NOC Relief Mental Health Worker

For 30 years, Casa Pacifica has been helping at-risk children, their families, and young adults thrive. 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 such as emotional dysregulation, self-harm, anxiety, and depression. Our multi-disciplinary staff of highly trained clinicians, psychologists, educators, therapists, and mental health workers provide exceptional, evidence-based care to help youth overcome mental health challenges.

About the role

Under the direction and guidance of the Cottage Supervisor, this role is responsible for the care and treatment of children and adolescents housed in the cottage(s). The Night Shift (NOC) Mental Health Worker collaborates closely with the NOC Facility Manager and relief staff during evening shifts. The role upholds Casa Pacifica's Standards of Behavior and embodies core values of respect, integrity, compassion, and courage in daily care, ensuring program and treatment objectives are met.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, protect, and care for youth individually and in groups.
• Support youth within a group setting and address individual problems.
• Administer discipline and set behavioral limits.
• Facilitate post-incident debriefing and transfer learning to cottage staff and the youth’s treatment team; ensure all debriefings and incident reports are completed.
• Conduct searches upon youth admission and return from community outings (e.g., school, overnight passes, elopement); record and dispose of contraband per policy.
• Document youth progress, identify needs for professional services, and communicate findings to professional staff.
• Share critical information about assigned youth with cottage and activity staff; communicate daily with the treatment team about youth progress.
• Assist in developing daily and weekly goals for assigned youth.
• Ensure implementation of intervention plans developed by the treatment team; inform relevant parties (school, cottages, medical clinic, clinical staff) about special interventions.
• Ensure safety plans are in place and understood by cottage staff; conduct 15-minute bed checks to ensure youth safety.
• Orient youth and parents to unit life and programs as needed.
• Assist in teaching parents youth behavioral management skills.
• Provide childcare and treatment in accordance with unit programs and individual treatment plans.
• Teach youth social skills, personal competence, individual responsibility, and self-esteem; provide positive experiences approximating a nurturing home.
• Participate in individual youth therapy, family meetings, and planning conferences.
• Transport youth to off-campus activities as required; ensure adequate supervision and control during off-campus activities.
• Develop and assist in leading group activities and events; coordinate with other counselors about planned activities.
• Coordinate activities for residents, including recreation, meal preparation, chores, and hobbies.
• Oversee and assist in the tutorial program.
• Record observations in the unit log; complete incident reports as necessary; document residents' activities and progress.
• Maintain assigned unit vehicles, staff radios, and Casa Pacifica equipment; teach youth respect for property.
• Provide additional youth services and assistance as needed.
• Attend and participate in unit and general staff training programs; attend outside training events as requested.
• Care for clothing, shelter, and other basic needs of assigned residents in a manner that supports treatment goals.
• Participate in recreational activities or instruct youth in games.
• Discipline youth and recommend or initiate measures to control behavior.
• Escort youth to designated activities.
• Perform general housekeeping duties in residents' living areas.
• Secure medical personnel services as needed.
• Assist in preparing and maintaining assigned records, files, and reports.
• Participate in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention-approved de-escalation of youth, as necessary.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding personnel, operations, and clients.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Callout Procedures

• NOC Mental Health Workers must provide at least twelve (12) hours' notice before their scheduled shift unless it is a true emergency (e.g., hospitalization).
• For absences, notify the Cottage Supervisor or designee between 8 am–5 pm, Monday through Friday.
• For callouts between 6 pm–8 am, weekends, or holidays, notify the Facility Manager and on-call administrator directly at 805-443-3972. Leaving a message, texting, or emailing is not acceptable.
• Excessive callouts (absenteeism) may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Requirements

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Completed and cleared Live Scan, criminal statement, and health screening with TB test.
• Must complete a one-hour training on mandatory reporting requirements per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) during pre-service orientation and periodically thereafter.
• Valid driver’s license required for transporting youth; any changes to driving record must be reported immediately to Human Resources and supervisor.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• A Bachelor of Arts or Sciences Degree.
• A valid Child Development Teaching Permit.
• Completed 12 semester units of Early Childhood Education, Adolescent Development, or Foster and Kinship Care Education, and at least 100 hours of experience working with youth.
• A valid certificate as an Alcohol Counselor, Drug Counselor, or Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and at least 100 hours of experience working with youth.
• A valid vocational training certificate, credential, or documentation demonstrating trade journeyperson status instructing children in vocational skills, with at least 100 hours of experience as a mentor, coach, teacher, or counselor.
• Previously employed as 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 child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems as a consumer, mentor, or caregiver.

At a minimum, direct care staff must demonstrate:

• Knowledge and understanding of the needs of children in a residential setting.
• Skills and ability to engage and develop rapport with children from diverse backgrounds.
• Skills and ability to provide consistency and behavioral limits through relationship-based interventions.
• Effective communication and collaborative problem-solving skills.

Credentials

• First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.

Skills

• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills; ability to motivate others.
• Good understanding of child and adolescent development, behavior management, and group process.
• Aptitude for working with severely emotionally disturbed children and adolescents in a shelter care setting.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Basic mathematical skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).
• Ability to define problems, solve practical problems, and deal with variables in situations with limited standardization.

Competencies

• Teamwork and Relationships
• Judgement and Problem Solving
• Communication
• Initiative and Integrity
• Ethics and Integrity
• Analytical and Critical Thinking

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

• Regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to feel objects or tools, reach with hands and arms (e.g., restraining), stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Regularly required to talk, hear, taste, and smell.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• Work environment includes office areas, cottages, and outdoor spaces.
• May work in outside weather conditions and indoor spaces.
• Physically moves intermittently throughout the day.
• Subject to frequent interruptions; noise level is usually moderate to loud.

Pay

Wage band range: $19.00 to $28.00 per hour, determined by contract obligations, scope of the position, relevant experience, and internal equity. Full-time night shift roles are eligible for a night shift pay differential.

Schedule

Full-time shift: Thursday through Saturday.