Mental Health Clinician I/Ii

Description Summary

This is a Full-Time, Limited Term, Grant-Funded position.

DEFINITION

Under clinical and general supervision, provides therapeutic and clinical interventions, crisis de-escalation, and assistance in treatment planning for clients experiencing mental health crises. This position is expected to possess and utilize good clinical judgment to determine the safety of clients and appropriate course of action while in the field engaging in crisis prevention and intervention; and collaborates heavily with the Eureka Police Department and participates in the City of Eureka's Alternative Response efforts.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direct or general supervision and/or clinical and functional direction from assigned supervisory or management personnel. No direct supervision of other staff is exercised but may fill a leadership role with Mental Health Case Managers in coordinating client care.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

Mental Health Clinician I: This is the entry-level class in the Mental Health Clinician series. This position assists in the navigation of mental health and homeless resources within the City of Eureka and supports Mental Health Case Managers with their caseload of moderate difficulty and more complex cases which require more advanced knowledge of de-escalation tactics, knowledge of local resources, and skills in therapeutic communication. Employees will operate within the clinical team and must be on a clinical licensing track under direct supervision of a licensed clinician. This class is alternately staffed with Mental Health Clinician II and incumbents may advance to the higher-level class after gaining the skills, experience and licensure that meet the qualifications for and demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the higher-level class.

Mental Health Clinician II: This is the fully licensed, journey-level class in the Mental Health Clinician series. Employees will operate within the clinical team and are required to have passed all educational and field work hours necessary to obtain clinical licensure. Incumbents in this class are able to operate independently under their own license. This class is distinguished from the Mental Health Case Manager series in that the latter does not require an advanced degree and performs less complex work with direct oversight.

Expectation of Job Duties

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS(Illustrative Only)

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Accompanies Eureka Police Department Officers to calls within the community for clients experiencing mental/behavioral health crises.

• Performs crisis intervention, provides support in problem resolution, and collaborates with Mental Health Case Manager to coordinate or arrange for the provision of needed services while attending these calls.

• Evaluates individual and family information and/or social supports in order to assess the safety of clients during field assessments.

• Provides general assessment of mental status, physical health, needs for resocialization, and level of need for services.

• Works with clients, their family members, and others in the field or via telephone to assess the basic social, physical, and mental needs of clients in order to identify and provide appropriate connection to local services.

• Assesses the adequacy and appropriateness of client living arrangements and assists in securing alternative living arrangements when necessary.

• Maintains accurate records in compliance with state and local requirements; documents client progress, problems and client response.

• Initiate detainments for psychiatric evaluation (WIC 5150), either by collaborating with law enforcement or (pending approval from Board of Supervisors and subsequent training) completing the WIC5150 form on their own.

• Transports clients to medical/psychiatric appointments, shopping, and to other facilities to ensure the appropriateness of care and housing.

• Reports documented or suspected abuse and neglect as mandated by law.

• Attends training sessions, conferences, meetings, etc., to enhance job knowledge and skills.

• Participates in daily team meetings to review client caseload and treatment, concerns, and recommendations for those clients.

• Participates in multi-disciplinary team meetings to assist in the inter-agency coordination of client care.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of community mental health treatment, including interviewing, assessment, individual, family, and group counseling.

• General psychiatric emergency intervention, diagnosis, and short-term therapy methods.

• Principles of adult and child psychology.

• Laws and regulations related to patient's rights, voluntary or involuntary treatment, and commitment for treatment, including the criteria for commitment.

• Techniques for dealing with individuals experiencing acute mental/behavioral health symptoms and/or their families.

• Basic medical and psychiatric terminology.

• Community resources and service agencies.

• Standard medical recordkeeping, including client charting and the processing andmaintenance of required documentation.

• Standard office administrative practices and procedures.

• Basic principles of supervision, training, and instruction.

• Laws and regulations concerning client confidentiality at a State and Federal level, including but not limited to HIPAA.

Ability to:

• Be available for emergency situations as required and appropriate to scope of experience and licensing.

• Assess client mental status and make accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plans.

• Analyze crisis situations in a prompt and concise manner to facilitate appropriate treatment and referrals.

• Evaluate clients for medication referral.

• Provide detailed reports on patient history, present the problem and clinical impression, written or verbally, to extended clinical team when appropriate and needed.

• Protect patient's rights and ability to engage in advocacy for people with mental/behavioral health concerns.

• Coordinate emergency psychiatric support services by collaborating with other emergency mental/behavioral health providers.

• Collaborate with law enforcement.

• Perform crisis intervention, respond to client emergency situations, and take effective action to control potentially violent incidents by intervention and referral.

• Provide support for a variety of clients with mental/behavioral health concerns.

• Document detailed client histories and maintain accurate records and files.

• Prepare clear and concise records, correspondence and other written materials.

• Exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

• Communicate clearly within a treatment team setting.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Mental Health Clinician I: Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling Psychology, or equivalent degree which prepares you for clinical licensing as a psychotherapist.

Mental Health Clinician II: Completion of post-graduation clinical supervision and passing score on respective licensing exam.

License:

Mental Health Clinician I/II: A valid California driver's license is required.

Mental Health Clinician I: Must possess Associate Social Worker registration number, OR possess Associate Marriage and Family Therapist registration number, OR possess Associate Professional Clinical Counselor registration number.This number must be listed somewhere on your application.

Mental Health Clinician II: Must possess license as a Clinical Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, Professional Clinical Counselor, or Psychologist.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, as well as to work in the field and streets; to operate a motor vehicle and to visit various City and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups and over the telephone. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking on uneven terrain, climbing and descending structures to identify problems or hazards; Frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties, as well as push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 25 pounds with the use of proper equipment.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS

Employees work indoors and outdoors, and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. Employees may interact with clients with mental/behavioral disorders/erratic and assaultive behavior, including those which require emergency crisis intervention.

WORKING CONDITIONS

May be required to work irregular hours on evenings, weekends, and holidays as well as be on-call during specific timeframes.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

All applications received are screened to determine which applicants most closely match the desired education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the position. Applicants will receive email notification of the results of the screening process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not necessarily guaranteed advancement to the examination process, as only the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate. The most qualified applicants will be invited to an oral board examination tentatively to be held in early May. The Department Head [and/or designee(s)] will interview the top six (6) candidates from the examination process. The eligible list created from this recruitment may be used to fill full-time, part-time, temporary, and grant positions. The City reserves the right to extend the final filing date as necessary.

No other information will be accepted and resumes, cover letters or additional materials WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.