Mental Health Clinician I

About the role

The position serves as the Licensed Mental Health Clinician for the Juvenile Hall and Juvenile Probation. The vacancy is in Ukiah.

Responsibilities

• Performs counseling and psychotherapy functions including answering crisis calls; talking with patients, one on one, identifying problems and assisting patients in reaching goals; conducting evaluations and assessments; providing ongoing supportive therapy; conducting group therapy sessions; presenting findings; and intervening during patient crisis.
• Interviews and evaluates client for admittance, determines if client has potential to harm self or others.
• Participates in treatment team, staff and professional meetings to discuss client progress.
• Prepares progress notes, charts and closing and/or transfer summaries on clients in accordance with professional standards, state regulations and department protocol.
• Maintains and provides safe environment for clients and staff.
• Initiates, coordinates and manages special programs.
• Serves as liaison and consultant with schools, organizations, parents, children, etc. on issues concerning clients; may serve on committees, boards, etc., and participate in community activities/organizations relevant to client needs.
• Maintains and upgrades knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars, meetings and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications.
• Researches and corrects errors.
• Enters and retrieves information from a computer terminal; uses the computer system to retrieve a variety of daily, monthly and yearly reports.
• Disseminates a variety of information to various agencies, divisions, or departments via telephone, employee meetings, mail or fax.
• May serve as backup for other positions within the department.

Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Psychology or related field; and, one to two years of progressively responsible experience; or, when possessing the required Master's Degree and licensure or certification, a combination of related education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Licenses and Certifications: Marriage and Family Therapist Intern (or) Associate Clinical Social Worker (or) Current registration with Board of Behavioral Sciences (or) Fully eligible for registration with Board of Behavioral Sciences (or) An intern in a PhD. or PsyD Program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), which would, upon successful completion, lead to licensure by the California Board of Psychology.

Qualifications

• Knowledge: Modern methods, techniques and procedures used in marriage, family and child counseling; psychological theory; interviewing techniques; crisis intervention techniques; community resources; history, theory and new trends in mental illness; special education laws pertaining to emotionally disturbed children; school policies and procedures; ethical and legal management practices; patients legal rights; uses and effects of psychotropic medications.
• Skills: Case management; observing and recording psychiatric behavior; using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines; organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up assignments with a minimum of direction; communicating clearly and effectively, orally and in writing; using a computer to accurately and rapidly enter and retrieve data and information; preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials.

Benefits

Compensation is based on a five-step salary range, with annual merit-based increases within the salary range. The County and the employee share the cost of an employee selected health care plan; enrollment in the plan includes $20,000 Life Insurance.

Health Insurance: For the most current information regarding Health Insurance please go to: http://www.mendocinocounty.org/hr/ehb

Employee Assistance Program: For the most current information regarding Employee Assistance please go to: http://www.mendocinocounty.org/hr/eap

Employee Wellness Program: For the most current information regarding Employee Wellness please go to: http://www.mendocinocounty.org/hr/mcwow

Labor Contracts: For the complete list of most current labor agreements please go to: http://www.mendocinocounty.org/hr/labor