Mental Health Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

STATEMENT OF THE JOB:

Under the direction of the Lead Mental Health Coordinator or designee, the Mental Health Coordinator (MHC) is responsible for providing trauma-informed rehabilitative mental health support services to youth residing within the residential program. The MHC supports emotional and behavioral stabilization through therapeutic skill reinforcement, independent living instruction, case management support, group facilitation, and milieu-based interventions. 

The MHC works collaboratively with therapists, residential staff, educational staff, county representatives, and family members to reinforce treatment goals and support youth functioning across home, school, and community environments.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide rehabilitative mental health support services and skill-building interventions to assigned youth.
• Reinforce therapeutic coping skills and behavioral interventions identified within treatment plans.
• Meet individually with youth to support emotional regulation, communication skills, distress tolerance, behavioral stabilization, and functional improvement.
• Facilitate psychoeducational and rehabilitative groups, including independent living skills groups.
• Support youth in developing age-appropriate independent functioning skills including budgeting, hygiene, cooking, communication, transportation, employment readiness, and community integration.
• Maintain primary responsibility for an assigned residential house caseload of approximately six (6) youth.
• May provide services to assigned day students as needed.
• Collaborate with the assigned house therapist to reinforce treatment goals and therapeutic interventions within the residential milieu.
• Meet weekly with the assigned therapist to review youth progress, behavioral concerns, treatment updates, risk concerns, and preparation for ICC, CFT, IEP, discharge planning, and related meetings.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings including ICCs, CFTs, IEPs, placement meetings, and clinical staffing as assigned.
• Provide case management support and coordinate communication among treatment team members, caregivers, social workers, probation officers, schools, and community providers.
• Support youth during periods of emotional dysregulation utilizing trauma-informed de-escalation techniques.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record system.
• Complete all required documentation within agency timelines and in accordance with Medi-Cal and STRTP standards.
• Ensure all billable services are appropriately documented and linked to treatment goals and functional impairments.
• Maintain regular communication with residential staff regarding behavioral interventions and youth support needs.
• Serve as a therapeutic support resource within the assigned residential house.
• Attend required trainings, supervision, and staff meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

JOB EXPECTATIONS:

• Adheres to all agency policies and procedures including HIPAA, PHI, Mandated Reporter requirements, professional boundaries, confidentiality standards, and all applicable Federal and State laws.
• Demonstrates trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and relationship-based care.
• Utilizes approved crisis prevention, intervention, and de-escalation techniques.
• Maintains professionalism and appropriate boundaries with youth, families, and staff.
• Demonstrates effective oral and written communication skills.
• Works cooperatively within a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Completes documentation accurately and timely.
• Maintains productivity expectations of 50% billable service time based on scheduled work hours.
• Supports a safe, structured, and therapeutic residential environment.
• Participates in Performance Quality Improvement and Risk Prevention activities.
• Demonstrates flexibility and responsiveness to program needs.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess a valid, unrestricted California Driver’s License.
• Must maintain automobile liability insurance and an acceptable driving record.
• Must successfully complete DOJ/FBI fingerprint clearance requirements.
• Must successfully complete all required agency and licensing trainings.
• Must be physically and mentally capable of performing assigned duties.
• Must be capable of implementing approved crisis intervention procedures.
• Must provide proof of negative TB test or clearance as required.
• Must comply with all Community Care Licensing requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience working with youth, behavioral health, residential treatment, foster care, probation, special education, or related settings preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or education in psychology, counseling, social work, rehabilitation, child development, behavioral sciences, or related fields.
• Experience facilitating groups and providing behavioral interventions.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and adolescent development.
• Experience within STRTP, group home, or behavioral health settings preferred.

Other

• Employment is at-will.
• This position is an hourly, full-time, non-exempt position.
• Typical work hours are 9:30-5:30 in person 
• This is a direct care staff position and follows applicable Wage Order 5 meal period and overtime requirements.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required: 

• To talk or hear. 
• To stand, walk, sit, use hands, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and taste and smell. 
• Is occasionally required to climb or balance. 
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds or more. 
• May have to engage in physical intervention including but not limited to: dropping to one’s knees, supporting another individual’s weight, moving an individual from one location to another, restraining aggressive clients, etc. (requiring sustained, physical exertion on some occasions). 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth vision. 
• Ability to drive company vehicle.