What are the responsibilities and job description for the Counselor position at Harris County?
The Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD) is one of the largest probation departments in the United States, supervising more than 70,000 individuals and employing over 600 staff members across 6 locations. We provide a wide range of services including community supervision, outpatient counseling, cognitive-behavioral programming, and residential treatment, designed to strengthen our clients’ abilities and support their long-term success. With a focus on utilizing evidence-based practices, we aim to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism for all clients under supervision.
The successful Counselor I is passionate about helping justice involved individuals be a success on community supervision and beyond. The Counselor I provides treatment interventions to Clients with varied backgrounds and supervision and intervention needs, and assists Clients to address their substance use issues and develop healthy coping strategies. In this role, the Counselor I will provide individual and group treatment sessions, as well as completion of intake assessments, treatment planning, progress reports and discharge summaries, tailoring these interventions to meet individualized needs. The Counselor I will also routinely collaborate with community supervision officers to ensure treatment planning is aligned with community supervision requirements and treatment goals. The Counselor I will also complete concise and timely documentation of all clinically related duties and work with an interdisciplinary team to ensure client needs are addressed.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conducts individual and group counseling sessions with clients.
- Completes Client intake assessments as well as individualized treatment planning, progress reports and discharge planning.
- Provides services to clients with diverse criminal backgrounds.
- Communicates key information and regularly collaborates with Community Supervision Officers.
- Tracks compliance with drug and alcohol testing.
- Ensures accurate and timely entries in the electronic case management systems.
- Review work and reports as required.
- Monitors and adheres to deadlines to ensure completeness, accuracy and compliance with policy, grant standards, funding and licensure requirements, special conditions of community supervision, and Community Justice Assistance Division (CJAD) general and substance abuse standards.
- Maintains professional and effective communication, including email correspondence, with judges, attorneys, prosecutors, court personnel, law enforcement officials, CSCD personnel, victims, and community members.
- Participate in clinical and interdisciplinary staffing.
- Participate in team, unit and departmental meetings.
- Travel to Court, other HCCSCD locations or off-site locations for meetings, training, group coverage, etc. is required as needed.
- Testify in a court setting.
- Works collaboratively with other personnel.
- Provides group and individual instruction to clients, while also visually and audibly observing clients in the group and individual setting.
- Fosters a positive work environment by communicating and behaving cooperatively, respectfully and amicably with supervisors, co-workers, and the public.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
- Work overtime as required.
- Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email
ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net
Education and Experience:Master’s Degree in a Psychological, Counseling or Social Work related field.
Competency in clinical disorders, differential diagnosis, current treatment methods, and in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5-TR is required.
The successful candidate will demonstrate conscientiousness, openness to learning, flexibility/adaptability to change, and the ability to thrive within a dynamic workplace.
Licensure:
Must possess at least one (1) of the following licenses upon the start of employment:
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A)
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFT-A)
Should clinical supervision be provided, then the applicant is required to remain in this position for the equivalent amount of time clinical supervision was provided.
Must have a valid Texas Class C Automobile Operator’s License or Texas Identification Card.
- Must become Texas Risk Assessment System (TRAS) certified within the first two attempts and maintain certification. (Failure to pass the certification may result in termination of employment.)
- Meets the minimum requirements for access to Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS).
NOTE: Applications must include ALL past employment. 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.
Work experience and/or clinical training in correctional/forensic settings is preferred.
- Regular Full-time
- 5 days per week | Schedule hours will range between:
- Monday - Thursday: 6:30 AM - 9:00 PM | Fridays: 6:30 AM - 5:00 PM
- Flexibility in work schedule/work location is required and determined by program needs.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting, although there is an opportunity to work remotely on designated days after the introductory period and the employee is in good standing. Continuing Education opportunities and license renewal fees may be provided.
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate with co-workers and clients, as well as visually observe clients during individual and group settings for assessment and treatment purposes.
- $5,455.98 (=$31.48 Hourly) - $5,963.01 (=$34.40 Hourly)
- Commensurate with Experience
- Based on 26 pay periods
- Reports To: Counseling Supervisor
PLEASE NOTE: APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE ALL PAST EMPLOYMENT. ONE CERTIFIED ORIGINAL TRANSCRIPT AND LICENSE WILL BE REQUIRED AT TIME OF HIRE.
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
Salary : $31 - $34
