MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR II

Salary: $85,924.80 - $111,716.80 Annually
Location : Reno, NV
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 60006153 (09/2024)
Department: Countywide
Opening Date: 09/12/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
Position Information
The total compensation package including benefits based on being hired at the minimum of the salary range is approximately $139,951.20.
Under supervision, performs professional clinical duties in the areas of child protective services, adult services, senior services or juvenile services; and performs related work as required.
This is an Open Competitive / Countywide Promotional recruitment being conducted to fill a current full-time vacancy in the Sheriff's Office. The list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur throughout the County. Some positions may be grant-funded positions. That information will be provided at the interview.
For more information on this position, please see the Job Specification at
Minimum Qualifications
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. (Licensure must be as a practitioner, not as an intern.)
A valid driver's license is required at the time of appointment.
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 past 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.

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

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.

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

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, while community-based services use Multisystemic Therapy (MST), offering in-home therapy that targets moderate- to high-risk youth, addressing interpersonal, peer, school, and family conflicts to prevent deeper involvement in the justice system. MST training is provided upon hiring.
Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Experience with at-risk youth and family systems.
• Flexibility for in-home and community-based therapy including ability to work evenings or weekends.
• Experience with suicide, self-harm, aggression, and serious emotional disturbance.
• 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.

Conditions of Employment
The Washoe County Employees Association (WCEA) Non-Supervisory covers the Mental Health Counselor II positions at Department of Alternative Sentencing, 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 July 1, 2019, the $40.25 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.
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

For positions at Department of Alternative Sentencing , after the interview, top candidates must pass a background investigation which includes:

• Submit a set of fingerprints.
• Complete and submit a personal history statement.

Human Services Agency employees will be required to have a tuberculosis test. The cost of the test will be borne by the selected applicant(s).
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.
What Happens Next
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.
3. Candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be placed on an unranked eligible list for the department to interview upon the close of the recruitment. 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.
4. Please be advised you can log in to your NeoGov account and click on "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 as well as your applicant history for each recruitment. In addition, you can also click on "Inbox" to view the notices which have been sent to you for each recruitment. If you have any updates to your contact information after your application is submitted, please contact
If you have any questions regarding the Online Application Process you can find additional information at the following link:
Questions: Alicia Agrella
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.

• Nevada PERS Retirement - Washoe County pays 100% of the PERS contribution for each benefit eligible employee.
• Health, Dental, Life and Vision Insurance - Washoe County contributes 100% of the premium for each employee. Washoe County also contributes 50% of the premium for dependent coverage. Note: New employees are automatically enrolled in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account. Washoe County contributes up to $2,500 annually (based on benefit effective date and coverage tier) into the employee's Health Savings Account (HSA). Newly hired employees become eligible for health benefits after 30 days of employment. Benefits Link -
• Deferred Compensation plans available
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Vacation Accrual (120 hours per year, increasing with continued employment)
• Sick Leave (120 hours per year, increasing with continued employment)
• Longevity Pay
• Merit Increases - Full-time employees eligible to receive an annual merit increase of 5% until the position classification's maximum salary is reached.
• Cost-of living adjustments - historical annual COLA increases for 2017-2024 have ranged from 2.5% - 5.0%
• There are no Social Security deductions (although a 1.45% deduction for Medicare is required)
• Nevada does not have state or local income tax*

01
I have read the job announcement and I understand I need to meet the minimum qualifications to proceed in the selection process.

• Yes
• No

02
I have attached my certifications to the application.

• Yes
• No

03
I am interested in available opportunities in the Sheriff's Office - Mobile Outreach Safety Team (MOST).

• Yes
• No

04
I am interested in available opportunities in the Human Services Agency - Children's Services.

• Yes
• No

05
I am interested in available opportunities in the Human Services Agency - Children's Mobile Crisis Response Team.

• Yes
• No

06
I am interested in available opportunities in the Human Services Agency - Housing and Homeless Services.

• Yes
• No

07
I am interested in available opportunities in the Juvenile Services - Mental Health Unit.

• Yes
• No

Required Question