Behavioral Health Counselor, - Houston, United States - Harris County (TX)

Description

Position Description

Harris County Public Health has earned the 2023 Best Place for Working Parents Business Designation.


About Harris County Public Health:

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) includes a network of more than 700 public health professionals working together to improve health outcomes for the third most populous county in the United States.

HCPH provides a multitude of services such as medical and dental services, community programming, and health education for the approximately 2.3 million people in unincorporated Harris County.

Through its core values of innovation, engagement, and health equity, HCPH strives to bring meaningful solutions to public health issues while keeping Harris County healthy and vibrant.

Position Overview:

The Behavioral Health Counselor plays a crucial role within the Community Health and Wellness Division, offering direct mental health support to individuals seeking services.

Responsibilities include conducting behavioral health assessments, making referrals, and conducting both individual and group counseling sessions.

This position collaborates with an interdisciplinary team as part of the Behavioral Health Services program, aimed at enhancing access to comprehensive mental health resources for those facing mental illness and various social determinants of health.

The Counselor is dedicated to providing exceptional services tailored to meet the individual needs of clients.


Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide trauma-informed therapeutic counseling, mental health resource navigation, assessment, preliminary diagnosis (if credentialed), and treatment planning, both in-person and virtually, to individuals referred for Behavioral Health Services.
• Serve as a vital member of the behavioral health team within an integrated care model, collaborating closely with clinic providers. Conduct thorough screenings for behavioral and social determinants of health to address clients' physical, emotional, and mental well-being comprehensively.
• Utilize solution-focused evidence-based counseling styles to engage clients in self-reflection and self-determination during brief counseling interactions, fostering empowerment and resilience.
• Conduct individual and group counseling sessions as required, diligently monitoring the progress of each client's care plan.
• Facilitate referrals to community behavioral health resources and ensure timely follow-up for high-risk individuals and families.
• Evaluate and meticulously document clients' overall program progress, including assessments, progress notes, referrals, and follow-up interactions, utilizing the electronic medical record (EMR) system. Maintain accurate records of weekly scheduled appointments within the EMR system.
• Cultivate and nurture trusted relationships with program participants, partners, stakeholders, and administrators. Engage in outreach activities to educate community groups and agencies about the services offered by HCPH Behavioral Health Services, promoting accessibility and awareness.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

If you need special services or accommodations, please call or email

Requirements


Education:

• Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Health Education, or related field
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist (LMFT)
• Valid TX Driver's License (upon hire)

Experience:

• Two (2) years' experience providing direct mental health services OR one (1) year providing services to high-risk vulnerable populations

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Maintain necessary licensure and certifications required to practice in the State of Texas.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Excellent communication skills (verbal & written)
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and foster teamwork in a diverse environment
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information
• Ability to work well with public and staff members

Core Competencies:
Organizational Leadership

• Understands the organizational mission
• Understands ethics and public good; is concerned with public trust
• Demonstrates respect for the opinions and beliefs of others

Collaboration

• Contributes to an inclusive workplace where equity, diversity, inclusion, and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission
• Demonstrates a sense of responsibility for the success of the group
• Collaborates with others to improve quality and address needs

Innovation

• Ability to adapt to change

Interpersonal Abilities/Personal Characteristics

• Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect
• Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner
• Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses
• Uses sound judgment
• Self-motivated
• Organizes and maintains work environment to allow for maximum productivity

Communication

• Communicates clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing

NOTE:
Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application.

You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration.

"See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences


Licenses/Certification:

• Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP)

General Information

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• Full-Time | Regular
• Monday through Friday, from 8am to 5 pm.
• Must be willing to flex work hours when required, including weekends.
• Able to travel within Harris County as needed.

Work Environment:

• This job operates in a professional office and clinic environment with occasional visits to private residential homes, and community organizations. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

Physical Demands:

• This is a largely sedentary role; however, some duties would require the ability to lift up to 20 pounds and bending & standing for periods at a time.

Location:

• 1730 Humble Pl Dr, Humble, TX 77338

Employment is contingent upon passing a background check and drug screen.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

BENEFITS

Harris County offers a competitive benefits program, including comprehensive group health and related benefits plan as well as defined benefit retirement plan.

The following list of benefits is offered only to employees in regular (full-time) positions:

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Ten (10) days of vacation each year for the first five (5) years of service
• Accrual rates increase based on years of service
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays and one (1) floating holiday
• Professional development opportunities
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
• Healthcare Reimbursement Account
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are also available to regular (full-time) employment and may be available to part-time employees:

• Retirement Pension (TCDRS)
• Flexible schedule (varies by department)
• Transportation Assistance (Metro RideSponsor Program)

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, Group Health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time.

Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.

For plan details, visit the Harris County benefits website:
01

Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position?

• High School or GED diploma
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or higher
• None of the above

02

If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major?

• Social Work
• Psychology
• Public Health
• Health Education
• Other Related Field
• Unrelated Field
• N/A; No Degree

03

Please describe your educational background including level of education completed, area of study and completed major and minor programs.

04

Which of the following best describes your verifiable experience providing direct mental health services? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)

• Less than two (2) years
• Two (2) years or more
• I do not have this experience

05

Please provide details about your verifiable experience providing direct mental health services.

Do not use "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.

]

06

Which of the following best describes your verifiable experience providing services to high-risk vulnerable populations? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)

• Less than one (1) year
• One (1) year or more
• I do not have this experience

07

Please provide details about your verifiable providing services to high-risk vulnerable populations.

Do not use "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.

]

08

Do you currently possess a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist (LMFT), or a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP).

• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist (LMFT)
• Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP)
• I have none of these.

09

Which of the following describes your level of proficiency using a personal computer and common office software such as MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Please select your level of proficiency based on the following descriptions:

Advanced:

A person with this level of skills is able to produce very large, complex formal documents that require a table of contents, footnotes, endnotes, bookmarks, and other special elements; a wide range of graphic effects, and use advanced techniques for analyzing and manipulating data.

Has full mastery of Macro commands and skills to tie the objects together into a cohesive system by using Macros and Visual Basic for Applications code.

Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons.


Intermediate:

A person with this level of skills is able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, embed Excel data, and elaborate reports.

Understands the concepts of databases and is able to work with charts and to use the list management capabilities of Excel.

Able to use complex query techniques, create efficient forms and reports, and create Macros to automate these forms. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons.


Basic:

A person with this level of skills is able to use basic formatting, editing, printing functions, and understands the document page setup.

Has the ability to enter and correct data, modify a workbook, format a worksheet, and use printing functions.

Understands the different database concepts and structures and is familiar with data validation and is able to create a simple presentation in PowerPoint, run it, and print it.

Entry Level:

A person with this level of skills has the ability to open, create, save and modify documents in Word, send and receive email in Outlook and create spreadsheets in Excel.

Format documents for printing, comfortable using the printer menu to preview documents.

Has ability to change the font, the margins, insert or delete pages and use the built-in spellchecker and grammar check.

• Advanced
• Intermediate
• Basic
• Entry Level
• Not proficient

10

This role requires a Valid Driver's License (Texas upon hire) Do you have a Valid Driver's License?

• Yes, I have a Valid Texas Driver's License
• Yes, I have a Valid Driver's License but understand I must obtain a Valid Texas Driver's License prior to start date
• No, I'm not interested

Required Question

Agency Harris County

Address 1111 Fannin St

Ste. 600

Houston, Texas, 77002

Phone

Website