Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Job Summary 

The Licensed Mental Health Counselor provides professional clinical services for mental, and substance use disorders to individuals persons incarcerated in the Marion and Sumter County jails served under contract with the Heart of Florida Health Center (HFHC). Considerable independent judgment is required to carry out assignments. This position includes direct service responsibilities and “on-call” responsibilities. The counselor will work collaboratively with HFHC medical and case management staff to provide quality care to jail inmates with mental and substance use disorders.  Work schedules may include evening or weekend hours. 

Qualifications and Requirements 

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Mental Health, Psychology, or an acceptable related field 

• Currently licensed in Florida as a Clinical Social Worker or Mental Health Counselor 

• Able to pass Level 2 background check 

• Minimum three years of experience providing behavioral health direct care 

• Experience working in a corrections facility or with persons involved in the criminal or juvenile justice system preferred 

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred 

Essential Functions 

• Complete biopsychosocial assessments which include diagnostics, crisis prevention, victim assessments, risk assessments, and protective factors. Ensure that the assessment is detailed and outlines proper recommendations. 

• Assess inmates on suicide precautions to determine appropriateness for general population or step-down. 

• Assess inmates who complete inmate Medical Request Forms pertaining to Mental Health. 

• Establish and maintain positive, therapeutic, and professional relationships with inmates who are referred for behavioral health services. 

• Efficiently manage walk-ins and unscheduled sessions during the workday. 

• Completes Segregation/Confinement assessments. 

• Evaluate inmate’s behavior, determining the progress made through various treatment programs. 

• Perform crisis intervention as necessary. 

• Maintain daily and accurate completion of all clinical documentation, to include all clinical recommendations. 

• Ensure that treatment is delivered in accordance with the highest ethical and professional standards. 

• Use measurements for general and specific assessments as well as objective patient criteria in the provision of services and evaluation procedures. 

• Assist persons assessed as needing services through providing or arranging for short-term individual or group therapy, crisis intervention, and psychoeducation. 

• Maintain knowledge of community resources for behavioral healthcare and social services. 

• Work closely with Heart of Florida case managers to develop individualized post-release plans for ongoing behavioral health care; assist with linkage to services in the community. 

• Effectively utilize cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and psychoeducation, among other clinical skills. 

• Within the limits of patient confidentiality and policies of the Marion County jail, communicate involved family members of inmates to ensure appropriate continuity of care. 

• Comply with HIPAA and company’s patient and staff confidentiality laws and policies. 

• Ensure that patients’ rights are protected and report any abuse/neglect to the proper authorities. 

• Communicate and interact with other staff on the jail multidisciplinary team effectively. 

• Other duties assigned. 

Physical Requirements 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk or hear, taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.