Mental Health Jobs in Austin, TX

We are committed to transforming lives and building safter communities by working collaboratively, communicating openly, and upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. Our team models accountability, transparency, and respect, taking proactive steps to ensure the physical and emotional safety of youth, staff, and the community. We strive for excellence through continuous growth, thoughtful decision making, and mission driven collaboration, supporting one another while embracing challenges that lead to meaningful, long-term impact.

We are committed to transforming lives and building safter communities by working collaboratively, communicating openly, and upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. Our team models accountability, transparency, and respect, taking proactive steps to ensure the physical and emotional safety of youth, staff, and the community. We strive for excellence through continuous growth, thoughtful decision making, and mission driven collaboration, supporting one another while embracing challenges that lead to meaningful, long-term impact.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Performs highly advanced (senior-level) work. TJJD addresses the multiple and complex needs of the youth committed to the agency as well as their families through a trauma informed multi-disciplinary integrated approach that includes implementation of the agency¿s Texas Model of Trauma Informed Corrections. Staff working with this population experience high levels of burnout and stress. This role is pivotal in ensuring staff have the resources to work with this complex population. Program Specialist Mental Health Professional -Staff Wellness is meant to be a key player in enhancing overall staff wellness in line with the Texas Model.

Work involves providing therapy and employee assistance services to TJJD staff, crisis services after/during critical incidents as well as developing and conducting training and engaging in staff wellness campaigns. Works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment within the limits of applicable statutes, professional ethics, allocated resources, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Occasional travel. May be required to work in excess of 40 hours per workweek, different shift patterns and be on-call.

Provides mental health treatment services to TJJD staff members.

Provides emergency and crisis services during critical incidents, large scale events and disasters.

Develops, coordinates, and conducts training for employees, and/or stakeholders.

Adheres to policies and procedures, including those relevant to local licensure/ethical requirements.

Participates in field visits and observes staff; and provides feedback to leadership regarding efforts to improve the mental health, psychological safety, and wellness of staff.

Maintains and reports activity data monthly or as requested.

Identifies areas of needed change and makes recommendations to improve operations.

Travels within the state of Texas as required to achieve position objectives.

Provides advice and counsel by interpreting policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and standards related to the program.

Assists in developing program policies, procedures, standards, and manuals in accordance with program objectives and goals.

May analyze the application of and variations within programs to develop action plans for improving or initiating new programs.

Performs a variety of related duties not listed, to be determined and assigned as needed.

Performs all duties in compliance with agency safety policies and procedures:

• Reports safety hazards and corrects hazards when possible.
• Completes required documentation in the event of an accident/injury within requested timeframes.

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency attendance and leave policies.

Actively embody and support the Texas Model by demonstrating its core values in daily tasks and interactions with others.

Master's degree with major course work in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field; and three (3) years of full-time wage-earning experience as a licensed mental health professional;

Required to be licensed in the State of Texas as one of the following:

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

Three (3) years of the required experience must be in a supervisory/management position that oversees, manages, or directs a program or operation involving the type of work described above.

Experience and Education Substitutions:

Completed course hours of undergraduate study may substitute for up to four years of experience on a basis of 30 course hours for one year of experience.

Completed course hours of graduate study may substitute for up to two years of experience on a basis of 12 graduate course hours for one year of experience.

Note: Any degree, diploma, high school equivalent, or course hours required to meet minimum qualifications must be from an accredited educational institution.

Pre-employment conditions require acceptable results from mandatory:

• pre-employment drug test;
• finger printing, criminal records check, and TB testing;
• Fitness-for-Duty Assessment which may include both physical and behavior evaluations.

Requirements for Continued Employment:

• Obtain and maintain certification in First Aid and CPR.
• Failure to maintain required licensure/certification will result in termination of employment.

• Experience working with adolescent offenders in residential settings.
• Experience providing treatment to individuals working in high demand systems (i.e., first responders).

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, rules, regulations, statutes, and agency policies relating to juvenile probation officer certification and TJJD direct-care training requirements.
• Knowledge of public administration and management techniques.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis processes.
• Knowledge of budget processes.
• Knowledge of research techniques.
• Knowledge of training and marketing techniques.
• Knowledge of program management processes and techniques.
• Skill in facilitating individual and group counseling sessions with adults.
• Skill in interviewing; evaluation and assessment; and in making appropriate decisions and recommendations regarding treatment options.
• Skill in training and/or teaching others.
• Skill in maintaining accurate records and files.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workloads to carry out assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Ability to maintain confidential information.
• Ability to work under stressful conditions, with possible occurrences of extreme heightened stress.
• Ability to recognize when decisions need to be made, process information logically, make decisions, and demonstrate the soundness of those decisions.
• Ability to read, write, and operate a computer on a regular basis using applicable computer software.
• Ability to participate in ongoing didactic training as scheduled by the agency.
• Ability to work in excess of 40 hours per workweek, different shift patterns, be on-call, and travel occasionally.
• Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts to devise solutions to problems.
• Ability to manage program activities.

The following physical demands and working conditions are representative of those encountered and/or necessary for the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Alphabetizing

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing

Ability to see

Ability to hear (with or without aid)

Ability to perform tactile discernment

Identify colors

Depth perception

Operate motor equipment

Lifting, up to 25 lbs.

Carrying, up to 25 lbs.

Pulling

Pushing

Walking

Standing

Sitting

Prolonged sitting

Repeated bending

Reaching above shoulder

Manual/finger dexterity

Dual simultaneous grasping

Crawling

Twisting

Kneeling

Stooping

Climbing stairs

State of Texas Benefits and Retirement Information can be found at https://www.ers.texas.gov. Benefits include: Retirement plan, paid group health & life insurance for employee, paid holidays, paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, longevity pay, educational assistance program, employee assistance program. Optional add-on benefits include: Dental, Vision, Optional Life Insurance, Voluntary AD&D Insurance, Dependent Health & Life insurance, Health & Dependent care flexible spending accounts, etc. Additionally, certain designated positions are eligible for hazardous duty pay, career ladder advancements, and free meals while on duty.

In order to receive veteran¿s preference, a copy of your DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), VA disability rating (if applicable), or a DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty) must be attached to your application.

For Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Code or Crosswalk, please visit: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf