Job Description

Posting number: 60006153 (10/2025)

Department: Countywide

Job classification: MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR II

Posting type: Open

Categories: Mental Health, Professional, Counseling

Summary

Please click HERE for the Total Compensation Package for this job classification which includes county paid employee health benefits after 30 days of employment, county paid retirement benefits, vacation accruals, etc. The Total Compensation Package outlines the various benefits offered by Washoe County and the annual earnings based on the entry level salary for the job classification.

Under supervision, performs professional clinical duties in the areas of child protective services, adult services, or senior services; and performs related work as required.

This is an Open Competitive/Countywide Promotional recruitment being conducted to fill full-time vacancies throughout the County. The list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies throughout the County as they occur.

For more information on this position, please see the Job Specification at https://www.washoecounty.gov/humanresources/Careers/jobspecs.php

Examples of duties

A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in social work, marriage and family therapy, counseling, psychology or closely related field AND licensure in the State of Nevada to practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Marriage and Family Therapist or a Clinical Professional Counselor.

License Or Certificate

• License to practice in area of assignment required at time of application and must be maintained for continued employment in this classification. (Licensure must be as a practitioner, not as an intern.)
• A valid driver’s license is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained for continued employment in this classification.

For a vacancy in the Juvenile Services Mental Health Unit

Under supervision, provides mental health services to youth or youth and families in Washoe County's Juvenile Justice system. Interventions include assessment, crisis intervention, individual, and family therapy for youth with severe emotional disturbance, substance use issues, trauma, or delinquency. For detained youth, services are provided individually in a secure detention facility.

Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Experience with at-risk youth and family systems.
• Experience with suicide, self-harm, aggression, and serious emotional disturbance.
• Experience in suicide screening, risk assessment, and prevention practices.
• Crisis intervention and assessment skills.
• Knowledge of evidence-based treatment practices.
• Knowledge of substance abuse treatment practices.
• Case management or discharge planning experience.
• An understanding of legal processes related to mental health.
• The ability to coordinate mental health referrals and placements.

For a vacancy at the Sheriff's Office - Mobile Outreach Safety Team (MOST)

Under supervision, performs crisis interventions within a co-response model partnered with law enforcement. Provides comprehensive assessment with ability to triage level of intervention in a variety of settings while working towards referral to appropriate resources in the community. Interventions to include but not limited to those in behavioral health crisis, experiencing severe mental illness, trauma, struggles meeting basic needs, diversion from over utilization of emergency resources, and deflection from entering the criminal justice system with intervention and referrals to integrated mental health services and/or substance use programs. This position is full-time with County benefits, grant funded with steady funding.

Ideal Candidate Will:

• Have a desire to work in a fast paced and exciting environment.
• Have experience engaging with a diverse population and ability to de-escalate crisis situations.
• Have the ability to work alongside law enforcement in conjunction with their mission and community focus.
• Develop and maintain good rapport with individuals while establishing appropriate boundaries.
• Actively engage and work collaboratively across systems.
• Have working knowledge of issues facing persons in a variety of crisis situations.
• Have flexibility with a team player mentality.
• Have knowledge and resources to support individuals experiencing interpersonal violence.
• Meet Physical Demands: This work requires long periods of standing and walking with intermittent periods of siting at a desk, table, or Washoe County Sheriff’s Office marked patrol vehicle. May require hiking and walking in areas of uneven surfaces and rapid egress and ingress.

For a vacancy with the Human Services Agency - Children’s Services

Under supervision, perform evidence based mental and behavioral health services to children, families, individuals and groups. Support psychological and emotional well-being of families including assessment, crisis intervention, group, individual, couples and family therapy, clinical case management and consultation, foster home support services, placement stabilization, pre and post adoption support, special needs adoption clinical services, information and referral to community providers, client and staff training and supports. Mental health interventions with a strengths-based approach are provided in and out of the client’s home, in the community, in school or other community based settings to children and families interfacing with the child welfare system. Provide both a personalized and comprehensive array of services and supports to children, families and individuals experiencing homelessness, lack of basic needs, those who suffer from mental illness, have a substance use disorder and/or who have experienced trauma.

Ideal Candidate Will:

• Have Bilingual Spanish skills
• Be a Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC); or
• Be a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Intern (CADC-Intern); or
• Be a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC); or
• Be a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor

For a vacancy with the Human Services Agency: Children’s Mobile Crisis Response Team

Under supervision, perform crisis assessments and stabilization services to children and their families in Washoe County. Ensure ongoing psychological and emotional well-being of families. This may include assessment, crisis intervention, group, individual, and family therapy, clinical case management and consultation. Mental health interventions are provided for the purpose of diversion to higher levels of care when safely appropriate, are provided in and out of the client’s home, in the community, in schools, hospitals, or other community based settings. Work closely as a team to link to ongoing services, and provide intermittent services as appropriate to stabilize crisis.

Ideal Candidate Will:

• Have Bilingual Spanish skills.
• Have experience working with youth and families experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis.
• Be aware of community resources and barriers to accessing resources.
• Be willing to work non-traditional schedule.
• Be able to work as part of a team.

For a vacancy with the Human Services Agency – Housing and Homeless Services

Under general supervision, performs mental health interventions, using a strengths-based approach, with people experiencing homelessness in our community. Provides both a personalized and comprehensive array of services and supports to the individuals we serve, including but not limited to assisting those who are in crisis, who have experienced trauma, or those diagnosed with a mental illness. Assists individuals with identifying supports to meet their basic needs and makes referrals to community behavioral health services, including substance abuse programs as needed.

Ideal Candidate Will:

• Have a desire to work with individuals with serious mental illness, homelessness, chronic substance use and/or trauma.
• Be experienced in engaging with a diverse population and able to respond appropriately to crisis situations.
• Develop and maintain good relationships with clients while keeping professional boundaries.
• Actively engage and work within a multidisciplinary team to fulfill program operations and to meet the needs of the individuals we serve.
• Have knowledge of issues facing people experiencing homelessness.
• Be flexible with a team player mentality.

Qualifications

The Washoe County Employees Association (WCEA) Non-Supervisory Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) covers the Mental Health Counselor II positions at Human Services Agency and the Sheriff’s Office.

Juvenile Services falls under the direction of the District Court, and as such, Juvenile Services is not a part of Washoe County's merit personnel system, and Juvenile Services employees are not members of a bargaining unit. However, full-time or part-time permanent employment with the Department of Juvenile Services offers the same attractive benefit package and salary schedule as any other Washoe County Department.

Background checks will be conducted on selected applicants through the State of Nevada and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Per the Washoe County Background and Reference Checks Policy, new and rehired employees are required to submit to a fingerprint based background investigation. Effective October 1, 2026, the $40.00 fee associated with this background investigation will be paid by the employee (if applicable) and deducted automatically from the first paycheck. Employment is contingent upon the results of the background check, although a record of conviction will not necessarily bar an applicant from employment.

Additionally, Human Services Agency will run a background check via the Child Abuse and Neglect Registry and employees will be required to have a tuberculosis test. The cost of the test will be borne by the selected applicant(s).

Additionally, for positions with Juvenile Services, a CPR/First Aid certification is required at the time of appointment; after the interview, top candidates must pass a background investigation which includes:

• Submit a set of fingerprints
• Complete and submit a personal history statement
• Candidates must submit to a TB test at own expense upon offer of employment.

Certain positions in the Sheriff's Office have access to criminal justice agency systems including NCIC and CJIS. All felony convictions, gross misdemeanor and certain misdemeanors will prohibit that employee from working with NCIC and CJIS criminal justice systems. For positions at the Sheriff's Office, after the interview, top candidates must pass a background investigation which includes:

• Submit a set of fingerprints
• Complete and submit a personal history statement
• Pass a Computerized Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA) examination

Washoe County requires its employees to reside in the state of Nevada or neighboring California communities such as Truckee, South Lake Tahoe or Susanville as of their first day of work.

Washoe County hires all new employees at the minimum rate of the salary range and eligible employees may receive an annual merit increase of 5% until they reach the maximum salary for the classification. Upon promotion, current Washoe County employees are placed at the minimum rate of the salary range for the higher classification of the new position OR a promotional calculation, whichever is greater.

Supplemental information

1. After your application is screened, you will be notified via the email you provided whether you have met the minimum requirements for the position. Those applicants who do not meet the qualifications have one (1) business day to file an appeal and request a review of their qualifications.
2. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the Mental Health Counselor II position will be placed on an unranked eligible list. The examination is waived for this recruitment in accordance with the Washoe County Personnel Handbook 5.160.

Pursuant to the Washoe County Personnel Handbook 5.160 - waiver of examination. The director of human resources may waive examination for those classes requiring specific training, education, certification, licensure, experience or when there are an insufficient number of qualified candidates.

1. Candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be placed on an unranked eligible list for the department to interview. For continuous/open until filled recruitments, candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be referred for an interview on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Once referred, candidates will be contacted by email or telephone.
2. Please be advised you can log in to your NeoGov account and select:

• “Applications” to view a list of the recruitments which you have applied for, your submitted application for each recruitment, a copy of the job listing, and your applicant history for each recruitment.
• “Inbox” to view the notices which have been sent to you for each recruitment
• “Account” to update your contact information. Please note to update your phone number on previously submitted applications you must contact careers@washoecounty.gov.

If you have any questions regarding the Online Application Process you can find additional information at the following link: https://www.washoecounty.gov/humanresources/faq/online/index.php

Questions: Alicia Agrella

aagrella@washoecounty.gov

775-328-6383

Washoe County is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce that creates a sense of belonging for all employees and citizens, thereby encouraging persons from all backgrounds and experiences to apply for employment.

Washoe County will recruit, hire, train and promote into all job levels without regard to race, religion or belief, gender, marital status or domestic partnership, familial status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, genetic information (GINA), veteran status, political affiliation, membership in an employee association or union or any other protected class under applicable federal or state law.