Travis County

Job Summary

If you are a licensed professional who wishes to provide quality services to a diverse population of individuals in need; Travis County Counseling and Education Services (CES) might be a fit for you. At CES our licensed counselors work daily to assess the needs of individuals involved in the criminal justice system. We determine what will help our clients reduce their risk of recidivism and relapse and increase their chances of becoming a productive member of the community. We appreciate that the individuals who walk through our door are experience a difficult time in their lives and look forward to providing them the respectful care they deserve. Our counselors know that continuous clinical development is essential to providing excellent services and look forward to opportunities to receive feedback about their work.

We’ll be honest, CES isn’t for everybody. If you dislike: working closely as a team, providing and receiving feedback on how to improve your practice, and working with clients who aren’t always happy to be in your office, we’re probably not a fit for you. But if you love working with challenging clients and constantly pushing yourself to become the best you can be, then you need to apply, Now

Duties and Responsibilities

• Performs intake, screening and assessment of clients for substance abuse problems. Assesses the substance abuse, psychosocial and environmental status of clients through screening instruments, personal interviews, observation and other methods to determine clinical and other education/treatment resources and services required. Administers various clinical and other screening tests.
• Conducts individual and group counseling and/or psycho-educational classes regarding substance abuse rehabilitation, cognitive skill development, and relapse prevention techniques. Provides crisis and substance abuse intervention services for clients. Identifies clients in at-risk situations and seeks treatment solutions and alternative environmental surroundings.
• Assists in developing treatment plans and intervention programs and recommending resources and services for clients. Coordinates referral of clients to clinical resources and other services and monitors client progress. Resolves obstacles to service delivery.
• Maintains primary responsibility for coordinating client services provided by clinical and social service professionals and community outreach service providers. Initiates and sustains ongoing advocacy for client.
• Prepares progress reports of client treatment, documents interviews, observations and evaluations for case file. Conducts and maintains analysis of treatment and service provider usage. Develops discharge plans, including referrals to counseling and social service programs in the community.
• Assists in planning, developing and conducting training sessions for staff and volunteers.
• Serves as liaison with advocacy groups, clinical and other service providers, community outreach services and law enforcement personnel. Conducts presentations related to substance abuse treatment and counseling for outside groups, agencies and organizations.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Social or Behavioral Sciences or a directly related field AND two (2) years experience in substance abuse counseling, social services or criminal justice work;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC); OR,

Qualified Credentialed Counselor (QCC) must be obtained within six (6) months of date of hire.

Valid Texas Driver's License.

Preferred:

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

Bilingual in English and Spanish

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Procedures for assessing the substance abuse, psychosocial and environmental status of clients.
• Counseling theory techniques and resources.
• Substance abuse and crisis intervention techniques and resources.
• Policies, practices, procedures and standards within area of assignment.
• Advocacy groups, clinical and other service providers and community outreach services.
• Principles and procedures of case file documentation.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.

Skill in:

• Counseling and providing crisis and other assistance to clients.
• Screening and assessing the substance abuse, psychosocial and environmental status of clients.
• Administering various clinical and other screening tests.
• Determining types of counseling, social service provider and other services indicated for clients.
• Obtaining information from clients and other sources.
• Developing treatment, intervention and discharge plans for clients.
• Developing and conducting training sessions.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Apply counseling theory, practice and procedures.
• Develop client advocacy programs.
• Work efficiently, both independently and as a team member.
• Manage time well and meet timelines.
• Communicate effectively.
• Maintain clear and legible documentation.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, other County employees and officials, community outreach and other organizations, clinical service providers, law enforcement personnel and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, driving, client/customer contact, and squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: M-F 8am-5pm, occasional nights 12pm-9:30 pm

Department: Community Education Services

Location: 5501 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX

Criminal Background Check Required.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Benefits

Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.

FY2025 Travis County Benefit Guide

In this valuable Travis County Benefits Guide you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.

Credit Union

Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.

Deferred Compensation

Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.

Direct Deposit

Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.

Employee Assistance Program

Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.

Employee Organizations

Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.

Employee Health & Wellness Clinic

Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.

Holidays

An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Insurance

Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County’s current policy is to pay 100% of the employee’s health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.

The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.

Longevity

Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.

On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.

Parking

A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.

Personal Holidays

Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:

January – March

3 personal holidays

April - June

2 personal holidays

July - September

1 personal holiday

October - December

None

New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.

Retirement

Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.

Sick Leave

Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.

Parental Leave

Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.

Tuition Refund

Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.

Vacation

Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:

0 to 5 years

4.0 hours per pay period

6 to 10 years

4.5 hours per pay period

11 to 15 years

5.0 hours per pay period

16 to 20 years

5.5 hours per pay period

21 plus years

6.0 hours per pay period

Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.

Workers' Compensation

The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.

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