Justice-Involved Counselor (BBTW)

About Basecamp Recovery Center

Basecamp Recovery Center (BRC) is a CARF-accredited, Medicaid-funded behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment organization serving the Columbus, Ohio community. At the heart of our mission are our core values: Love, Community, Consistency, Honesty, and Hope. These principles guide how we serve our clients, support one another, and uphold the standards that make Basecamp a trusted place for healing and growth.

Our services include:

• Outpatient Treatment — Individual and group counseling, evidence-based therapies, and psychiatric support
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) — Safe, physician-guided treatment options to support recovery
• Peer Support Services — Certified Peer Recovery Specialists offering lived-experience guidance and encouragement
• Case Management — Helping clients connect with housing, employment, and community resources
• Recovery Housing — Safe and supportive housing for individuals working toward stability and independence

Job Summary

The Justice-Involved Counselor is a licensed clinician who provides assessments, individual and group counseling, and treatment planning for adults referred through BRC's Beyond the Walls (BBTW) program. BBTW is a justice-focused partnership between BRC and Fund the Climb Foundation that moves individuals from jail into community-based treatment. This role serves people who are incarcerated, recently released, on probation or parole, or otherwise justice-involved, including individuals with sexual offense histories. The counselor provides services inside correctional facilities and at BRC outpatient sites, and may be assigned other BRC patients based on clinical and operational need. This position is hired by Fund the Climb Foundation for the BBTW program and is paid through BRC payroll. Fund the Climb Foundation directs program assignments and clinical supervision, and BRC processes pay, benefits, payroll taxes, and timekeeping, under a written agreement between the two organizations.

Job Duties

ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNING

• Complete diagnostic assessments, clinical interviews, and screenings for BBTW referrals and assigned BRC patients, within the scope of the counselor's Ohio license and BRC policy
• Recommend level of care using ASAM criteria and document clinical justification for admission, continued stay, and discharge
• Develop individualized, person-centered treatment plans with each patient, and review and update them according to BRC policy and payer requirements
• Complete transition and discharge planning, including community referrals and continuity of care at release

INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING

• Provide individual counseling for mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders, trauma, emotional regulation, and behavioral concerns
• Facilitate structured therapeutic and psychoeducational groups at correctional facilities and BRC sites
• Apply evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care
• Monitor patient progress and adjust treatment in consultation with the clinical supervisor and treatment team

BEYOND THE WALLS (BBTW) JAIL-BASED SERVICES

• Travel to assigned jails and correctional facilities to provide authorized assessments, counseling, and groups
• Follow each facility's entry, security, and conduct requirements, including PREA training and any facility-specific clearance or orientation
• Coordinate with the Justice-Involved Case Manager on intake, consents, and admission timing so clinical services line up with release dates, bed availability, and transportation
• Coordinate program schedules and referrals with the Justice Programs Manager, and communicate with probation, court, and jail partners only as permitted by signed consent and law
• Support treatment engagement before release and a smooth handoff to BRC outpatient services after release

SEXUAL OFFENSE-SPECIFIC SERVICES

• Work professionally and without judgment with individuals who have sexual offense histories
• Address accountability, cognitive patterns, emotional regulation, relationships, and treatment-related risk factors using appropriate, evidence-informed methods
• Administer specialized risk assessments or offense-specific interventions only after completing the required training and receiving BRC authorization
• Seek consultation or clinical supervision on high-risk cases and on any service outside the counselor's demonstrated competence

DOCUMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE

• Document all assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and group notes in BestNotes within 24 hours of service
• Meet Ohio Medicaid, OhioMHAS, CARF, payer, and facility documentation standards so services are billable and audit-ready
• Obtain signed 42 CFR Part 2 consents, including criminal justice consents where applicable, before sharing any patient information with probation, courts, or facilities
• Follow HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, mandatory reporting, duty-to-warn, and professional ethics requirements
• Report incidents, safety concerns, and critical events to the clinical supervisor, the Executive Assistant, and BRC Compliance immediately, and complete incident documentation according to BRC policy
• Record all work time in Paycom, including travel between facilities and BRC sites during the workday; working off the clock is not permitted. Submit mileage for approved travel in a personal vehicle according to BRC policy

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

• Must maintain active, unrestricted Ohio licensure and report any change in licensure status to Human Resources immediately
• Participate in clinical supervision as required by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board and BRC policy
• Complete continuing education needed to maintain licensure and competence in justice-involved and offense-specific treatment
• Uphold BRC's mission and core values in all interactions
• Stay current on all assigned Relias and Trainual trainings within required timeframes
• Adhere to the BRC Attendance and Punctuality Policy
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Scope and Decision-Making Authority

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  Diagnoses, recommends level of care, and develops treatment plans within the scope of the counselor's Ohio license. LPC-licensed counselors complete diagnostic assessments and treat mental and emotional disorders only under the work supervision of an LPCC, LISW, psychologist, psychiatrist, or independent marriage and family therapist, as required by OAC 4757-15-01, and disclose that supervision on client materials.
• Performs offense-specific risk assessments or interventions only when trained and authorized by BRC
• Receives substance use clinical supervision from the licensed BBTW Clinical Supervisor (Fund the Climb Foundation) and, for LPC-licensed counselors, mental health work supervision from a qualified independently licensed mental health professional, under a written supervision arrangement with BRC. Fund the Climb Foundation selects and directs this position for BBTW. BRC processes pay, benefits, payroll taxes, and Paycom timekeeping. Evaluations and corrective action are coordinated between Fund the Climb Foundation and BRC Human Resources under the written agreement.
• No supervisory authority over other staff
• Escalates clinical concerns immediately to the clinical supervisor, and administrative, safety, or compliance concerns to the Executive Assistant and BRC Compliance

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

DOCUMENTATION

• 100% of progress and group notes entered in BestNotes within 24 hours of service
• Assessments and treatment plans completed and updated within BRC and payer timeframes

SERVICE DELIVERY

• Meets the billable service expectation set by BRC clinical leadership
• Scheduled jail-based sessions and groups completed or rescheduled with notice to partners

CONTINUITY OF CARE

• Discharge or transition plan in place for each BBTW participant before release

COMPLIANCE

• Signed consents on file before any information is shared with justice partners
• 100% current on Relias and Trainual trainings, licensure, and required supervision

Education and Experience

EDUCATION

• Master's degree in counseling or a closely related field that meets Ohio counselor licensure requirements

LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Active, unrestricted Ohio Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) license
• Current CPR/First Aid certification, or obtained within 30 days of hire
• Valid Ohio driver's license with acceptable driving record and current auto insurance
• Must pass Level I and Level II (BCI and FBI) background checks, drug screening, TB test, and federal exclusion checks, and meet each correctional facility's access requirements

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience providing individual and group counseling in a behavioral health or substance use treatment setting
• Willingness to counsel justice-involved individuals, including people with sexual offense histories

PREFERRED

• LPCC, LPCC-S, or Ohio LICDC credential
• Experience in correctional settings, reentry programs, or with probation and courts
• Training or experience in sexual offense-specific treatment or risk-informed interventions
• Experience treating co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
• Familiarity with Ohio's behavioral health and criminal justice systems

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong clinical assessment, documentation, and group facilitation skills
• Clear communication with patients, correctional staff, probation officers, and treatment teams
• Working knowledge of 42 CFR Part 2, HIPAA, and ASAM criteria
• Ability to keep firm professional boundaries and work independently in secure settings
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and ability to document efficiently in the EHR

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the ADA.

GENERAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to sit for extended periods during sessions, groups, documentation, and driving between sites
• Frequent walking within correctional facilities, including security checkpoints and multi-level buildings
• Manual dexterity to operate a computer, phone, and standard office equipment
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally, including group materials and a laptop

SENSORY AND COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Visual acuity sufficient to read records and computer screens
• Hearing and speech sufficient to conduct counseling sessions and groups in noisy settings, including through barriers or intercom systems

COGNITIVE AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to remain calm and use sound clinical judgment in secure, high-stress settings
• Capacity to manage a mixed caseload across facilities and BRC sites

ENVIRONMENTAL AND WORK CONDITIONS

• Work is performed in county jails and correctional facilities, at Franklinton and Whitehall, and while traveling between them
• Subject to facility security procedures, including searches, restricted items, lockdowns, and delayed entry
• Regular interaction with individuals in active addiction, withdrawal, or crisis, and with individuals who have violent or sexual offense histories
• Possible exposure to verbal aggression and infectious disease (universal precautions required)

ATTENDANCE AND SCHEDULE

• Full-time, 40 hours per week, generally Monday through Friday during business hours; the schedule may shift with jail programming hours, release times, and group schedules
• Timecards are approved weekly by the Executive Assistant, and overtime requires advance approval; eligible for BRC's full-time benefits according to the benefits policy
• Reliable transportation required for travel to correctional facilities and BRC locations

NOTE: Employees must notify Human Resources immediately if they develop any condition that may impact their ability to safely perform the essential functions of this role.

Employment Disclaimer

Workplace Environment: Basecamp Recovery Center serves individuals with substance use disorders and mental health conditions from diverse backgrounds, including those with criminal histories or past legal involvement. Employees will provide professional services to clients regardless of their background.

Safety & Protocols: We maintain comprehensive safety protocols, staff training, supervision procedures, and emergency response systems. We follow all federal, state, and local regulations and encourage employees to report safety concerns without fear of retaliation.

Employment Requirements: All positions require successful completion of criminal background checks, drug screening, and applicable license/credential verifications. Employment is at-will and contingent upon maintaining good standing.

Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities under the ADA. Contact Human Resources with requests.

Questions? Contact Human Resources at humanresources@basecampmed.com | 614-647-4627

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