Mental Health Clinician I/II

Behavioral Health And Social Services Branch

The current vacancy is in the Behavioral Health and Social Services Branch of the Health and Human Services Agency. See "Special Requirement" section regarding possession of a valid California driver's license and active current registration with the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners. Responses to supplemental questions required. Final filing date: continuous.

Salary information

Mental Health Clinician I: $5,886 - $7,513 approximate monthly / $33.96 - $43.35 approximate hourly

Mental Health Clinician II: $6,490 - $8,283 approximate monthly / $37.44 - $47.79 approximate hourly

*Please refer to the appropriate Bargaining Unit Memorandum of Understanding for potential future salary increases. Please visit

About Shasta County

Shasta County offers all the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere. With its natural beauty, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

About The Department

The Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) partners with the community to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of Shasta County residents. HHSA is organized into four branches: Behavioral Health & Social Services, Public Health, Economic Mobility, and a centralized Administration Services. HHSA promotes optimal health for all. The frail, the abused, the mentally ill, and those without resources look to HHSA for services and resources to meet their basic needs, to protect their health and safety.

The Behavioral Health & Social Services Branch is dedicated to improving the well-being of our community through comprehensive mental health services and essential social services to adults, children, and families. By integrating both behavioral health and social support services, we strive to build a healthier community by ensuring individuals have the resources they need to achieve stability and wholeness.

Children's Services encompass the services that help ensure children's mental and physical well-being are protected and safe. The Child Welfare division of the branch investigates alleged abuse and neglect of children, and it licenses foster and adoptive homes for children who are experiencing traumatic events in their lives such as the removal from their caregiver due to alleged abuse and neglect. This division also works within the confines of the Dependency Court to reunify families when and where they can demonstrate appropriate change to meet the safety needs of their children. The branch also encompasses children's mental health teams which work in conjunction with the Child Welfare division along with community providers to ensure that the youth that are being served are having their mental health and substance use challenges addressed. This branch also works with juvenile justice and education to coordinate services for clients.

Adult Services focuses on services to support people eighteen and older. Adult mental health services include outpatient mental health care, 24-hour crisis stabilization services for people at risk of hospitalization, 24-hour crisis line, social rehabilitation residential services, long-term placement services and referrals to local non-profit organizations that provide additional services. This branch also provides Adult Protective Services to follow-up on elder abuse reports. In-Home Supportive Services help those who need assistance with daily activities in order to remain safely in their own homes, and the Public Authority keeps a registry that helps In-Home Supportive Services recipients find a screened caregiver to provide those services. The Public Guardian helps citizens who are unable to manage their personal and financial affairs and may require guardianship or conservatorship. Mental Health Services Act administration is also housed in the Adult Services Branch.

About The Position

Mental Health positions provide the range of mental health services from engagement during assessment, to individual and / or family treatment, to termination for all Medi-Cal beneficiaries of Shasta County. In an effort to improve health outcomes for recipients of mental health services, Shasta County believes that in order to achieve positive outcomes, it is essential to include any and all natural supports in a beneficiary's mental health plan. Shasta County mental health provides services to ages 3 to end of life. Under circumstances, the clinician may be required to work on call during after-hours and weekends.

We encourage applicants to apply after they have received their registration number. This is a continuous recruitment which means applicants are only able to apply once every six months to this specific recruitment.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Mental Health Clinician I

This is the entry-level classification in the Mental Health Clinician series. Under supervision, employees in this class carry a caseload and deliver mental health services. Candidates for this level would need a Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work or have a Master's Degree that qualifies for an Associate registration through the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners, and maintain registration with the appropriate California licensing board and follow required supervision guidelines.

Mental Health Clinician II

This is a licensed Mental Health Clinician classification. Upon entrance into this class, incumbents are expected to be fully trained and licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners. Employees in this class carry a caseload, delivering biopsychosocial rehabilitation services and assessment to mental health clients.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be able to make an immediate positive impact on external and internal customers. With a professional attitude and appearance, this candidate will demonstrate a desire for serving those in need while promoting community health and well-being. This individual will be a positive contributor to the site culture and exemplify the agency values of Collaboration, Adaptability, Respect and Excellence. We welcome a candidate who is interested in a fast-paced, team-oriented, collaborative environment.

The ideal candidate will be licensed with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, or license eligible and registered as an Associate Clinical Social worker, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor with the BBS, knowledge of W&IC 5150 legal and clinical and will have knowledge and experience in working with individuals who live with chronic persistent mental health issues and co-occurring (mental health and substance use) issues. This experience may be in inpatient or outpatient settings. The ideal candidate will be good with communication, multitasking, organizing and maintain strong interpersonal skills.

Examples Of Essential Duties

Mental Health Clinician I

Conducts clinical interviews with individuals seeking mental health services, as well as family members when appropriate to gather information about psycho-social history, presenting symptoms, developmental history, medical history and risk factors for the purpose of diagnostic assessment and eligibility determination; provides mental health services in clinic and community settings as assigned that may include crisis intervention, individual, group and collateral psychotherapy, rehabilitation services, and clinical case management; completes documentation of assessments and interventions as well as claiming for services provided on a daily basis; may on occasion participate in legal proceedings; attends departmental and community meetings, consults with other staff members and community members; participates in staff meetings and training activities as directed by the department.

Mental Health Clinician II

Performs case management and rehabilitative treatment services with seriously emotionally disturbed adult or child clients and their families; develops treatment plans; gathers data relative to client's personal, social, and emotional history by interviewing client, relatives, friends, teachers, and employers; prepares social case histories with particular emphasis upon psychosocial factors affecting the client; participates directly in individual therapy and group therapy programs for children, adults, and families; coordinates with other team members and with community agencies in carrying out treatment plans; interprets and explains to clients, relatives, and community groups the social and emotional factors related to emotional disorders. Attends staff conferences; team meetings; in-service training sessions; and continuing education or required training sessions. Maintains documentation of biopsychosocial rehabilitative services and assessment of mental health clients.

Qualifications

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following.

Mental Health Clinician I

Knowledge of: Principles, procedures, techniques, trends, and literature associated with mental health treatment; basic knowledge of brain structures and functions; documentation standards associated with public and private reimbursement systems and Federal financial compliance; scope and activities of public and private health, social service, and law enforcement agencies.

Ability to: Apply the principles of biopsychosocial diagnosis and treatment planning; establish and maintain the confidence and cooperation with an interdisciplinary team; implement recovery/strength based interventions; maintain an objective and empathetic understanding of mental illness, be tolerant, use tact and maintain emotional stability; and establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with staff, mental health, health, and social services professionals, contract providers, County and State representatives, consumers and their family members, community groups, and the general public.

Mental Health Clinician I - These employment standards are typically attained with a Master's Degree that qualifies for intern registration through the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners.