Job Responsibilities

This position is located at the SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) - Office of Mental Health, Orangeburg Area Mental Health Center 2319 St. Matthews Road Orangeburg SC 29118.

The Office of Mental Health’s mission to support the recovery of people with mental illnesses. We provide a complete array of medical and support services for children, adults, and families throughout South Carolina.

As the Counselor I, working under direct supervision, you will serve on the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team who provides evidenced-based services in an intensive non-residential treatment and rehabilitative services in accordance with the fidelity model. This is a single fixed point of responsibility for treatment, rehabilitation, and support needs for patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who require higher levels of community care and have not been well supported in lower level of care options.

Responsibilities for this Counselor I PEER Support for the ACT Program:

• Provide direct services through coaching mentoring and consultation to the patient to promote recovery, self-advocacy and self-direction. Promote wellness management strategies, which include delivering manualized interventions, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) or Illness Management and Recovery. Assist patients in developing Psychiatric Advanced Directives. Model recovery values, attitudes, beliefs and personal action to encourage wellness and resilience.
• Maintain medical records documentation standards with QA, DMH and CARF policies and procedures. Document services collaboratively with the patient as appropriate.
• Provide consultation to ACT Team members to assist in understanding recovery and the role of the CPSS, promoting a culture in which patients' points of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into treatment.
• Serve as an active member of the ACT team, which includes facilitating the IPOC process for patients assigned to them. Regularly participate in the daily team meetings and treatment planning meetings. Ensure at least a monthly staffing of each patient that they serve.
• Provide patients with satisfaction surveys to measure the patient's own perception of care, access to service, and improve the quality of treatment.
• Adhere to policies and procedures according to Corporate Compliance, Fire and Safety, and CARF. Comply with the Office of Mental Health Compliance Plan and all legal responsibilities and requirements.
• Complete all annual required trainings to include Safety, MAPS, Cultural Affairs, and clinical trainings. Maintain CPSS certification. Demonstrate adherence to CARF standards, and OMH and Center policies and Procedures.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• A high school diploma and relevant human services or social services experience. A bachelor's degree may be substituted for the required experience.
• Lived experience and a personal recovery story specific to primary mental illness.

• Ability to lift 5 pounds and operate a state vehicle. Position is considered essential and may be called back during crises/disasters/emergencies. Requires flexible schedule. Services are delivered in the community and patients' homes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish (or another language) are a plus.

Additional Comments

Post hire, employees must:

• Qualify to render services applicable to position per credentialing and privileging standards and with concurrence by OMH Office of Quality Management.
• Have considerable knowledge of the techniques of interviewing, counseling and guidance.
• Be able to establish rapport with the patients and establish and maintain effective working relationships with agencies, organizations and other community partners.
• Have the ability to communicate effectively.

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices *
  • State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
  • State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

• Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.