Mental Health Counselor: Veteran Services

JOB DESCRIPTION: A Veteran Mental Health Counselor is a Bachelor Degree-level team member who provides intensive behavioral health assessment, linkage and follow-up of Veterans and their family members. S/he/they may also serve as the secondary provider in conjunction with a Crisis Counselor for a full mental health assessment and evaluation. Further, s/he/they is responsible for referring clients to appropriate agencies for follow-up and ongoing services. The role of the Veteran Mental Health Counselor is to assist with crisis de-escalation, facilitate a mental health assessment (when necessary), maintain and assist clients with establishing healthy, constructive living patterns. S/he/they will triage mental health consultation requests and conduct brief interventions and linkage to services as a part of the Oneida County Veteran Suicide Prevention Program. S/he/they is expected to work with a high degree of independence. This position may operate in the community or remotely as assigned.

SPECIFIC JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides short-term crisis intervention and diffusion to children and adults in the community which includes comprehensive mental health assessment, telephone assessment and lethality monitoring, outreach and follow-up services and linkage;
• Engages clients with telephonic and virtual crisis intervention as assigned;
• Makes recommendations and assists in facilitating the appropriate level of treatment/services/supports;
• Assists Utica Center for Development, law enforcement and other agencies in handling mental health and substance use related crisis;
• Maintains accurate documentation of client/agency contacts in accordance with program policy and procedure manual;
• Attends and actively participates in all required training, staff meetings and case conferences as required by agency administration;
• Engages in supervision on a regular basis;
• Engages in agency/program projects or work groups as assigned by the Program Director;
• Builds and fosters the development of collaborative relationships with community service providers;
• Makes recommendations and assists in facilitating the appropriate level of treatment/services/supports;
• Maintains self in a professional manner at all times, adhering to Neighborhood Center policy and procedures and in keeping with the Agency’s mission statement;
• Maintain a valid New York State driver’s license and have access to a usable vehicle if not operating remotely;
• Secure and maintain all necessary certification and professional licensing as dictated by profession and required qualifications;
• Performs other duties as requested by Agency Administration.
• Adhere with all federal rules and regulations pertaining to the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant program.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated knowledge of mental health and substance use issues affecting children and adults;
• Demonstrated knowledge of mental health and substance use system issues, resources and the ability to effectively navigate these systems;
• Proven ability to maintain expectations for timeliness and accuracy in the performance of job functions;
• Demonstrated experience providing crisis intervention, de-escalation and diffusion to individuals and families in crisis;
• Proven work experience demonstrating organizational, assessment and communication skills commensurate with this position;
• Demonstrated skill set to work well with law enforcement and other community partners in handling mental health related crisis;
• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Nursing, Psychology, or other closely related human service field and a minimum of two (2) years of experience working in a human services agency including one (1) year of supervised experience providing services in a mental health setting required.
• Demonstrated experience working with the unique needs of the Veteran population.

EOE