State of Washington Classified Job Specification
CORRECTIONS MENTAL HEALTH CNSLR 1
Class Series Concept
Definition
In an adult corrections treatment program, assists with providing specialized mental health counseling and custody functions to a group of convicted offenders demonstrating emotional, cognitive and/or behavioral disorders. These activities are performed under the supervision of mental health staff.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This is the paraprofessional level of the Corrections Mental Health Counselor series. The incumbents of positions at this level assist professional staff in performing mental health treatment. Custody functions cannot exceed 50% of the time.
Typical Work
Observes, interviews, gathers data, and recommends treatment of offenders;
Participates in individual and group counseling; may provide assistance in specialized therapy programming;
Schedules nursing, psychiatric and psychological consultation reviews as needed;
Assists in development and implementation of individual treatment plans for assigned caseload which meet Mental Health Care Standards;
Prepares reports for, and participates in, unit classification committee and treatment planning conferences;
Performs custody functions for assigned unit;
Recommends inmate expenditures;
Communicates as needed with other agencies such as work release, community mental health, psychiatric hospitals, and other prisons;
Assists in developing case referrals;
Performs other work as required.
Legal Requirement(s)
There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.
Desirable Qualifications
A Bachelor's degree with major study in a social or behavioral science.
Experience in mental health treatment will substitute, year for year, for education.
NOTE: Experience in mental health treatment may be defined as: any experience where responsibilities have included mental health treatment planning, mental health program implementation and/or direct delivery of client mental health services.
Class Specification History
New class code: (formerly 38958) effective July 1, 2007.
Salary adjustment adopted 6/30/2015, effective 7/1/2015.
Added class series and definition; adopted August 13, 2015; effective August 14, 2015.