Overview

We are seeking a skilled school-based Mental Health Counselor to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to helping students navigate their mental health challenges and achieve their personal goals, especially those who need Tier III interventions. You will work with students from diverse backgrounds, providing counseling and brief therapeutic services tailored to their unique needs. Mental health counselors work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental health. They help individuals deal with addictions and substance abuse as well as helping help them overcome emotional and psychological problems. 

As a Mental Health Counselor, you will help students to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally, through individual and group counseling and by collaborating with educators, caregivers, and other professionals to create a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment.

Job Highlights

• Provide direct mental health services and support sessions to students
• Implement a mental health referral system
• Manage student caseload
• Consult and collaborate with student support personnel at the school and district-level mental Wellness Specialist 
• Provide individual and group counseling for caseload students
• Grief and loss support
• Trained in Clarke County School District Suicide Intervention Protocol
• Collaborate in the follow-up process with the School Counselor for students needing additional mental health support after signs of suicide initiative
• Collaborate with community partners to access and connect students with mental health services
• Mental health referrals to outside agencies
• Mandated Reporter (not school reporting DFCS designee)
• Attend parent conferences
• Receive Go Guardian/BEACON Alerts
• Mental Health Presentations/Observations/Workshops
• Create programming on mental health/wellness activities
• Collaborate/Consult with the District Mental Wellness Specialist
• Provide information to students about mental health, wellness, and substance abuse
• Provide mental wellness information to faculty/staff

Marginal Functions

• Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.

Competencies

• Skills-based Competencies

Required to perform multiple, technical tasks with a potential need to upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions. Specific skill based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: operating standard office equipment including using pertinent software applications; preparing and maintaining accurate records.

• Knowledge-based Competencies

Required to perform basic math; read a variety of manuals, write documents following prescribed formats, and/or present information to others; and understand complex, multi-step written and oral instructions. Specific knowledge based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: concepts of grammar and punctuation; stages of child development and learning styles; age appropriate activities; classroom instructional media and technology; keyboarding.

• Ability-based Competencies

Required to schedule activities; collate data; and use job-related equipment. Flexibility is required to work with others; work with data utilizing defined but different processes; and operate equipment using standardized methods. Ability is also required to work with a wide diversity of individuals; work with a variety of data; and utilize specific, job-related equipment. Problem solving is required to identify issues and create action plans. Problem solving with data requires independent interpretation of guidelines; and problem solving with equipment is limited to moderate. Specific ability based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: communicating with diverse groups; maintaining confidentiality; setting priorities; working as part of a team; and working with constant interruptions.

Requirements

S-5 certification in school counseling

Physical Requirements

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity.

Generally the job requires 20% sitting, 40% walking, and 40% standing. 

 Continuing Education/Training

Maintains all licenses and certifications

Clearances

Criminal Justice Fingerprint

Background Clearance

Fair Labor Standards Act

Exempt