Mental Health Therapist I/II/III

Overview Under supervision, provides psychiatric casework, counseling, and treatment services in a clinic or institutional setting. Mental Health Therapists may be assigned to Children’s Services or Adult Services Branch. Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF) Under supervision, a Mental Health Therapist on the PHF provides direct clinical care to patients in a secure inpatient setting who are experiencing acute mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, mood disorders, or crisis‑related symptoms. They conduct psychosocial assessments, develop and implement individualized treatment plans, and connect patients with resources through Sutter Yuba Behavioral Health and/or in the community. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team that may include psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers, the therapist supports crisis intervention, safety planning, discharge coordination, and patient education. The role requires strong clinical judgment, documentation skills, and the ability to build therapeutic rapport in a fast‑paced, high‑acuity environment while maintaining patient safety and confidentiality. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Program Under supervision, Mental Health Therapists in the SUD program provide direct clinical care to adult and youth patients experiencing substance use and co‑occurring behavioral health needs. Services include assessment, individualized treatment planning, individual and group counseling, relapse prevention, case management, crisis intervention, and consultation with a multidisciplinary team. This position plays a key role in improving access to care, engaging underserved populations, and supporting sustained recovery outcomes. Position Level: Mental Health Therapist I Responsibilities Performs casework services with patients or clients and their relatives. Performs telephone screening of prospective patients. Participates in the evaluation of problems presented and in the development of treatment plans. Participates in psychotherapy program with psychiatric staff team. Confers with other staff members, psychiatrists, community agencies, school officials, probation officers, and others to exchange information and implement treatment plans. Interprets and explains to clients, relatives, and community groups the social and emotional factors pertaining to illness. Refers patients or clients to appropriate community agencies. Studies new techniques for dealing with emotional and environmental problems. Prepares social case histories, treatment plans, progress notes and assessments. Marginal Duties Prepares and/or generates various correspondence and documentation. Reviews various documentation and processes, forwards, or takes other action as appropriate. Maintains departmental files and records. Maintains inventory of departmental supplies and initiates requests for new or additional materials. Answers the telephone, provides information, takes messages and/or directs calls as appropriate. Responds to requests for information or assistance. Attends meetings, hearings and conferences. Provides on‑call coverage as needed. Salary Hourly: $30.88‑$41.93. Annual: $64,230.40‑$87,214.40. Knowledge of Principles of social work; counseling, casework and other techniques of social work; social aspects of mental and emotional disturbances; new techniques, trends and advances in the profession; standard office equipment; and clerical activities related to an organization’s programs and operations. Ability to Apply casework skills effectively; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; secure and record accurate and pertinent social and personal data; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; operate standard office equipment; and operate a motor vehicle. Education and Experience Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s Degree in social work, counseling, psychology, psychiatric nursing, or a related field. Some experience in Behavioral Health or other social services is desired. License or Certificate Applicants must be registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Clinical Social Worker, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor or Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. Incumbents are required to obtain licensure within six (6) years of hire. Incumbents who fail to maintain registration are subject to dismissal from employment or transfer/demotion. Position Level: Mental Health Therapist II Responsibilities Performs primary intensive therapy services with patients or clients and their relatives. Provides evaluation of problems presented, recommendations of services needed, and development/implementation of treatment plans. Determines eligibility for mental health assessments, initiates assessments and prepares written assessments. Participates in psychotherapy program with psychiatric staff team. Confers with other staff members, psychiatrists, community agencies, school officials, probation officers, and others to exchange information and implement treatment plans. Interprets and explains to clients, relatives, and community groups the social and emotional factors pertaining to illness. Refers patients or clients to appropriate community agencies. Evaluates new techniques for dealing with emotional and environmental problems. Prepares social case histories with particular emphasis upon psycho‑social factors affecting the patient or client. Prepares and/or generates various correspondence and documentation. Reviews various documentation and processes, forwards, or takes other action as appropriate. Maintains departmental files and records. Provides on‑call coverage as needed. Marginal Duties Maintains inventory of departmental supplies and initiates requests for new or additional materials. Answers the telephone, provides information, takes messages and/or directs calls as appropriate. Responds to requests for information or assistance. Attends meetings and hearings. Oversees the work of other staff members as assigned. Salary Hourly: $34.28‑$46.60. Annual: $71,302.40‑$96,928.00. Knowledge of Principles of psychiatric social work; counseling, psychotherapy and other techniques of psychiatric social work; community resources; physical and mental illnesses and their impact upon personality; social aspects of mental and emotional disturbances; the use of a milieu/treatment‑team approach to inpatient treatment; new techniques, trends and advances in the profession; standard office equipment; and clerical activities related to an organization’s programs and operations. Ability to Apply casework skills effectively; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; secure and record accurate and pertinent social and personal data; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; operate standard office equipment; and operate a motor vehicle. Education and Experience Graduation from an accredited college or university with education and experience to be licensed in the State of California as a Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). License or Certificate Must possess a valid California license as a Psychologist, LCSW, LPCC or LMFT. Those holding out‑of‑state licenses must apply for licensure in California; licensure required within three years of employment. Position Level: Mental Health Therapist III Responsibilities Assumes independent program responsibility for planning and implementing treatment activities such as assessment, referral, counseling and other treatment services. Coordinates such activities with other aspects of the department and with other agencies. Participates in developing program goals. Supervises, trains and directs lower level professional and technical classes as assigned. Performs case work reviews with patients or clients and their relatives. May provide individual and group therapy within family groups. Participates in the evaluation of problems presented, recommendation of services needed, and development/implementation of treatment plans. Confers with other staff members, psychiatrists, community agencies, school officials, probation officers, and others to exchange information and implement treatment plans. Provides education and training to parents, community organizations and others. Interprets and explains to clients, relatives, and community groups the social and emotional factors pertaining to illness. Refers patients or clients to appropriate community agencies. Evaluates new techniques for dealing with emotional and environmental problems. Supervises and performs preparation of social case histories with particular emphasis upon psycho‑social factors affecting the patient or client. Prepares case documentation. Prepares and/or generates various correspondence and documentation. Reviews various documentation and processes, forwards, or takes other action as appropriate. Maintains departmental files and records. Responds to requests for information or assistance. Attends meetings, hearings and conferences. Prepares and processes case information for mediation and fair hearing presentation. Testifies in court as needed. Represents the agency at judicial review hearings; makes presentations on patient detention and case planning; makes treatment recommendations. Represents the agency to other community agencies. Provides on‑call coverage as needed. Marginal Duties Maintains inventory of departmental supplies and initiates requests for new or additional materials. Answers the telephone, provides information, takes messages and/or directs calls as appropriate. Salary Hourly: $38.14‑$51.40. Annual: $79,331.20‑$106,912.00. Knowledge of The Mental Health Services Act, Welfare and Institution Code, California Code of Regulation, Short‑Doyle Act, and conservatorship legislation governing mental health patients; program development and evaluation; individual, group and family therapy techniques; crisis intervention techniques; analytical and assessment skills; social work theory and practice including mental health treatment concerning values and ethics, human behavior, diagnosis and treatment, assessment, cultural factors, community involvement and case management; reporting requirements for child abuse and elder abuse; community resources; new techniques; standard office equipment; and clerical activities related to an organization’s programs and operations. Ability to Organize, coordinate and implement psychiatric social service programs; provide effective psychiatric services for chronic and acute behavioral health clients; assure compliance with procedures; supervise, train, and provide work direction to others; identify problems and evaluate alternatives; present information, recommendations, treatment plans and supporting documentation clearly and concisely; identify sources, seek and analyze information, and compile results; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; work independently with little direction; meet schedules and timelines; work confidentially; maintain records; and prepare reports; operate standard office equipment; and operate a motor vehicle. Education and Experience For clinical supervision positions: graduation from an accredited college or university with education and experience to be licensed in the State of California as a Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and two years of post‑licensure clinical or psychiatric social work experience; meets requirements to provide clinical supervision per Board of Behavioral Sciences. For non‑clinical supervision positions: graduation from an accredited college or university with education and experience to be licensed in California and three years and six months of full‑time pre‑licensure clinical or psychiatric social work experience; once incumbent meets the two‑year post‑licensure requirement, assignment will be changed to clinical supervision casework. License or Certificate Must possess a valid California license as a Psychologist, Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. Those holding out‑of‑state licenses must apply for licensure in California; licensure required within three years of employment. Must maintain licensure and registration as determined by the California Department of Behavioral Sciences. Essential Duties require the following physical skills and work requirements Requires the ability to think and act quickly in emergencies; effectively deal with personal danger; maintain mental capacity to allow sound judgment and rational thinking under varied circumstances. Requires the ability to exert a small amount of physical effort in sedentary to light work involving moving from one area of the office to another, and may require a valid driver’s license. Equal Opportunity Employer Statement The County of Sutter is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Sutter County encourages both incumbents and individuals who have been offered employment to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr