Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Position works 10 A.M. - 6 P.M. Monday - Friday

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The work involves responsibility for coordinating mental health care services and treatment planning in a public school. The incumbent assesses mental health concerns and recommends therapeutic and corrective measures while collaborating with families and outside providers. The Mental Health Counselor may provide evaluative information to students' doctors. The work is performed independently under the appropriate license, is a collaboration with students' licensed primary physicians or psychologists qualified in the specialty area. The incumbent retains responsibility for the professional tasks performed within his or her scope of practice. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Developing/implementing a comprehensive school counseling program;
• Working with students individually and in groups;
• Participation in the annual review process and responsibility for updating Student Learning Plans;
• Participation in the CSE process as appropriate;
• Assisting students with personal goal setting and monitoring;
• Providing response services to include individual and small group counseling;
• Consultation and collaboration with teachers, staff and parents/guardians;
• Serving as a member of the School Based Support Team;
• Providing classroom guidance instruction to students in several areas to include college and career readiness skills;
• Assisting administrators with mediating student conflicts and partnering with parents to problem solve barriers to learning.
• Develops a thorough developmental history with the School Based Support Team and family;
• Assesses data, discriminating between normal and abnormal findings;
• Assists in assessing mental health problems, and makes referrals to appropriate service providers;
• Assists in the development of an Independent Crisis Management Plan (ICMP) for students at risk of harming themselves or others, in collaboration with the District LCSW and/or Behavioral Specialist;
• Evaluates the ICMP for effectiveness, and institutes and supports the necessary adjustments or corrections;
• Follows up on student care by contacting providers and families and/or conducting home visits;
• Creates and maintains a variety of records and reports related to the work performed including case histories and medical charts;
• Participates in staff, quality assurance, peer review and other meetings;
• Acts as a resource person to staff regarding mental health care and provides mental health care training to staff as required;
• May instruct, guide and counsel students and/or their families regarding mental health matters.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of mental health diagnosis, assessment, and treatment; ability to recognize signs and symptoms associated with changes in the mental and emotional health of students and respond appropriately; ability to initiate and provide emergency mental care services; ability to understand and interpret complex oral instructions and/or written directions; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; ability to create and maintain a variety of records and reports related to the work performed; ability to understand and empathize with the needs and concerns of others; in depth clinical knowledge in dealing with child and adolescent mental health; ability to collaborate with or lead a multidisciplinary team.

Possession of a license to practice as a Mental Health Counselor in New York State.

This position is a provisional civil service appointment and applicant must meet civil service requirements including residency in Schenectady County or one of the contiguous counties. Successful candidates are required to take civil service exam when offered.

Candidates interested in applying must complete an online application. In addition, all applicants are requested to submit a current resume. This is a competitive Schenectady County Civil Service position. Candidates must meet civil service requirements for appointment. Candidates must currently hold this title or be reachable on the civil service list when available. If a list is not available, this will be a provisional appointment and the successful candidate must take the appropriate civil service examination and be reachable.