Waukesha County Department of Health & Human Services is recruiting for a Full-Time Clinical Therapist. Position may be underfilled as Senior Mental Health Counselor or Mental Health Counselor. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has provided Waukesha County with funding to embed a mental health professional (this position) into the Waukesha County Communications Center, the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the County. This position will be housed at the Communications Center alongside telecommunicators. This position will monitor calls for service that may be suitable for a mental health response. This position will join calls for service that require the support of a mental health professional and talk directly with callers. This position will not go mobile. This position will track data points related to the mental health response system.
 
Waukesha County Crisis Intervention Services is a State Certified DHS 34 program that supports individuals across the lifespan who may be experiencing a mental health emergency or may be at risk of a mental health emergency. Crisis intervention services seeks to provide person-centered and strength-based interventions that utilize the least restrictive means necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of persons experiencing mental health or behavioral health crisis. Prior to hire, the selected candidate will be expected to complete a written application and pass a background interview with a detective to achieve security clearance.
Essential Job Responsibilities Include:

• Phone contact with persons experiencing a mental health crisis 
• Phone contact with second party callers regarding a mental health or substance use crisis
• Conduct follow-up calls to persons who have experienced a mental health crisis
• Provide linkage and resources to callers
• Monitor calls for service on Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) 
• Identify calls appropriate for mental health response
• Communicate pertinent call information to Mobile Crisis Team 
• Communicate pertinent call information with telecommunicators to relay information to law enforcement 
• Track data related to time spent on mental health calls as recorded in CAD or Spillman records system.
• Review CAD or Spillman records to track event types and other items related to calls for service

Work schedule will be: 
40-hours/week with 8-hour days scheduled during afternoon and evening hours: Examples of set schedule: Monday through Friday, 12pm-8:30pm or Sunday through Thursday 1pm-9:30pm or Monday through Friday 2pm-10:30pm. Schedule may be flexible as long as its within afternoon and evening hours.

Under supervision, to perform professional clinical work in a variety of settings for clients of all ages; and to perform other duties as required. 

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Receives referrals of voluntary and involuntary clients with difficult mental health and behavioral problems and conducts assessment of treatment needs and intervention needs. 
2. Provides psychotherapeutic treatment in a variety of settings to individuals, couples, families, and groups to resolve social, personal, developmental, behavioral, and/or mental disorders. 
3. Develops and implement a treatment plan to meet the needs of the client utilizing psychotherapeutic treatment methods. 
4. Interprets nature of illness and prescribes course of treatment to clients and families. 
5. Participates in client staffings, reviews, and multi disciplinary team discussions to formulate diagnoses and develop treatment and service plans. 
6. Serves as a liaison and consultant to staff and other Human Services agencies. 
7. Provides community education and public speaking on various community mental health issues and related topics. 
8. Performs clinical crisis intervention and emergency intake evaluations for clients of all age groups.
9. Provides court related clinical and other duties such as assessments, testimony, reports, and recommendations. 
10. Completes documentation for billing of services and maintains mandated clinical documentation. 
11. Establishes and maintains effective working relations with clients, families, staff, other agencies, and the general public. 
12. Teams with social workers and others in non-licensed department programs to provide in-home and community based assessments, counseling and intervention as referenced in Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 46, 48, 55, 88 and 938.
13. Performs emergency government duties as assigned in the event of a Waukesha County Emergency Government declaration. 
14. Performs other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential Knowledge and Abilities

1. Considerable knowledge of psychopathology, mental health principles, and techniques of clinical therapy.
2. Working knowledge of the signs and symptoms of reactions to psychotropic drugs used in the treatment of mental disorders.
3. Working knowledge of techniques to identify clients with alcohol or other drug abuse problems.
4. Working knowledge of computerized department program software, Internet access, and database, spreadsheet, and word processing programs.
5. Working knowledge of human service organizations, mental health, and other community resources.
6. Working knowledge of applicable codes, rules, statutes, and regulations.
7. Working knowledge of state and federal confidentiality rules and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 and Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 51.
8. Ability to interpret psychosocial and DSM 5 diagnoses to individuals and families.
9. Ability to utilize electronic health record, word processing, database and spreadsheet, and program specific applications.
10. Ability to participate in multi-disciplinary decision making and treatment planning. 
11. Ability to develop treatment plans and to provide psychosocial and psychotherapeutic treatment services to individuals, families, and groups. 
12. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, staff, other agencies, and the general public. 
13. Ability to respond appropriately to mental health emergency situations and utilize crisis intervention techniques and procedures. 
14. Ability to complete clinical documentation and write reports as needed. 
15. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. 

Clinical Therapist candidates must meet these minimum Training and Experience requirements:

1. Graduation from a recognized college or university with a master's degree in psychology (clinical, counseling, educational,) counseling and guidance, social work or closely related area.
2. Two (2) years of post bachelor work experience in psychology (clinical, counseling, educational), counseling and guidance, social work or closely related area. Preference will be given to those with work experience in crisis intervention, treatment of mental health and/or substance abuse issues, and practice in community-based recovery services.
3. An unrestricted license or credential granted by the State of Wisconsin as a mental health or substance abuse provider (LPC, LCSW, LMFT, LPC-IT, or APSW). Candidates with a MSW must have APSW certification as a minimum.

The department may choose to underfill this position as a Senior Mental Health Counselor or Mental Health Counselor. These classification specifications can be viewed here: https://www.waukeshacounty.gov/jobs.The 2022 salary range for Senior Mental Health Counselor is: $26.94 - 35.63.The 2022 salary range for Mental Health Counselor is: $24.43 - $32.31.Senior Mental Health Counselor candidates must meet these minimum Training and Experience requirements:

1. (a.) Bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university with a major in sociology, social work, psychology or a closely related field [AND] (b.) Two (2) years of professional experience in the field of mental health including one thousand (1000) hours of experience delivering services to the chronically mentally ill and their families. 
   -OR-
2. Bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university with at least four (4) courses in sociology, social work, or psychology, plus three (3) years of professional experience in the field of mental health including one thousand (1000) hours of experience delivering services to the chronically mentally ill and their families. 
3. A master's degree from a recognized college or university in sociology, social work, psychology, or a closely related field may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience. 

Mental Health Counselors candidates must meet these minimum Training and Experience requirements:

1. Bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university with a major in sociology, social work, psychology or a closely?related field.
   OR
2. A bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university with at least four (4) courses in sociology, social work or psychology, plus one (1) year of professional experience in the field of mental health.

About Us:Waukesha County prides itself on operating in a business-like manner and is recognized as a leader delivering high quality services with competence and skill. With our vision of "Leading the Way", we value teamwork and collaboration, ethics and diversity, communication, efficiency and cost savings, innovation, and the well-being of our staff and the citizens we serve. Employees are provided professional development opportunities and encouragement to learn and practice continuous improvement and Lean principles, as we regularly ask ourselves "Is there a better way?".
Rewards and Recognition:In addition to a comprehensive compensation and benefits package, which includes, but is not limited to, health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, generous paid time off, and required participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System, employees are recognized and valued through a pay-for-performance system. Employee well-being is promoted through both a balanced work/life culture and an exceptional employee wellness program that offers a variety of programs and tools, including an on-site health & wellness clinic.
Location:Located in the City of Waukesha, our campus offers an on-site café and fitness center, free parking, and easy access to interstate highway systems. Waukesha County offers a perfect blend of urban and rural living where one can enjoy the benefits of quiet rural lake communities or opt for nearby attractions that the greater Milwaukee area offers, including vast beach and park systems, public markets, performing arts, music festivals, and sports including the Milwaukee Admirals, Brewers, Bucks, Wave, Marquette University Golden Eagles and the UW-Milwaukee Panthers Basketball programs.