What are the responsibilities and job description for the MCSO BHC Counselor- Limited Duration position at Multnomah County, OR?
Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.
Pay Range:
$38.00 - $46.70 Hourly
Department:
Sheriff
Job Type:
Limited Duration
Exemption Status:
United States of America (Non-Exempt)
Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):
February 17, 2025The Opportunity:
Overview:
Are you an experienced and motivated counselor or case manager who is passionate about helping adults in the community turn their lives around and create a better future? Do you enjoy connecting individuals in need with local services and resources? MCSO is recruiting experienced, responsible individuals that are passionate about working alongside law enforcement and the MCSO Homeless Outreach Programs and Engagement (HOPE) team to help adults in Multnomah County. If this describes you, please review this posting thoroughly and follow the application instructions listed in Screening and Evaluation.
Join the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and become part of a dynamic team where your commitment to justice and community safety can make a real difference. We are seeking individuals who are dedicated to serving the community, passionate about helping others and inspired by a strong sense of purpose. MCSO is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and investing in professional development opportunities throughout your career.
To learn more about our agency, please watch our video:
Join Our Team
The BHC Counselor will play an integral role in the MCSO Behavioral Health Connections (BHC) Program by fielding referrals, interacting with clients, developing and maintaining relationships with service providers, and maintaining data collection for program evaluation. The BHC Counselor will primarily assist individuals in need of mental health and/or substance use disorder services in the MCSO service area by connecting them to appropriate service providers in the community.
This position is a Limited Duration Assignment that is expected to last through September 2025, unless otherwise extended.
Apply as soon as possible! We anticipate keeping this recruitment open for three (3) weeks, but may close this recruitment early if a sufficient number of candidates are received.
Primary duties of a BHC Counselor include:
- Working together with MCSO Law Enforcement, MCSO Corrections, and the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO) to launch the Behavioral Health Connections program in East County and other MCSO patrol areas.
- Responding to referrals from law enforcement partners; meeting with individuals in the community that are at risk of justice involvement due to unmanaged mental illness and/or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse; assessing client needs, providing resource connections and ongoing case management support to improve client outcomes.
- Build relationships with service providers in the community that can accept BHC clients and provide behavioral health services or resources to address basic needs.
- Collaborate with staff working in similar County behavioral health programs (such as MCSO’s Mental Health Unit in the Corrections Division, Portland Police’s Behavioral Health Unit, and Gresham’s Service Coordination Team) to share information, leads, and provide comprehensive care.
- Facilitate trainings regarding the BHC program, current trends in law enforcement mental health programs, and best practices to MCSO Law enforcement officers, community members, and others.
- Occasionally utilize a co-responder model and respond to public safety calls for service where a community member is experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
To Qualify
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application about how your background is relevant.
Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills*:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, social work, or a related field. Additional qualifying experience may be considered as a substitute for education on a year for year basis.
- Minimum of one (1) year of counseling and case management experience; familiarity with motivational interviewing and stages of change research.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license by the time of appointment.
- Must pass a criminal records and employment references check.
Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills*: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.
- Master’s degree with major course work in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, social work, or a related field.
- Experience with the criminal justice system and working with law enforcement officers.
- Experience working with high-risk populations, including adults with mental health issues, sex offenders, and substance abusers.
- Familiarity with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and ASAM levels of care.
- Possession of a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) or CADC-Registered (CADC-R) credential, or the ability to obtain certification/registration within the first six months of employment.
- Understanding of basic factors of recidivism.
- Knowledge of local resources and services for disadvantaged individuals.
- Experience developing, implementing and facilitating skill-based and educational groups.
- Familiarity with cognitive restructuring techniques.
- Ability to communicate with cultural competency.
- Bilingual skills.
Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.
Screening and Evaluation:
The Application Packet: The application packet consists of the following documents. You must submit all requested items below. Failure to do so will be deemed as an incomplete application.
- A completed online application demonstrating how your education and experience qualify you for this position.
-
Screening Questions: In lieu of a cover letter, please answer the following two questions (please limit your answers to two pages, double-spaced):
- Question 1: Please describe how your specific work experience, education, employment background and/or lived experience qualifies you for this position and why you are interested in this position. If you meet any of the preferred qualifications, please include in your answer.
- Question 2: How do you anticipate structuring your workload so that you have time to work on case management plans while still being available to work with law enforcement partners in the field to perform outreach and engagement activities?
- Responses to any and all questionnaires that are sent to you after submitting your online application.
- Note: if you are interested in requesting veterans’ preference, please be prepared to submit your DD214 and veteran disability verification forms electronically when requested.
Note: Please contact the recruiter as soon as possible if you experience complications when applying. The application should demonstrate your work experience/skills and how it is related to those shown in the Overview and To Qualify sections of the job announcement. Please be thorough, as these materials will determine your eligibility to advance in this recruitment process.
After You Apply:
- Log in to your Workday account before the job posting closes to see if you have any pending tasks or actions to complete. These can be found under the “My Applications” section. You must complete these tasks or actions before the job posting closes.
- Check both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment.
- Internal Candidates: After you have hit “submit” on your application, check your Workday inbox, and complete all questionnaires, including the Veterans Preference Questionnaire prior to application deadline. The Veterans Preference questionnaire is required for ALL internal candidates, regardless of Veteran status. Certain questionnaires/acknowledgements must be completed before applications are even received by HR.
The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our
overview of the selection process
page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:- Initial review of minimum qualifications.
- Virtual panel interviews.
- Consideration of top candidates.
- Background and reference checks (Personal History Statement completed online).
Additional Information:
Only apply once for this opportunity.
The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future full-time, part-time, regular, temporary, limited-duration, and on-call positions.
Salary: $38.00-$46.70 per hour
Type of Position: Limited Duration Assignment - Represented
Schedule: Monday-Thursday 4/10s, day shift. Flexibility required to attend meetings or appointments during evenings or weekends at times. Telework options are only available on occasion and will be determined with your supervisor.
Location: This position is officially out in the field serving the community that resides in Multnomah County. You will have office space at the Troutdale Police Community Center, 234 SW Kendall Court Troutdale, OR 97060. You will attend community and treatment meetings at various locations.
Benefits: Multnomah County offers a generous benefits package. For more information about our benefit offerings, please click on the following link:
https://multco.us/benefits/new-employee-benefits
Equal Pay: Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.
Serving the Public, Even During Disasters: Every day, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit the
Disaster Service Worker Information
page.Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The
EEO Know Your Rights poster
is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.
Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our
veterans’ preference page
for details about eligibility and how to apply.
Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.
Questions?
Recruiter:
KELSEY RUDEEN
Email:
kelsey.rudeen@mcso.us
Phone:
1 (503) 5226896
Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.
Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
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