Behavioral Health Clinician I/II

About the role

The County of Del Norte Department of Health & Human Services - Behavioral Health Branch seeks a qualified candidate for the position of Behavioral Health Clinician I/II. This position is classified as full-time.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates patients and provides crisis intervention services in a variety of settings including field situations.
• Obtains patient history, completes mental status examinations, diagnosis and conducts complex clinical assessments, utilizing the five axis format using the most recent DSM, and develops service plan.
• Provides ongoing psychotherapy in outpatient and day rehabilitation environment making necessary referrals for patient in an as needed basis.
• Participates as a member of the multi-disciplinary team providing critical clinical input relating to patient diagnosis and recommended treatment plans and case conferences consulting with psychiatric staff in the review of cases and medication issues.
• Evaluates patients for voluntary and involuntary commitment and signs commitments for clients requiring hospitalization as necessary.
• Provides direction, training and chart auditing for assigned student interns, participating in staff intern training and quality assurance/peer review functions.
• As care coordinator, prepares detailed patient record documentation and maintains caseload records, preparing intake and discharge summaries, progress notes, and treatment plan.
• Performs program planning to develop and implement services appropriate to assisting both adult and child psychiatric clients.
• Serves as a liaison with community agencies, school personnel, parents and other services to evaluate community mental health needs and services.
• Performs educational services to specific patients or segments of the mental health population.
• Performs related duties as required or assigned.

Requirements

• Possession of a valid California driver’s license.
• Master’s degree in psychology, marriage and family counseling, social work, psychiatric nursing or related field.
• Possession of a valid intern registration number issued by the Board of Science Examiners or Board of Psychology.
• Possession of an appropriate license to practice as a licensed marriage, family, child counselor, clinical psychologist, licensed professional counselor, or clinical social worker in the State of California within five years following registration as an intern.
• To obtain a II level, possession of an appropriate license to practice as a licensed marriage, family, child counselor, clinical psychologist, licensed professional counselor, or clinical social worker in the State of California.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of principles and practices of adult and child psychology and community mental health treatment interviewing, assessment, individual, family and group counseling.
• Knowledge of general psychiatric emergency intervention, diagnosis and brief and long term psychotherapeutic methods.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations related to patients’ rights, voluntary and involuntary treatment and commitment for treatment including criteria for commitment.
• Knowledge of community resources and agencies providing service for the community mentally ill or disabled.
• Knowledge of medical record keeping and documentation including patient charting and Medi-Cal regulations and documentation for medical necessity.
• Ability to assess client mental status and make accurate and appropriate diagnosis and effective treatment plans.
• Ability to analyze crisis situations in a prompt and concise manner to facilitate appropriate treatment or referrals.
• Ability to evaluate patients for medication referrals.
• Ability to prepare detailed case summaries and documentation and maintenance of records to comply with local, state and federal rules and regulations.
• Ability to protect patients’ rights and providing advocacy for the mentally ill.
• Ability to coordinate emergency psychiatric support services efforts with appropriate county, community, school and other involved agencies.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with other therapists, county staff, school personnel, referral agency representatives, physicians and the general public.
• Ability to present peer review in the most current version of the diagnostic and statistical manual for performing diagnosis on all five axis.
• Knowledge of principles and techniques of comprehensive presentations and training.
• Knowledge of conducting education and presenting training.
• Knowledge of peer review and most current literature pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol and other drug abuse or mental health issues.
• Ability to conduct effective alcohol and other drug abuse education and awareness training or mental health prevention information.
• Knowledge of peer review in the most current version the diagnostic manual for performing diagnosis on all five axis with a general explanatory with a diagnosis manual for use in formally in diagnosis, when needed.
• Knowledge of basic principles of leadership.
• Knowledge of county policies regarding employee supervision including familiarity with the employee handbook.
• Ability to provide support to treatment team members.

Skills

• Ability to assess client mental status and make accurate and appropriate diagnosis and effective treatment plans.
• Ability to analyze crisis situations in a prompt and concise manner to facilitate appropriate treatment or referrals.
• Ability to evaluate patients for medication referrals.
• Ability to prepare detailed case summaries and documentation and maintenance of records to comply with local, state and federal rules and regulations.
• Ability to protect patients’ rights and providing advocacy for the mentally ill.
• Ability to coordinate emergency psychiatric support services efforts with appropriate county, community, school and other involved agencies.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with other therapists, county staff, school personnel, referral agency representatives, physicians and the general public.
• Ability to present peer review in the most current version of the diagnostic and statistical manual for performing diagnosis on all five axis.
• Ability to conduct effective alcohol and other drug abuse education and awareness training or mental health prevention information.
• Ability to provide support to treatment team members.

Benefits

BENEFITS: The County provides a comprehensive benefit package, generous time off accruals, professional development opportunities, and other perks. Specific details are available in the labor agreements (MOUs).

Pay

Biweekly salary: Behavioral Health Clinician I: $2,750.40 - $3,343.14 Behavioral Health Clinician II: $2,889.64 - $3,512.38

Schedule

Full-time position.