Mental Health Clinician II

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

• Answers crisis calls; talks with patients, one on one, identifies problems and assists patients in reaching goals;
• Conducts evaluations and assessments; provides ongoing supportive therapy;
• Conducts court-ordered psycho-social assessments; conducts group therapy sessions; presents findings; intervenes during patient crisis;
• Interviews and evaluates clients for admission; determines if client has potential to harm self or others; finds board and care placements and other housing for clients; assists clients in obtaining financial resources;
• 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 a safe environment for clients and staff;
• Initiates, coordinates and manages special programs;
• Serves as liaison and consultant with schools, organizations, agencies, parents, children, probation officers, etc. on issues concerning clients; assists families, teachers and/or counselors in identifying children with mental health problems; participates on the Mental Health Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Team;
• Provides consultation and related services to school districts, including: participating on special teams, developing intervention strategies and supporting school staff in early identification of at-risk children;
• 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;
• Serves as backup for other positions within the department.

Requirements

• Required Education and Experience: Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Psychology or related field; or Bachelor's degree when also possessing a Psychiatric Registered Nurse certification, and Two to three years of progressively responsible experience; or, When also possessing required licensure, a combination of related education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Licenses And Certifications: Marriage and Family Therapist (or) Licensed Clinical Social Worker (or) Licensed Psychologist (or) Psychiatric Registered Nurse.

Qualifications

• Knowledge Of: Modern methods, techniques and procedures used in marriage, family and child counseling; Psychological theory; Interviewing techniques; Child and adolescent development; Juvenile justice system; 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 psycho tropic medications.
• Skill In: Advanced counseling and therapeutic processes and procedures; Case management; Observing and recording psychiatric behavior; Crisis assessment and disposition; 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.
• Mental And Physical Abilities: Ability to analyze, evaluate and diagnose situations and adopt effective courses of action; Ability to conduct 3632 eligibility evaluations; Ability to assess and intervene in high risk situations (suicide, aggression); Ability to write clear and concise reports and chart notes in accordance with professional standards, state regulations and department protocol; Ability to read, analyze and interpret professional periodicals and journals, technical procedures and government regulations; While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and speak and hear; and use sound perception and discrimination; While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is frequently required to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and is occasionally required to apply a physical exertion in restraining overactive or hostile clients and/or move up to 30 pounds.