Mental Health Associate

Overview

The South Dakota Department of Corrections is hiring! This is a Full-Time position with the Department of Corrections Behavioral Health team.

Location:

Pierre, SD - Women's Prison. Salary: $23.00 to $31.00 per hour, depending on experience. Pay Grade: H. Closing Date:
Open Until Filled. This position is eligible for a $5,000 hiring incentive. Full state benefits and SDRS retirement. Current and Previous State Employees do NOT qualify for the Hiring Incentive.

This position works within our behavioral health team to provide mental health services to the offender population, and other supportive services.

Why the Department of Corrections?

• Creativity - We are always looking for innovative ideas to help us achieve improved outcomes.
• Making a difference - You will have an opportunity to make a difference in the life of fellow South Dakotans.
• Professional development - We provide valuable trainings to ensure well-trained staff that are competent, accountable, and empowered and will assist you in reaching your career goals.
• Teamwork - In a team-oriented approach, you will have the ability to work cooperatively with others in a friendly work environment to achieve shared goals.

• a highly motivated and experienced person with a passion for serving the public and displays a high level of effort and commitment towards completing assignments and goals;
• a compassionate individual who listens attentively to others and clearly conveys information and ideas;
• a dependable and organized individual who effectively plans and organizes work activities;
• a person who is dedicated and who will represent the DOC with integrity and enthusiasm;
• an individual who works cooperatively with others and promotes a friendly work climate in order to achieve shared goals.

Knowledge of:

• experience working with clients that have been involved in the criminal justice system;
• evidenced-based practices related to the rehabilitation of criminal offenders;
• charting and report writing.

Skill to:

• identify and effectively communicate offender behaviors, problems, and symptoms to mental health professionals;
• conduct brief screenings and appraisals.

Ability to:

• conduct individual and group counseling sessions;
• gather, interpret, report, and use information concerning clients;
• establish and maintain effective interpersonal counseling relationships with clients;
• perform mental health screenings and appraisals;
• make recommendations and referrals when outside of scope of practice;
• work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary staff setting;
• work in a correctional facility;
• adhere to the safety and security processes of such correctional facility.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• provides mental health services to offenders under the supervision of mental health professionals and in compliance with mental health guidelines;
• participate in mental health treatment services and special unit management;
• provide input into mental health assessments, facilitate groups, and aid in facilitation of psychiatric clinics and tele-health sessions;
• assist in daily management and monitor assigned offenders with mental illness;
• schedule and facilitate mental health appointments;
• participate as a member of an multidisciplinary team;
• provide input needed for treatment and management planning to include observation of offender behaviors, problems, symptoms, and response to treatment interventions;
• inform offenders regarding mental healthcare supervision and treatment;
• listen to offender concerns and provide counseling, direction, and referral;
• communicate regarding complaints, problems, incidents, and offender behavioral management issues;
• respond to complaints, problems, actions, or behaviors within scope of practice;
• document electronically and in an accurate and timely manner to maintain offender mental health records;
• promotes and is accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment through conscientious observations, and sensitive item contraband control;
• informs supervisor of any violations of safety and security through the report writing process, attends training programs as…