MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR ADVANCED

If you are looking for an exciting career with great benefits, pension, generous leave, competitive salary, and the opportunity for advancement and professional growth, apply to join the DPSCS team today!

The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) is seeking dedicated candidates to fill important roles within our department. We are one of the largest departments in Maryland with nearly 12,000 employees and a budget of more than $1 billion. In order to fulfill our mission of promoting safety, we have increased security at our institutions while leading the way in innovative restorative justice projects that will help offenders reintegrate into society upon release.

As a member of the DPSCS team, you can have a fulfilling career, while also enjoying a wide range of benefits such as medical and dental coverage, paid time off (i.e. vacation, sick leave), becoming vested in the State pension, supplemental retirement options, and even joining the Maryland State Employees Credit Union.

The Mental Health Professional Counselor-Advanced performs the full performance level of the professional counseling work, at the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor level, providing counseling services to clients with mental disorders by using assessment, evaluation, and intervention, rehabilitation, and treatment regimens. The Mental Health Professional Counselor-Advanced is additionally responsible for developing, maintaining, and conduction special programs and/or special programs for special needs populations (eg. SNU, BMP, etc.).

Functioning as an independently licensed mental health professional, the Mental Health Professional Counselor is responsible for providing mental health services to inmates within a defined population of a correctional facility. The duties include but are not limited to:

• Assesses the inmate’s situation to determine the appropriate services using clinical interview techniques, objective assessments, and psychological testing under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
• Intervenes in crisis situations to de-escalate the situation and provide acute care using suicide prevention planning and crisis intervention techniques.
• Develop treatment plans and provides treatment to inmates who have significant mental or emotional disorders through the use of individual and/or group counseling.
• Develops and implements behavioral management plans for inmates that are disruptive to the operation of (INSTITUTION)
• Refers inmates for other services such as psychiatric care, inpatient mental health services, case management planning, medical evaluations, addictions services, etc.
• Documents services rendered to the inmate in the EPHR in accordance with established procedures.
• Evaluates inmates for changes in security classifications using psychological tests combined with information gathered in the clinical interview in accordance with applicable regulations.
• Reviews charts/EPHR as needed and assigned by department head.
• Adheres to accepted ethical and behavioral standards of conduct and participates in continuing professional development.
• May collaborate with other professionals in carrying out research in correctional work.
• Administrative/Supervisory & Ancillary Duties
• The Mental Health Professional Counselor Advanced is responsible for some non-clinical, and /or administrative duties related to the performance of the above – described primary duties. These include, but are not limited to:
• Maintains statistics to summarize the daily psychological services completed.
• Participates in interdisciplinary meetings as needed.
• May participate in training students and non-professional staff.
• Serves on special work groups and projects as assigned. 

Education: Determined by the Maryland State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists under the requirements for Certified Professional Counselors.

Experience: Two years of experience providing professional counseling to clients with mental health disorders by using assessment, evaluation, intervention, rehabilitation and treatment regimens.

Note: 1. These requirements are established by the Maryland State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. The Department of Budget and Management, Office of Personnel Services and Benefits does not have the authority to accept substitutions or equivalents.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Mental or Behavioral Health Counseling classifications or Mental or Behavioral Health Nursing and Specialist specialty codes in the counseling field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience. 

1. In accordance with Health Occupations Title 17 and Code of Maryland Regulations 10.58.01.05, candidates placed in this classification must be licensed by the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.

2. Candidates appointed to positions in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position. It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report all experience and education that is related to this position.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

Online applications are highly recommended. However, if you are unable to apply online, the paper application and supplemental questionnaire may be emailed to hr.recruitmentuser@maryland.gov or faxed to 410-484-5928. Paper application materials must be received in our office by the closing date for the recruitment.

If you are submitting additional information, the preferred method is to upload it with your application. All uploaded additional information must be received by the closing date and time. If you are unable to upload, please email the requested information to hr.recruitmentuser@maryland.gov referencing the recruitment number in the subject line, or fax to 410-484-5928 (providing a cover sheet with your contact information, recruitment name, recruitment number and the number of pages faxed). Only additional materials that are requested will be accepted for this recruitment.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, HRSD-Recruitment Division at 410-585-3999 or 443-326-5570 thomasine.johnson@maryland.gov.

If you are having difficulties with submitting your online application, please contact the DBM Recruitment and Examination Division at Application.Help@maryland.gov <Application.Help@maryland.gov> or
410-767-4850.

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.

People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity.