Services Team:

HHS Embedded Crisis Counselor at Waukesha County Communications Center:

• Housed at Communications Center two days per week.
• This position will monitor 911 calls for service that may be suitable for a mental health response. This position will join calls for service that require the support of a mental health professional and talk directly with callers. Assist with dispatching the mobile crisis team to mental health related calls for service in the community. This position will track data points related to the mental health response system.

Clinical Therapist on the Crisis Intervention Services Team:

• Housed at Waukesha County Mental Health Center three days per week.
• Providing DHS 34 crisis services and responding to the community for mobile assessments.

• Phone contact with persons experiencing a mental health crisis
• Phone contact with second party callers regarding a mental health or substance use crisis
• Conduct follow-up calls to persons who have experienced a mental health crisis
• Provide linkage and resources to callers
• Monitor calls for service on Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)
• Identify calls appropriate for mental health response
• Communicate pertinent call information to Mobile Crisis Team
• Communicate pertinent call information with telecommunicators to relay information to law enforcement
• Track data related to time spent on mental health calls as recorded in CAD or Spillman records system.
• Review CAD or Spillman records to track event types and other items related to calls for service
• Responding to the community to complete crisis risk assessments to determine disposition related to immediate safety

Under supervision, to perform professional clinical work in a variety of settings for clients of all ages; and to perform other duties as required.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Receives referrals of voluntary and involuntary clients with difficult mental health and behavioral problems and conducts assessment of treatment needs and intervention needs.
2. Provides psychotherapeutic treatment in a variety of settings to individuals, couples, families, and groups to resolve social, personal, developmental, behavioral, and/or mental disorders.
3. Develops and implement a treatment plan to meet the needs of the client utilizing psychotherapeutic treatment methods.
4. Interprets nature of illness and prescribes course of treatment to clients and families.
5. Participates in client staffings, reviews, and multi?disciplinary team discussions to formulate diagnoses and develop treatment and service plans.
6. Serves as a liaison and consultant to staff and other Human Services agencies.
7. Provides community education and public speaking on various community mental health issues and related topics.
8. Performs clinical crisis intervention and emergency intake evaluations for clients of all age groups.
9. Provides court related clinical and other duties such as assessments, testimony, reports, and recommendations.
10. Completes documentation for billing of services and maintains mandated clinical documentation.
11. Establishes and maintains effective working relations with clients and their families, staff, other agencies, and the general public.
12. Teams with social workers and others in non-licensed department programs to provide in-home and community based assessments, counseling and intervention as referenced in Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 46, 48, 55, 88 and 938.
13. Ensures adherence and compliance to the policies and procedures of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 in regards to protected health information.
14. Performs emergency government duties as assigned in the event of a Waukesha County Emergency Government declaration.
15. Performs other duties as required.

1. Considerable knowledge of psychopathology, mental health principles, and techniques of clinical therapy.
2. Working knowledge of the signs and symptoms of reactions to psychotropic drugs used in the treatment of mental disorders.
3. Working knowledge of techniques to identify clients with substance use problems.
4. Working knowledge of computerized department program software, internet access, and database, spreadsheet, and word processing programs.
5. Working knowledge of human service organizations, mental health, and other community resources.
6. Working knowledge of applicable codes, rules, statutes, and regulations.
7. Working knowledge of state and federal confidentiality rules and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 and Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 51.
8. Ability to interpret psychosocial and DSM 5 diagnoses to individuals and families.
9. Ability to utilize electronic health record, word processing, database and spreadsheet, and program specific applications.
10. Ability to participate in multi-disciplinary decision making and treatment planning.
11. Ability to develop treatment plans and to provide psychosocial and psychotherapeutic treatment services to individuals, families, and groups.
12. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and their families, staff, other agencies, and the general public.
13. Ability to effectively interact with sensitivity with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages and lifestyles.
14. Ability to respond appropriately to mental health emergency situations and utilize crisis intervention techniques and procedures.
15. Ability to complete clinical documentation and write reports as needed.
16. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Clinical Therapist candidates must meet these minimum Training and Experience requirements:

1. Graduation from a recognized college or university with a master's degree in psychology (clinical, counseling, educational,) counseling and guidance, social work or closely related area.
2. Two (2) years of post bachelor work experience in psychology (clinical, counseling, educational), counseling and guidance, social work or closely related area. Preference will be given to those with work experience in crisis intervention, treatment of mental health and/or substance abuse issues, and practice in community-based recovery services.
3. An unrestricted license or credential granted by the State of Wisconsin as a mental health or substance abuse provider (LPC, LCSW, LMFT, LPC-IT, or APSW). Candidates with a MSW must have APSW certification as a minimum.

Senior Mental Health Counselor candidates must meet these minimum Training and Experience requirements:

1. (a.) Bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university with a major in sociology, social work, psychology or a closely related field [AND] (b.) Two (2) years of professional experience in the field of mental health including one thousand (1000) hours of experience delivering services to the chronically mentally ill and their families.
   -OR-
2. Bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university with at least four (4) courses in sociology, social work, or psychology, plus three (3) years of professional experience in the field of mental health including one thousand (1000) hours of experience delivering services to the chronically mentally ill and their families.
3. A master's degree from a recognized college or university in sociology, social work, psychology, or a closely related field may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.

About Us:
Waukesha County prides itself on operating in a business-like manner and is recognized as a leader delivering high quality services with competence and skill. With our vision of "Leading the Way", we value teamwork and collaboration, ethics and diversity, communication, efficiency and cost savings, innovation, and the wellbeing of our staff and the citizens we serve. Employees are provided professional development opportunities and encouragement to learn and practice continuous improvement and LEAN principles as we regularly ask ourselves "Is there a better way?"

Location:
Located in the City of Waukesha, our campus offers an on-site cafe and fitness center, free parking, and easy access to interstate highway systems. Waukesha County offers a perfect blend of urban and rural living where one can enjoy the benefits of quiet rural lake communities or opt for nearby attractions that the greater Milwaukee area offers including vast beach and park systems, public markets, performing arts, music festivals, and sports including the Milwaukee Admirals, Brewers, Bucks, Wave, Marquette University Golden Eagles and the UW-Milwaukee Panthers Basketball programs.

EEO/AA:
Waukesha County is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in employment and adheres to all Federal, State and County Equal Employment Opportunity laws, policies, plans, rules, regulations and ordinances. The County recognizes and accepts its important leadership role in providing for equal employment/service opportunities for minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. It is the express policy of Waukesha County to promote equal employment opportunity among all who are employed by Waukesha County and who seek employment with Waukesha County.