Counselor, Mental Health, Social Work

Position Description

The Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD) is one of the largest probation departments in the United States, supervising more than 70,000 individuals and employing over 600 staff members across six locations. CSCD provides a wide range of services including community supervision, outpatient counseling, cognitive‑behavioral programming, and residential treatment designed to strengthen clients’ abilities and support their long‑term success.

With a focus on evidence‑based practices, the department seeks to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism for all clients under supervision.

The Specialty Court Counselor I/II provides clinical services for individuals involved in the criminal justice system. The counselor completes intake assessments, treatment planning, progress reports, treatment plan reviews, and discharge summaries. All clinically related duties are documented concisely and timely, and the counselor works with the Specialty Court interdisciplinary treatment team to ensure client needs are addressed.

• Attend weekly or bi‑weekly staff meetings with the CSCD court team (CSOs, Program Manager, CSO Supervisor, Counselor Supervisor, etc.).
• Collaborate and communicate with CSOs as needed between scheduled CSCD staff meetings.
• Attend court staffings for assigned dockets or courts.
• Attend court reviews with clients present for assigned dockets or courts.
• Provide the interdisciplinary court team with appropriate treatment recommendations.
• Complete assessments for clients who have completed substance abuse treatment but remain in STAR Drug Court or SOBER Court as requested by the judge, and provide court team with treatment recommendations.
• Conduct individual and group counseling sessions with clients.
• Provide services to clients with diverse criminal backgrounds.
• Communicate key information and collaborate regularly with Community Supervision Officers.
• Track compliance with drug and alcohol testing and provide evidence‑based interventions for substance use treatment.
• Participate in staffing cases with supervisors, peers, Community Supervision Officers, and the courts.
• Ensure accurate and timely entries in the electronic case management system.
• Monitor and adhere to deadlines to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance with policy, grant standards, funding and licensing requirements, special conditions of community supervision, and Community Justice Assistance Division (CJAD) general and substance abuse standards.
• Maintain professional and effective communication, including email correspondence, with judges, attorneys, prosecutors, court personnel, law enforcement, CSCD personnel, victims, and community members.
• Participate in clinical and interdisciplinary staffing.
• Attend team, unit, and departmental meetings.
• Travel to court, other HCCSCD locations or off‑site meetings for training, group coverage, etc., as required.
• Testify in a court setting.
• Operate office equipment, computers, phones, telecommunication devices, and other necessary tools.
• Work collaboratively with other personnel.
• Foster a positive work environment by communicating and behaving cooperatively, respectfully, and amicably with supervisors, co‑workers, and the public.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Work overtime as required.

This job description is not exhaustive; duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Education: Master’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work or a related field.

Licensure: At the start of employment, the applicant must possess licensure as one of the following:

• Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC‑A)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (LMFT‑A)

Other

Qualification:

Valid Texas Class C automobile operator’s license or Texas Identification Card.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must become Texas Risk Assessment System (TRAS) certified and maintain…