AgencySafety
Division70000075 Dept of Public Safety
Job Classification TitleLicensed Mental Health Professional (NS)
Position Number65029577
GradeNC14
About UsThe Department of Public Safety's mission is to safeguard and preserve the lives and property of the people of North Carolina through preparation, prevention, and protection with integrity and honor. Our agency houses many public safety divisions, including Emergency Management, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Samarcand Training Academy, and the North Carolina National Guard. Join us along with our more than 3,000 employees and 12,000 National Guard members in providing exceptional public safety services to the citizens of North Carolina.
Description Of WorkAbout NCEM:
The mission of North Carolina Emergency Management is to enhance North Carolina’s resiliency through active collaboration, communication, and coordination of protection, prevention, mitigation, response and recovery measures.
NCDPS has implemented a program, the Responder Assistance Initiative (RAI), that resides within the NC Division of Emergency Management (NCEM) as means for bolstering access to mental health and wellness (MHW) resources with NCDPS and first responder agencies throughout NC. RAI is comprised of a team of highly experienced and culturally competent providers and support staff regionally situated throughout the state. The RAI team includes licensed mental health professionals; professionally trained peer support consultants; and wellness coordinators. The program is designed to provide a mechanism for standardizing best practices in prevention and intervention that address impacts of potentially traumatic events, critical incidents, and professional and personal stressors characteristic of this high-risk work environment. Through an established continuum of care, this program provides access to information and resources including the highest quality behavioral healthcare, wellness initiatives, peer support/intervention, and consultation for larger systems support for public safety organizations. As part of a strategic and progressive business plan, the program is in the process of expanding eligibility for these services to various, external to NCDPS, law enforcement and first responder entities with the potential to extend programs to support the family members of responders who also endure impacts of secondary trauma related to public safety incident exposure.
About The PositionThis Licensed Mental Health Professional position with the NC Responder Assistance Initiative is a regional position and will be based in Fayetteville. The selected candidate is required to travel within the Fayetteville County region which is comprised of Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, , Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, and Wake counties with occassional travel in other parts of the State.
The Responder Assistance Initiative (RAI) program is seeking a behavioral health professional to address the mental health needs of Dept. of Public Safety (DPS) employees and external partner agencies (police, fire, EMS, dispatch) emergency management who are exposed to traumatic evetns and critical incidents related to the type of work inhent in First Responder occupational settings. This program is composed of licensed mental health providers, wellness coordinators, and peer support professionals who are situated across the state as regional proividers.
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
referrals as appropriate.
NOTE: We will consider candidates licensed at the Associate or Provisional level if supervision is available. If selected, the candidate will be considered a Trainee and their salary will be assessed according to the months of experience obtained at the date of application. They will progress through the phases and receive salary increases as they reach each additional level of experience until they become fully licensed to practice without Board-mandated supervision.
Knowledge Skills And Abilities/Management Preferences Please note that this posting will close at 11:59pm on 10/28/2026 * All new hires are required to report in-office/on-site for the first 90 days of hire.*
This is a full time permanent position (40 hours per week) with State Benefits.DPS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals.
The Minimum Education and Experience (E&E) is REQUIRED to qualify for this position. Management Preferences, including Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs), are not required but may be used to determine the pool of most qualified applicants. Managers may also choose to interview/select applicants who demonstrate Management Preferences.
All work history and education (including accurate dates of employment/attendance) must be documented on the application. Work experience may include internships, volunteerism, and full and part-time work. A complete, all-inclusive application maximizes an applicant’s potential to qualify for the position, as well as receive the highest possible salary if selected for the position. Salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations for the advertised position. Click here for more information and application resources.
Resumes may be attached as a supplement to the application but are not a substitute for a complete application.
Management Preferences
Applicants must be licensed in one of the following credentials:
Supplemental InformationThe North Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws and Executive Orders. Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we are committed to full inclusion of qualified applicants and will review requests for reasonable accommodation to perform essential job functions during the hiring process or while on the job.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
For applicants with student loans, becoming a state employee may include eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visit www.studentaid.gov to learn more.
Transcripts
transcripts are crucial to awarding credit. Degrees and transcripts must be achieved from an appropriately accredited college or university.
Military Experience
The NC Dept. of Public Safety must adhere to the US Dept. of Justice Final Rule on the "National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape." PREA Hiring and Promotion Prohibitions. Selected applicants for positions which are subject to PREA will undergo a PREA-specific background check. Our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated, or justice involved, and we invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified. Due to the nature of work performed in our agency, prior convictions and/or charges may prohibit employment for positions which are subject to PREA or other position-specific background checks.
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application. Please log in to your Workday account to check the status of your application. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by the hiring manager. If you are no longer under consideration, you will receive an email notification when the position is filled. For more information about the application process, please visit State Application Resources/Frequently Asked Questions. For technical issues related to your Workday applications, please place a support ticket. For basic information regarding employment with North Carolina State Government, please call (984) 236-0800. If there are any questions about this specific vacancy other than your application status, please contact ncemhr at ncemhr@ncdps.gov.
Minimum Education And ExperienceSome state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.
Master's degree in psychology, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, clinical counseling or human services related field from an appropriately accredited educational institution. Necessary Special Qualification Requirements Must hold an independent license to practice as a mental health clinical practitioner in North Carolina or have met the requirements to be licensed in North Carolina at the associate or provisional level as a mental health clinical practitioner.
EEO StatementThe State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.
RecruiterAshley Minnick
Recruiter EmailASHLEY.MINNICK@NCDPS.GOV
