MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR ADVANCED

Victor Cullen Center

Join Us in Making a Difference at DJS!

The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) is dedicated to transforming young lives, creating safer communities, and fostering equitable systems. We are seeking passionate individuals for our Mental Health Professional Counselor Advanced role, so join our team and make a meaningful impact on youth and the community at DJS!

The position is the advanced level of professional counselor providing expert clinical and therapeutic services in behavioral health to the most clinically demanding of youth involved with the Department of Juvenile Services. “Clinically Demanding Youth” include youth who have been ejected from treatment programs, youth who are profoundly disabled due to mental illness, and youth with complex behavioral health disorders. The professional counselor represents the Behavioral Health Unit in DJS operated facilities & community offices by completing forensic and placement assessments, recommending youth for services that will meet their needs, providing supportive mental health services to identified youth, and mentoring lower-level professional counselors or interns.

Some key responsibilities of this position may include, but not be limited, to the following:

· Complete admissions interviews, psychosocial evaluations, and behavioral health assessments.  

· Provide supportive counseling and facilitate psychoeducation groups. 

· Provide crisis services to include suicide risk assessments, debriefings, and service plans. 

· Provide consultation and serve as a member of a multidisciplinary team. 

· Maintain timely and accurate clinical documentation and reports in compliance with DJS, COMAR, and licensing standards.

*Important: The work schedule will be either 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. OR 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., depending on facility and client needs.

**Note: This position requires emergency on-call coverage in a rotational schedule with other licensed/certified behavioral health clinicians.

Education: Determined by the Maryland State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists under the requirements for Certified Professional Counselors.

The preferred candidate for this position may possess any of the following:

1. In accordance with Health Occupations Title 17 and Code of Maryland Regulations 10.58.01.05, candidates placed in this classification must be licensed by the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your completed application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Candidates will remain on the certified eligible list for one (1) year. The resulting certified eligible list from this recruitment may be used to fill similar positions of the same classification in this or other State agencies.

The assessment may involve a rating of your application based on your education, training, and/or experience as it relates to the position's requirements. Therefore, it is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Please report all relevant experience and education. For education obtained outside the U.S., you will be required to provide proof of equivalent American education, as determined by a Foreign Credential Evaluation Service, at the time of hire. Please complete the supplemental questionnaire, if applicable. They will be used when rating applications. Please note that your answers on the supplemental questionnaire must correspond to the information provided on your completed application to receive credit. Missing or incomplete supplemental questionnaires may impact the overall rating of your completed application.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

The online application process is STRONGLY recommended. However, if you are unable to apply online, you may submit a completed paper application and supplemental questionnaire responses via email or fax to the addresses provided below. If using fax or regular mail, ensure each page includes your First and Last Name, the Recruitment Number (located at the top of the posting), and the last four digits of your SS#. Paper application materials must be received by 5:00 PM on the closing date for the recruitment. Applications received after this time, or those with incorrect forms, will not be accepted. Postmarks will not be considered.