Counselor I

Title: Counselor I

State Role Title: 49011

Hiring Range: starting at $58735 (commensurate based on experience)

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location:Western State Hospital

Agency Website: Type: General Public G

Job Duties

Western State Hospital is seeking a full time Counselor I who will develop and implement personcentered treatment and discharge plans in collaboration with consumers and other interdisciplinary treatment team members and serve as a link between community agencies and others supporting consumer recovery. The Counselor I will be responsible for providing SW assessments and identifies discharge needs; providing PSR interventions and participates in developing and implementing individualized treatment plans; completing SW assessment within 7 days of admission; assessing discharge needs in collaboration with other team members; and ensuring that Discharge plans reflect a working knowledge of the forensic service delivery system and mental health law.

This position will also be responsible for providing the link between the WSH treatment team and consumers families and other persons who support recovery; alerting families to critical events in collaboration with other team members; ensuring that Social work progress notes Social Work Progress Notes and Social Work Quarterly Clinical Process Notes reflect consumer family/AR counseling/education; providing clinical documentation per requirements and established time frames outlined by Joint Commission CMS and SW Department standards; and completing 10 hours of continuing education yearly (CMEs or other formal training workshops). Completes annual mandatory training within required timeframes.

This position is eligible for:

retirement with cash match
life insurance
paid time off
health vision and dental insurance

Minimum Qualifications

BSW required (graduation from a CSWE accredited undergraduate or graduate social work program)
Professional work experience with adults with serious mental illness
Comprehensive social work theory and practice knowledge from an accredited degree program
Knowledge of the functioning of hospital and community mental health systems
Ability to form therapeutic relationships with consumers and their supports and effective partnerships with community service providers
Demonstrated skills in interviewing assessment problemsolving professional collaboration and coordinating community and agency resources
Knowledge of severe and persistent mental illnesses forensic issues personcentered treatment and discharge planning as well as community resources available to those with mental illnesses
Knowledge of supervisory principles performance planning and evaluation
Ability to work effectively in a setting in which interdisciplinary collaboration is highly valued
Demonstrates behaviors that support the Mission and Values of Western State Hospital per the WSH Values of Communication Excellent Service to Individuals and Teamwork

Additional Considerations

Experience in discharge planning
Veteran or veteran spouse
Bilingual

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or rsum is submitted successfully. Please refer to Your Application in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

The successful applicant must pass a criminal background investigation drug screening test and employment reference check. The applicant must have the ability to perform at the level of physical demands noted on the Employee Work Profile and the verified ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Commonwealths Alternate Hiring Process: In support of the Commonwealths commitment to inclusion we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation if applicable to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability use this link: or call DARS ator DBVI at.

DBHDS is a healthcare organization and must comply with the federal CMS Omnibus COVID19 Health Care staff Vaccination Regulation which requires all employees to be vaccinated or receive an exemption. Upon acceptance of a job offer new recruits will be asked to disclose their vaccination status (and for those fully vaccinated proof of vaccination) during the preemployment process. New staff who are not vaccinated for any reason or choose not to disclose their vaccination status will need to request a medical or religious accommodation. If you have questions please contact the Office of Human Resources.

Contact Information

Name: Samantha Leep

Phone:

Email:

In support of the Commonwealths commitment to inclusion we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). ServiceConnected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation if applicable to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1 2022 February 29 2024 can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.