Mental Health Worker I/II/III

About the Role

Casa Pacifica has been helping at-risk children, their families, and young adults thrive for 30 years. As the largest non-profit provider of children’s and adolescent mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, Casa Pacifica specializes in treating children and young adults who struggle with complex mental health challenges.

Responsibilities

• Communicates critical information about each youth assigned to the treatment team.
• Communicates daily with members of the treatment team about the youth’s progress.
• Assists in developing daily and weekly goals for the assigned youth.
• Provide behavioral coaching to the youth; individually and in group sessions, to assist in identifying/dealing with difficult feelings, and thoughts that result in maladaptive behaviors as well as teaching appropriate replacement behaviors.
• Ensure effective crisis prevention and intervention through input and promoting awareness of safety plans and de-escalation strategies.
• Communicate changes in or achievement of behavioral goals.
• Integrate the youth's treatment plan and clinician's recommendations when working with the youth.
• Assures that safety plans are in place and that they are understood by cottage staff.
• Provides required trauma-informed care, supervision, and treatment in accordance with milieu program and individual treatment plans.
• Facilitates youth in development of social skills, personal competence, individual responsibility, and self-esteem; provides positive reimbursement experiences.
• Participates in individual youth therapy, family meetings and planning conferences.
• Provides transportation as needed
• Engages and participates in group recreation activities and events.
• Develops and assists in leading group activities, experiential outings, and activities of daily living.
• Attends and participates in cottage/program and general staff training programs; attends outside training events and conferences as requested.
• Cares for clothing, shelter, and other basic needs of assigned youth in a manner that contributes to achievement of treatment goals.
• Provide crisis management and intervention and participates in Therapeutic Crises Intervention (TCI)-approved de-escalation of youth, as necessary.
• Maintains confidentiality in all matters within the organization with respect to personnel, operations and clients.
• Plans, organizes and facilitates MHW ran groups and on a variety of topics.
• May perform other duties as assigned from time to time.
• Regularly conducts 15-minute checks to ensure proper safety of youth when working overnight shift and as needed for youth on High Risk “HR” Status.
• Participates in weekly group and/or individual supervision meetings with supervisor.

Requirements

All Mental Health Workers must meet at least one of the following requirements before employment:

• Mental Health Worker I: Bachelor of Arts or Sciences Degree in a related field, or a valid Child Development Training Permit, or Vocational Training Certificate; or completed 12 semester units of Early Childhood education and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth.
• Previously been employed as a staff or volunteer at a group home or short-term residential therapeutic center for 1 year, and/or prior experience working with severely emotionally disturbed children and adolescents.
• Relevant life experience in the child welfare, mental health or juvenile justice system as a consumer, mentor, or caregiver or other relevant experience as determined by the department.
• Internal and external candidates require 1 year of experience in facilitating groups, planning therapeutic activities for groups, milieu management, therapeutic interventions, and collaboration with the clinical team and families.

Qualifications

• Certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), Life Skills Crisis Intervention (LSCI), and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
• Additionally trained in Water Safety, Mandated Abuse Reporting, and Bloodborne Pathogen training, along with other helpful certifications and training.
• Strong organizational, communication and leadership skills; ability to motivate.
• Good working understanding of child and adolescent development, behavior management and group process.
• Aptitude to deal with severely emotionally disturbed children and adolescents in a shelter care setting.
• Bilingual in Spanish, preferred.

Benefits

Casa Pacifica strongly believes in providing our employees with a comprehensive and competitive total benefits package that will support them across the many needs that arise in life.

• Comprehensive Benefits package
• 401k auto enrollment at 3% with up to 5% fully vested employer matching contributions made after first year of service
• 9 paid holidays
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance options
• Flexible Spending and Dependent care programs
• Excellent Training opportunities – including opportunities for CEUs
• Education/Tuition Assistance programs
• Group Discount Pet Insurance
• Aflac Hospital, Critical Illness, Accidental & Dental supplemental plan options
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Free Confidential Crisis Line 24/7, 365 days a year
• 4 face-to-face or telephonic sessions per issue, i.e., Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Life transitions, Grief and Loss, Divorce, Conflict Resolution, Substance Abuse, Work-Life Counseling
• Free Legal and Financial Consultations
• Identity Theft Recovery Services

Pay

Starting pay is ultimately determined by the scope of the position, the candidate's relevant experience, and internal equity. Full-time night shift roles are eligible for a night shift pay differential.

• Mental Health Worker I: pay band ($19 to $28)
• Mental Health Worker II: pay band ($22 to $32)
• Mental Health Worker III: pay band ($23.50 to $36)