Licensed Mental Health Therapist - Youth Center

Incumbent works under the direction of the Mental Health Services Manager of the Douglas County Youth Center (DCYC) or designee, utilizing an evidence-based model providing crisis intervention, trauma informed care, individual and group therapy, comprehensive intake assessments, mental health screenings, suicide and other risk assessments.                                                     

 Essential Functions:

• Facilitate an evidence-based model program for those with mental health disorders.
• Provide crisis intervention, group therapy, individual therapy, and mental health screens.
• Complete comprehensive intake assessments and risk assessments (e.g. suicide, PREA).
• Provide mental health crisis intervention/stabilization.
• Function as primary therapist for assigned cases.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Monitor detainee progress and effectiveness of group therapy.
• Maintain a caseload and productivity in compliance with DCYC criteria ensuring youth receive necessary mental health care within a reasonable time frame.          
• Provide guidance and consultation to staff addressing crisis situations and other behavioral or mental health concerns.  
• Provide consultation and mental health training to staff aiding in the monitoring and interacting with youth experiencing mental health crises and/or other mental health concerns. 
• Provide recommendations regarding appropriate mental health, substance use and/or level of care to caseworkers, probation officers, attorneys and/or the Multidisciplinary Team.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Assure client information/records are properly documented and maintained. 
• Ensure all services comply with professional standards, state/federal regulations and established policies/procedures. 
• Participate in Douglas County Youth Center Multidisciplinary Team meetings.
• Provide input regarding changes to policies and procedures.
• Perform quality assurance activities.
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements:

• Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, School Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, or Human Services required.
• Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) or provisional LMHP in the state of Nebraska required. (Applicants who are provisionally licensed as a Psychologist seeking postdoctoral clinical hours for licensure are eligible applicants).
• Dually Licensed practitioner in Nebraska as a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) or LMHP and LADC preferred. 
• Experience with adolescent populations preferred.
• Approved provider for Nebraska Probation preferred.
• Experience with community behavioral health programs/resources preferred.
• Bilingual fluency in Spanish and English preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and own mode of transportation at the time of hire and throughout employment required.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal background check, conditional offer drug screen and physical assessment required.

 Physical Requirements & Working Conditions:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work is performed in a locked juvenile detention facility with juveniles. Work involves potential exposure to biohazards and risk of injury from assaultive/abusive youth. Work hours will be standard day-shift hours; however, hours may vary (e.g. evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and emergency call-in). Noise level is usually moderate but could be extreme. Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, limited resources, multiple/changing priorities, emergency situations, and uncooperative/irate individuals.

Work requires some physical activity including extended periods of standing and walking, frequent sitting and bending, and occasional kneeling, climbing, stooping, crouching, reaching, and balancing. Incumbents must be able to participate in restraining youth in crisis. Incumbents must be able to lift 50 pounds, push 35 pounds, and pull 75 pounds of load over seven (7) feet.

Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance, peripheral and color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.