Human Services Clinical Counselor - 40011585

Join Durham County Government

Durham County Government is home to over 2,000 dedicated professionals working together to deliver essential services that strengthen and support our vibrant, diverse community. As the heart of a fast-growing region, we offer meaningful careers across a wide range of fields-giving you the opportunity to make a real impact where you live, work, grow, and play. Learn more at www.dconc.gov.

DEPARTMENT:

JUSTICE SERVICES

DATE POSTED:

NOVEMBER 10, 2026

CLOSING DATE:

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

HIRING RANGE:

$59,879.00 - $88,000.00

POSITION NUMBER:

40011585

JOB TYPE:

FULL-TIME, (37.5 HOURS, EXEMPT)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The main purpose of this position is to facilitate successful re-entry into the community from the Durham County Detention Center for individual with substance use and/or mental health issues. Conduct mental health and substance use disorder assessments to determine an appropriate level of care to effectively address their concerns. Function as team lead for Jail Transitions Team. Work with clients and case management staff to create a comprehensive case plan to provide appropriate mental health and substance use disorder treatment coordinating with JSD and community providers. Provide support and guidance to SUD and CBC Counselors who may not have significant experience in providing services to individual with significant mental health issues.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The essential functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the position as necessary.

• Evaluates the client's condition and his/her ability to manage, conduct psychosocial assessments, and develop social histories, service and/or treatment plans.
• Leads team staffing, providing clinical insight to case management on Jail Transition clients.
• Manages cases assigned that typically involve the most severe or traumatic situations such as acute/chronic mental illness or emotional disturbance with a variety of severe or traumatic problems, developmental disabilities, child custody, sexual/physical abuse, major family disruption, death, and suicide.
• Coordinates care for individuals experiencing symptoms of mental illness.
• Complete comprehensive clinical assessment. Use discretion and judgment to determine mental health/substance use diagnosis.
• Conduct psycho-educational groups using evidenced based treatment models when assigned, including serving as an SUD group facilitator as assigned by supervisor.
• Conducts assessments through multi-disciplinary clinical interviews utilizing standard assessment inventories which may include Child and Adolescent Functional Scale, North Carolina Functional Adolescent Scale, leveling, and Attention Deficient Inventory to determine mental and emotional status.
• Develop social histories, treatment plans, and serve as therapists in a general or specific area of concentration, provide short-term and long-term individual, family, group, marital, or play therapy.
• Assumes case management responsibilities to follow the client through agency and external services, but function primarily as therapist.
• Performs administrative duties for JSD such as screening referral, collecting data, attending community meetings and provide administrative assistance to court personnel (Judges, ADA and APD).
• May involve occasional evening and weekend work for client events or agency/group coverage.
• Performs related work as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Thorough knowledge of assessment and counseling/therapy principles and their practical application to complex individual and family work, groupwork crisis intervention, and community issues.
• Considerable knowledge of population being served, available resources, governmental and private organizations, resources in the community, and the laws, regulations, and policies which govern the program.
• Ability to evaluate and screen clients for appropriate treatment, formulate clear goal-oriented treatment plans, and document progress of clients.
• Skill in establishing rapport with clients.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrative supervisors, clients and their families, care providers, and various community organizations.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Master's degree in a human services field from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of counseling/therapy experience in areas such as rehabilitation counseling, pastoral counseling, marriage and family therapy, child life program, or related human services field that provides the experience in techniques of counseling and therapeutic assessments, one of which must have been supervised; or, bachelor's degree in a human service field from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of related human service counseling or therapy experience which provides the above experience, one of which must have been supervised; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA)

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE:

Durham County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires Durham County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.

BACKGROUND CHECK STATEMENT:

This position may be subject to a background check, which could include, but is not limited to, criminal history (employment-related and/or SBI fingerprint-based), credit history, motor vehicle records, educational verification, and checks of the sexual offender registry, depending on the specific requirements of the role. A conviction record does not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment consideration, unless otherwise required by applicable state law.