Mental Health Counselor-Corrections

The Pennington County Jail is seeking a full-time Mental Health Counselor to provide comprehensive mental health services to the adult inmate population.  Our facility houses over 600 inmates on a daily basis and provides mental health services, resources and programs for inmates. Our focus is to provide counseling to inmates with immediate needs such as a major loss, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, or severe mental health symptoms.

The Mental Health Counselor works as a part of the larger security team to provide suicide risk assessments, crisis counseling, assist with classification, involuntary holds and in coordinating other services. The Pennington County Sheriff’s Offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package.

• Provide inmate/detainee/client behavior management resources and recommendations for staff.
• Assess inmate/detainee/client mental health conditions as directed and identifying appropriate services.
• Assist with appropriate inmate/detainee/client classification.
• Identify early mental health risks.
• Identify risk behavior requiring the placement involuntary mental holds.
• Provide individual, group and crisis intervention counseling.
• Coordinate inmate/detainee/client services with medical staff and other in-house resources.
• Prepare and complete assessment reports and treatment plans.
• Conduct new employee training on suicide prevention and mental health basics.
• Attend meetings and completing trainings as required.
• Perform related duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Maintain compliance with all county policies and procedures.

This job specification should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive duties of the position. Incumbents may be required to follow any other instructions, and to perform any other related duties, as may be required.

Education and/or Experience Required:

• Master’s Degree in a human services field.
• Minimum one year of mental health experience, preference to those with correctional setting experience.
• Preference for those who are South Dakota Qualified Mental Health Professionals
• Possession of or ability to readily obtain a valid South Dakota Driver’s License within 90 days of moving to South Dakota.
  

Working Environment:

• Work is typically performed in a secure correctional facility during daytime hours, with the occasional weekend or evening.
• This position will include close, in-person interactions with inmates/detainees/clients.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state and local standards
• This position frequently remains stationary for long periods of time and needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery such as a calculator, copy machine and printer.
• Must be able to move up to 20 pounds unassisted, and move 40 pounds with assistance.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively on telephone, in-person and in writing.
  

Salary : $29