Job Description

Compensation Range

$76,564.80 - $96,990.40

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The Counselor serves as a vital member of the Sheriff's Office team, providing direct, face-to-face counseling and support services to individuals in custody. This role is primarily conducted within inmate housing units and other secure areas, not behind a desk or computer screen. The Counselor spends the majority of their time engaging in-person with inmates, building rapport, assessing needs, and delivering interventions in real time within the correctional environment.

A Correctional Counselor III provides crisis intervention and short-term counseling to inmates. Counselors provide psycho-educational groups, including cognitive behavioral based programs, to inmates. They work in collaboration with security and medical staff concerning inmate related problems. Counselors conduct suicide assessment and mental health screening for inmates with follow up supervision. Counselors provide diagnostic mental health evaluations of inmates to determine mental health needs. Counselors complete assessment for emergency commitment (M-1) and prepares appropriate documentation upon the release of an inmate.

The position's schedule spans Monday through Saturday, with assigned work hours set according to the operational needs of the department.

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Essential duties and responsibilities - 80%

• Facilitate suicide staffing as needed and prepare progress notes, EMR documentation, case plan development and follow up supervision.
• Develop and update case plans, including documentation and maintenance of counseling files.
• Provide psycho-educational groups, including cognitive behavioral based programs, to inmates.
• Provide short term, individual counseling services and case management to inmates.

Important duties and responsibilities - 20%

• Respond to "Inmate Request Forms" and "Mental Health Referral Forms," per policy.
• Complete assessment for emergency commitment (M-1) and prepare appropriate documentation.
• Help resolve housing conflicts between inmates that occur as a result of pod assignment. Consult with staff for resolution.
• Enter general population living area to discuss programs, problem solve and maintenance of good order and discipline with inmates. Ensure that appropriate security precautions are followed when working with inmates.
• Complete "Psychiatric Medication Review" for inmates
• Complete diagnostic mental health evaluation of inmates to determine mental health needs.
• Consult with medical staff regarding psychiatric medication and treatment of mentally ill inmates.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with community agencies for consultation, evaluation, therapy and other social services support for in-house programs and initiate inmate referrals to the community.
• Provide in-service training to jail staff.

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Required Qualifications

Required Education

• Master's Degree in counseling, social work, clinical psychology, or related field.

Experience Qualifications

• 1 year experience in counseling, specifically in the mental health field working with a variety of diagnoses, and facilitation of psychoeducational groups

Skills and Abilities

• Must have the ability to read, write, and speak English.
• Basic math skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals; and the ability to count, sort, and categorize inventory items.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables, in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to operate telephones, computer terminal, keyboard, photocopier, and printer/scanning instrumentation.
• Candidate must pass criminal background check prior to employment start date.

Licenses and Certifications

• LPC-Licensed Professional Counselor Must hold current license in Colorado as a Licensed Professional Counselor Required
• LCSW- License Clinical Social Worker Licensed Clinical Social Worker Required
• NCAC - National Certified Addictions Counselor Licensed Addictions Counselor or equivalent Required
• Or hold a permit in Colorado as a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate or Clinical Social Worker Candidate or equivalent with eh ability to obtain a license within the first 2.5 years of employment. Required
• Supervision hours are offered to assist in reaching licensure requirements. Required
• The ability to speak and write a language other than English is a skill that enhances an employee’s ability to complete this job. The incidents that require the use of secondary language skill vary by day but are routinely frequent; it is expected that this skill will be used more than 11 times per month. The employee must be proficient in speaking and writing the second language to be eligible for the bilingual pay differential.
• Pre-employment substance screening is required for this position.
• This position is subject to a pre-employment drug screening. Employment is contingent upon successfully passing the screening in accordance with Weld County policy.

This position is exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore ineligible for overtime pay.

As an applicant for this position, you should be aware of Senate Bill 19-085, the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The act requires employers to announce the pay range for job openings.

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Use the link below to get a closer look at the generous benefits offered:

https://www.weld.gov/Government/County-Information/Join-Our-Team/Employee-Benefits

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Weld County is an equal employment opportunity employer. We ensure that all employment practices are conducted without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, protected veteran status or any other protected status in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. Weld County pledges to uphold a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, promoting fairness and dignity for all employees. We actively take affirmative action to comply with nondiscrimination policies and invite qualified individuals in need of reasonable accommodations to contact our Human Resources Department at humanresources@weld.gov or (970) 400-4234