Mental Health Worker II (PHP-IOP)

About the role

The Camino a Casa Mental Health Worker II “MHW II” is responsible for the care and treatment of youth housed in the CAMINO A CASA Education Cottage and youth attending of the PHP/IOP programs. Duties include leading groups and program activities, providing daily support for youth, and integrating trauma-informed care.

Responsibilities

• Provides care and supervision for the youth individually and in groups.
• Aids each youth working within a group and handling individual problems.
• Understands natural and logical consequences and restorative justice principles and sets limits for behavior modification.
• Notates the youth’s progress; identifies needs of the youth and communicates information to the treatment team.
• Communicates critical information about each child assigned to them treatment team.
• Communicates daily with members of the treatment team about the child's progress.
• Aids in developing daily and weekly goals for the assigned youth.
• Informs all parties that need to know (school, cottages, activities, medical clinic, clinical staff, etc.) about specific interventions that have been developed, while maintaining youth’s confidentiality.
• Provides 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.
• Ensures effective crisis prevention and intervention through input and promoting awareness of safety plans and de-escalation strategies.
• Communicates changes in or achievement of behavioral goals.
• Integrates the youth's treatment plan and clinician's recommendations when working with the youth.
• Assures the success of daily intervention/safety plans.
• 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, appropriate boundaries, individual responsibility, and self-esteem; provides positive reimbursement experiences.
• Participates in individual child/adolescent therapy, family meetings and planning conferences.
• Provides transportation to off-campus activities as required in accordance with Casa Pacifica’s rules and procedures; assures adequate supervision of off campus activities.
• Engages and participates in group recreation activities and events.
• Develops and assists in leading group activities, experiential outings, and activities of daily living.
• Coordination of a variety of activities for residents including recreation, meal preparation, chores, hobbies, etc.
• Records observations in the cottage communication logs as required; completes incident reports as necessary.
• Maintains assigned unit vehicle and other unit or Casa Pacifica equipment; transports youth to designated off-site activities, school., appointments as needed.
• Attends and participates in cottage/program and general staff training programs; attends outside training events and conferences as requested.
• Cares for needs of assigned youth in a manner that contributes to achievement of treatment goals.
• Participates and provides opportunity for recreation activities.
• Accompanies youth to designated activities.
• Performs general housekeeping duties in cottage area.
• Secures services for meetings as needed.
• Assists in the preparation and maintenance of assigned records, files, and reports.
• Provides crisis management and intervention and participates in Therapeutic Crises Intervention (TCI)-approved de-escalation of children, as necessary.
• Maintains confidentiality in all matters within the organization with respect to personnel, operations and clients.
• Completes incident reports and mental health progress/billing notes before completion of the assigned shift, unless otherwise approved by the supervisor.
• Plans, organizes and facilitates MHW ran groups and on a variety of topics.
• Serves as communication liaison with referring parties and families, by phone or via email as needed.
• 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.

Qualifications

• Position requires staff must be at least 21 years of age.
• Completed and cleared Live scan, criminal statement, health screening with TB test.
• Must undergo a one-hour training which reviews mandatory reporting requirements as per Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA).
• A valid California driver’s license is required for transporting clients.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the education, experience and ability, with or without accommodation, to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
• Must meet at least one of the following requirements prior to employment:
  • Bachelor of Arts or Sciences Degree; (social work, sociology and psychology or related field);
  • Completed 12 semester units of Early Childhood Education, Adolescent Development, or Foster and Kinship Care Education and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth.
  • A valid certificate as an Alcohol Counselor, Drug Counselor or Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth.
  • A valid vocational training certificate, credential, or documentation demonstrating that the individual is a trade journeyperson who instructs children in vocational skills and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth as a mentor, athletic coach, teacher, vocational coach, tutor, counselor, or other relevant experience as determined by the department.
  • Previously been employed as a full-time staff or served as a volunteer at a group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, or substance abuse treatment program for at least one year.
  • 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.
• In addition, individual must meet one of the following billing requirements:
  • A minimum two (2) years of full-time experience providing direct care experience in a mental health setting and/or support services to mental health clients and their families.
  • Possesses a bachelor's degree in a mental health related field (Social-Behavioral Sciences including psychology, social work, or sociology) AND A minimum of one-year full-time experience providing direct care experience in a mental health setting and/or support services to mental health clients and their families.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive Benefits package
• 401k auto enrollment at 3% with up to 5% fully vested employer matching contributions made after first year of service
• 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

Equal Opportunity Employer

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. In addition to the salary information listed above, employees within this position will also be eligible for the following:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. All applicants will be given full consideration under state, local, and federal law.