Job Responsibilities

This position is located at the SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) - Office of Mental Health, Charleston Dorchester Mental Health, Dorchester Clinic 106 Springview Lane, Summerville SC 29485.

The Office of Mental Health’s mission is 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 a Mental Health Professional for Dorchester County Emergency Services, you will be under limited supervision to provide clinical assessment and therapeutic services for adolescents, adults, and their families who have interacted with local law enforcement agencies. This position will serve adults, and families who have witnessed or experienced violence or victimization or have other mental health needs. This position will hold a caseload of victims of crime along with additional duties as needed for the Dorchester Clinic. This clinician will be embedded at the St. George Police Department.

Responsibilities for the Mental Health Professional - Dorchester Emergency Services:

• Provide individual and family therapy with trauma focus approach. Provide other- treatment-related services and complete other related administrative functions.
• Perform assessment and crisis counseling to client and arrange dispositions for cases requiring a different level of care, including consultation with psychiatrist. as necessary.
• Maintain a liaison with personnel of other agencies/resources to facilitate treatment of assigned clients, consult with police department personnel when deemed appropriate.
• Maintain, per deadlines established, all necessary documentation of all services in accordance with Quality Improvement, OMH, and CARF standards.
• Participate in peer audits as scheduled.
• Comply with all applicable Quality Assurance, Corporate Compliance and Cultural Competence policies, procedures and regulations of all Federal and State laws as well as attend all trainings classified mandatory by Federal and State regulations.
• Engage in additional training to maintain professional development.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• A master’s degree in guidance, counseling, the social sciences or a related field.

• To be credentialed for core services as a Mental Health Professional at the SC Office of Mental Health, this experience may be documented as a practicum or internship during graduate program, or post-graduate clinical experience. Please be sure to provide specific clinical activities on your application and/or resume.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master’s or Doctorate degree from an accredited program, university, or college in psychology, social work, counseling, marriage and family counseling or other behavioral discipline deemed equivalent by SCOMH and one (1) year of post-graduate.

Additional Comments

Post hire, employee must:

• Have working knowledge of mental health legal principles and practices.

• Have considerable knowledge of psychopathology and patient management in a psychiatric setting.

• Have working knowledge of basic health and welfare services provided by other agencies.

• Have the ability to effectively plan, coordinate and manage complex treatment and conduct detailed investigations, draw conclusions and recommend required actions.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• 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.