Senior Mental Health Counselor

Under supervision, to perform senior level professional work involving the delivery of mental health services to individuals in need of counseling and/or case management services; and to perform other duties as required.

• Receives referrals of clients in need of mental health services (performs intake) and monitors client’s behavior in relation to treatment plan goals and client’s needs.
• Maintains a caseload of individuals with personal social behavior problems including severe mental illness.
• Responds appropriately to mental health emergency situations and utilizes crisis intervention techniques and procedures.
• May screen requests for mental health services, determine appropriate services for client, and refer as necessary.
• Provides counseling and supportive therapy to clients individually and/or in a group setting.
• Provides case management services, coordinating services with various agencies in order to ensure on going assessment and follow through of treatment plans.
• Maintains appropriate documentation of all client contacts, consultation with other professionals, and documents any changes on treatment plan. Intervenes when appropriate in response to changes.
• Participates in various meetings, staffings, and in services; and may provide consultation to other professionals and paraprofessionals.
• Conducts assessments of client needs through interviews, collateral contacts and other investigations and develops a casework plan with clients.
• Provides information to family regarding a client’s diagnosis and treatment and provides supportive counseling to family as needed.
• Acts as a departmental liaison, providing casework direction and supervision to providers of contracted services.
• Provides recommendations and testimony in court as to clients’ mental health status and submits appropriate documentation.
• Establishes and maintains effective public and working relationships and collateral contact.
• Prepares and presents detailed oral and written reports.
• Documents case assessment, treatment planning and progress notes in the written record.
• Complies with State and Federal Program requirements.
• Performs emergency government duties as assigned in event of Waukesha County Emergency Government declaration.
• Performs other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential Knowledge and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of mental health disorders and treatment methods.
• Considerable knowledge of case management principles and methods.
• Considerable knowledge of the principles, practices, methods, and techniques used in the treatment of mental health disorders.
• Considerable knowledge of human services and health resources in the community.
• Considerable knowledge of Wisconsin State Statutes Chapters 51, 55, 880.
• Working knowledge of techniques to identify clients with alcohol or drug problems.
• Working knowledge of electronic health record, computerized department program software, internet access, and database, spreadsheet and word processing programs.
• Working knowledge of confidentiality statutes and requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996.
• Ability to utilize word processing, database and spreadsheet programs.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and clients, their families, service providers, colleagues, and the general public.
• Ability to respond appropriately to mental health emergency situations and procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
• Ability to communicate with clients who have mental health disorders.
• Ability to interpret mental illness and its diagnosis and treatment to clients and families.
• Ability to provide skilled treatment to clients with social and behavioral problems.
• Considerable knowledge with regard to assessing client risk.

You must meet these minimum Training and Experience requirements:

1. a. Bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university with a major in sociology, social work, psychology or a closely related field.
b. Two (2) years of professional experience in the field of mental health including one thousand (1000) hours of experience delivering services to the chronically mentally ill and their families.

OR

2. A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university with at least four (4) courses in sociology, social work, or psychology, plus three (3) years of professional experience in the field of mental health including one thousand (1000) hours of experience delivering services to the chronically mentally ill and their families.
3. A master’s degree from a recognized college or university in sociology, social work, psychology, or a closely related field may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.

This is a case management position within the Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services Community Support Program. Case managers in the Community Support Program have a case load of 18-20 clients who are living with severe and persistent mental illness. Case managers are expected to transport clients on a regular basis and work side by side providing psychosocial rehabilitation. Master’s degree or bachelor degree with direct Community Support Program experience preferred.

Waukesha County’s pay plans, group insurance programs, and other benefit policies comprise a package that is highly competitive and satisfies the needs of its employees. This is intended to give only a brief summary of the employee benefit package. Additional information will be provided at the time of hire. Benefits for part-time positions are pro-rated.

Vacation
2-weeks 1 – 2 years of service
3-weeks 3 – 9 years of service
4-weeks 10 – 16 years of service
5-weeks 17 or more years of service
Holidays (9 paid holidays)
New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving day
The Day after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve Day

Floating Holidays
2 paid floating holidays earned on February 1 and June 1.

Sick Leave
12-days of sick leave granted immediately upon hire. Thereafter, 1-day earned per month, up to a maximum of 120-days.

Funeral Leave
Up to 24-hours of leave with pay to attend the funeral of an immediate family member.

Health Insurance – High Deductible Health Plan
County pays 85% of premium and employee contributes 15% of the premium.

Health Savings Account
Pre-tax savings account that can be used for qualifying medical expenses (e.g. office visit fees, co-pays, prescriptions, vision and dental). County contributes to health savings account based on Health Risk Assessment completion- $2,250 for family plan and $1,125 for single plan.

Onsite Health and Wellness Clinic
Available to individuals who are enrolled in the County’s health insurance plan including employees, spouses, and children ages 2+. Preventive care services are free. All dispensed prescriptions are $2. Dispensed available ACA preventative medications are $0 cost. Non-preventative care visits are $28. Physical therapy is $28 per visit. No cost for office visits after deductible is met. Clinic staffed with MD and Physician Assistant, Physical Therapists, and Health Coaches.

Dental Insurance
Choice of two dental plans. Coverage begins on the first day of the month following 6-months of employment.

Vision Insurance
Coverage begins on the first day of the month following 60-days of employment.

Employee Wellness Activities & Program/Fitness Center
24/7 access to a wealth of health tools and information on the wellness portal. On-going education programs, fitness challenges and classes. On-site fitness center in Administration Center and Health & Human Services buildings.

Retirement Pension
As a full-time employee, you will automatically be enrolled in the Wisconsin Retirement System. This pension is administered by the State of Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds. You are required to pay the employee’s share of contributions to the fund, while Waukesha County contributes the employer’s share. Employees are vested in their portion of contributions immediately and after five years of creditable service for the employer contribution. To view employee/employer contribution rates, visit Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds’ website and type in WRS Contribution Rates in the search box.

Part time employees are enrolled and required to pay the employee’s share of contributions after working 1,200 hours of work in any 12-month period.

457 Deferred Compensation
Optional program used to supplement retirement income. Pre-tax and Roth options available. Eligible to contribute upon hire.

Payroll Roth IRA
Optional post-tax program used to supplement retirement income. Eligible to contribute upon hire.

Group Term Life Insurance
Automatic coverage in life insurance at no cost to employee. Coverage effective first of the month following six months of employment. Coverage upon hire is two times annual salary and then transitions to two times prior year gross salary after at least one full calendar year of employment is completed.

Voluntary Supplemental Term Life Insurance
Additional voluntary coverage for an employee at the employee’s expense. May purchase amount in increments of $25,000 up to $200,000. No medical underwriting upon initial eligibility. Coverage effective first of the month following six months of employment.

Dependent Life Insurance
Voluntary life insurance coverage for a spouse or dependent child at the employee’s expense. Coverage effective first of the month following six months of employment.
Coverage options:
Option 1:$20,000 (spouse)/$10,000 (child) – $4.00/month
Option 2: $10,000 (spouse)/$5,000 (child) – $2.00/month

Dependent Care FSA
Optional pre-tax benefit account where employees to deduct up to $5,000 ($2,500 if married and filing separate federal income tax returns) that can used to reimburse self for eligible dependent care services such as child or adult daycare. Coverage effective first of month following 60 days of employment.

Healthcare FSA
Optional pre-tax benefit account where employee can contribute pre-tax dollars to pay for health care expenses not covered under a group health, dental, or vision plan such as deductible, co-insurance, co-pay etc. Must not be enrolled in an HSA Qualifying High Deductible Health Plan to elect. Coverage effective first of month following 60 days of employment.

Retirement Health Savings Plan
Automatic enrollment in a retirement health savings plan. County makes contributions each month on the second paycheck of the month on behalf of employee. Effective the first of the month following employment.

Long-term Disability Insurance
Automatic coverage in long-term disability. County pays 100% of monthly premiums. Coverage effective the first of the month following employment.

Employee Assistance Program
Voluntary program that offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees and their family members who have personal and/or work-related problems. Unlimited access to a highly informative website with articles and tools to support you in a wide variety of your work/life needs. Eligible immediately upon hire.

Tuition Reimbursement
Financial assistance for attending Job-related classes.

Employee Discount Programs

• Dell products
• Discount on cell service through U.S. Cellular, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon
• Discounted rate to get Microsoft 365 through Microsoft Home Use Program

Pay for Performance
Employees are eligible for performance based merit awards with exceptional and commendable performance ratings