CORRECTIONS COUNSELOR 4 - LOVELOCK

***THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE***

Job Summary

The Department of Corrections is seeking to fill a Corrections Counselor 4 in Lovelock. The Corrections Counselor 4 is responsible for providing a wide range of psychological services, including testing, assessment, treatment planning and implementation, psychotherapy, consultation, psychoeducational programming, research, and training. This role involves conducting comprehensive psychological evaluations by selecting and administering appropriate tests, interpreting results, and interviewing individuals to determine treatment, programming, or placement needs. The counselor delivers psychotherapeutic services through both individual and group therapy, incorporating approaches such as biofeedback, relaxation techniques, substance abuse counseling, and pain management.

In addition, the psychologist diagnoses mental and related disorders and may provide both oral and written testimony in court. Responsibilities also include assessing inmates’ level of disability and credibility, staffing a walk-in psychology clinic, and participating in crisis intervention efforts. The role further supports institutional operations by completing Parole Board evaluations, contributing to quality assurance by monitoring psychological services and ensuring appropriate care, and maintaining thorough medical documentation through progress notes. Active participation in interdisciplinary classification committees and treatment team meetings is also an essential component of the position.

Essential Qualifications

Master's degree from an accredited college or university in clinical psychology, psychology, counseling, education, social work, or closely related field and four years of post Master's degree experience providing therapy, psychological testing and programmatic services in a correctional, rehabilitative, clinic or institutional setting; OR Doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in clinical psychology, psychology, counseling, education, social work, or closely related field and three years of post-doctoral experience providing therapy, psychological testing and programmatic services in a correctional, rehabilitative, clinic or institutional setting; OR a Doctoral degree (Psy.D.) in clinical psychology from an accredited school of professional psychology, and three years of experience as described above; OR one year of experience as a Corrections Counselor III in Nevada State service.

Job Duties

Interview individuals to determine treatment, programming, or placement needs; make behavioral health recommendations; interpret and integrate data with interview findings and behavioral observations; discuss results with offenders or other authorized individuals; prepare written reports on offenders interviewed which include potential behavioral health needs.

Participate as a member of the treatment team in staff meetings; share information and analyze treatment options; define, provide, and schedule appropriate care.

Provide counseling services, relaxation training, relationship counseling, substance abuse counseling, and pain management counseling to facilitate recovery and maintain offender in the least restrictive environment possible.

Provide crisis intervention by applying appropriate de-escalation techniques and principles in order to relieve the immediate problem; intervene with offenders who may be hostile, aggressive, combative or assaultive; follow established protocol in order to protect offenders, staff, and others who may be at risk; form a crisis debriefing team of mental health and security professionals and debrief staff involved in emergency situations to alleviate emotional concerns.

Consult and train staff regarding current policies and procedures to comply with statutory and ethical requirements and current scientific developments in areas relevant to agency services.

Participate in planning, developing and coordinating program services to meet the needs of the population served; participate in committees and facility activities in developing policies and procedures; and participate in quality review programs. In a correctional setting, participate on the Unit Management Team to deliver services to offenders within their units.

Document activities in regular written reports and on charts to comply with legal requirements and maintain adequate records; prepare information and documentation necessary for billing and recommend third party payments as appropriate.

Conduct research and evaluation studies, for data collection and statistical purposes, to enhance services provided which may include interviews, offender characteristics, prediction of positive treatment outcomes, or prediction of recidivism or violence of an individual offender.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Under general direction, incumbents perform advanced clinical and programmatic work and perform the full range of duties described in the series concept. In addition, incumbents observe for mental illness symptoms, developmental or learning disabilities and other related disorders, provide oral and written court testimony as a witness regarding the degree of disability and credibility of offenders and evaluate findings, and supervise lower-level Corrections Counselors to include performance evaluations, work performance standards, scheduling, work assignment and review, training and discipline and may also supervise lower-level professional, technical, and/or administrative staff as needed. Positions at this level typically report to a Corrections Counselor V, a Correctional Programs Administrator, or a Clinical Program Manager, and may be assigned to develop, implement, and manage specialized programs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

This job specification lists the major knowledge, skills and abilities of the job and is not all inclusive. Incumbent(s) will be expected to have knowledge, skills and abilities from a previous level.

Detailed knowledge of: anti-social personalities; correctional programs, criminal justice processes and systems; offender classification and security procedures and requirements; reference books including psychological treatment, diagnostic and statistical manuals.

Working knowledge of: therapeutic principles and techniques used in providing mental health services to clients/offenders with mental illness, developmental and related disorders and disabilities; types, etiology, and treatment of mental disorders; assessment methods; psychopharmacology and correctional programs.

Ability to: apply federal and State laws related to treatment and therapy in a correctional environment; provide mental health services and correctional programming in a correctional setting; abide by the American Psychological Association code of ethics; assess for mental illness, developmental disabilities and related disorders; develop, implement and manage clinical and correctional programs and services; assign and review work, organize staff activities, and provide review of subordinates’ work as assigned.

Recruiter Contact Information: Susan Ashley - q.ashley@admin.nv.gov

The State of Nevada is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building diverse, inclusive, and innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, national origin, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, domestic partnership, genetic information (GINA), or compensation and/or wages.

Please send direct Inquiries or correspondence to the recruiter listed on this announcement.