Mental Health Clinical Specialist, County-Wide, California

The Position

The Contra Costa County Health Services Department is recruiting individuals to fill vacant Mental Health Clinical Specialist positions. The individuals appointed to these positions may be assigned to such program components as inpatient psychiatric wards, out-patient mental health clinics, crisis intervention, screening units, public health, or a criminal justice mental health program. Mental Health Clinical Specialists provide psychotherapeutic intervention and treatment services to patients and/or clients and their families in an individual and group therapy environment. In addition, they prepare social case histories, refer patients or clients to appropriate community agencies and perform specialized mental health services.

Qualified Spanish-speaking persons are encouraged to apply. A monthly salary differential of $100 is paid to employees in positions that require bilingual proficiency.

Read the complete job description by clicking this link.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may remain in effect for six months.

Typical Tasks

• Provides psycho-therapeutic intervention, treatment, and other related mental health services to consumers and their families
• Provides individual, family, and group therapy services
• Participates in the evaluation of problems presented and in the formulation of diagnoses and the development of treatment plans
• Prepares social case histories with particular emphasis upon psycho-social factors affecting the client
• Coordinates with other staff members and community agencies in carrying out treatment and/or rehabilitation plans
• Evaluates residential facilities for level of care and continuing program eligibility
• Provides supportive services to board and care staff including training, treatment plan development, and liaison at the client level
• Interprets and explains to clients, relatives, services to specific population groups (i.e., children and adolescents, older adults, detained persons)
• May serve as a deputy conservator
• Participates in specialized programs/projects or serves as a support person in program planning, evaluation, and policy developments
• Participates in staff development programs and in staff conferences regarding clients and professional clinical approaches
• Interprets and explains to clients, relatives, community groups about social and emotional factors pertaining to mental health illness
• Refers clients to appropriate community agencies
• Provides specialized mental health or related services to specific population groups (i.e. children and adolescents, older adults, detained persons)
• Provides quality documentation and testifies in court as required
• May serve as representative payee for clients
• May be required to gather services statistics and write reports and correspondence
• Utilizes technology to send and receive work-related electronic mail, and access and maintain electronic records and files

When designated as a Unit Leader, additional tasks MAY INCLUDE:

• Convene and facilitate team meetings
• Provide clinical oversight and direction for the unlicensed staff and community support workers
• Keep the Mental Health Supervisor/Manager informed of any critical incidents
• Assist in the daily operation of the program or clinic, filling in as officer of the day when necessary
• Participate as a member of the Utilization Review Committee
• Assist in the training and orientation of new staff members
• Provide feedback on ways to improve the delivery and types of clinical services offered to consumers
• Arranges day-to-day staff work schedules for the unit, including relief coverage
• Coordinates day-to-day programmatic and clinical decisions in response to operational demands
• Conducts clinical discussions regarding complex and/or difficult cases
• Responds to emergencies that occur on the unit
• Coordinates the flow of information and clinical data to ensure program and/or shift continuity
• Assigns cases to staff, taking into consideration urgent clinical intervention, general clinical necessity, current staff workloads and time factors
• Coordinate/facilitate weekly chart reviews
• Provides on-site feedback/training to staff regarding documentation issues
• Conducts peer training regarding difficult documentation issues
• Serves as liaison with UR/QI Administration concerning documentation issues/concerns
• Serves as liaison with other units, services, and agencies

Minimum Qualifications

Licenses Required:
1) Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicles Operator's License.

2) Possession of one of the following professional licenses is required . Either:

a. A valid license issued by the State of California, Board of Behavioral Sciences as a:

1. Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or
2. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or
3. Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC); or

b. A valid license as a Psychologist issued by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Psychology.

Note that incumbents qualifying with an LPCC are required to possess written confirmation from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences to treat couples and families prior to being assigned to positions requiring couples and family counseling.

Substitution for License:
Either:

1. Possession of a Master's Degree in psychology or closely related behavioral science field from an accredited college or university, and registration with the State of California, Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW), or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC); or
2. Possession of a Doctorate Degree in Psychology from an accredited college, university, or other educational institution accredited by the California State Board of Psychology.

As a condition of continued employment, incumbents hired with either an AMFT, ASW, APCC, or a Doctorate in Psychology must obtain status as a LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, or a licensed Psychologist, respectively, issued by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Psychology, within the time periods established by the licensing agencies.



Selection Process

1. Application Filing and Evaluation: All applicants must apply on-line and submit the information as indicated on the job announcement by the final filing date. Applicants will be required to complete a supplemental questionnaire at the time of application. Applications will be evaluated to determine which candidates will move forward in the next phase of the recruitment process.
2. Training and Experience Evaluation: Candidates who clearly demonstrate that they possess the minimum qualifications will have their training and experience evaluated. The responses to the supplemental questions, at the time of filing, will be evaluated to determine each candidate's relevant education, training, and/or experience as presented on the application and supplemental questionnaire. (Weighted 100%).

TENTATIVE EXAM DATES

Supplemental questions will be evaluated on a monthly basis. Responses to the supplemental questions are submitted at the time of application filing.

The examination steps noted above may be changed in accordance with the County's Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements
As of August 24, 2021, Contra Costa County enacted a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirement for employees. Proof of full vaccination or approved exemption is required of all employees, including new hires. The policy requirements can be found here: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/72164

CONVICTION HISTORY
After you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with Contra Costa County. If you accept a conditional job offer, the Human Resources department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER
All Contra Costa County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
It is the policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.