Salary : $98,626.11 - $115,678.58 Annually
Location : Berkeley, CA
Job Type: Career
Job Number: 2026-11-2058
Department: HHCS Health
Division: Mental Health
Opening Date: 11/02/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
JOB OPPORTUNITYThe City of Berkeley invites you to apply for a Behavioral Health Clinician I position! In this role, you will provide community behavioral health services to Berkeley residents. Bring your skills to our Mental Health Division, where our clinicians and support staff demonstrate a commitment to cultural competence and a wellness/recovery orientation.
As the entry-level class in the Behavioral Health Clinician (BHC) series, the BHC I performs a wide range of community behavioral health services under direct supervision. You'll be assigned to one of our teams, with consultation provided by experienced, knowledgeable senior and supervisory staff.
The division's teams include:
- Social Services Unit (SSU): Time-limited case management for older adults (age 55+) with multiple, complex needs in Berkeley (housed or unhoused). Clinicians primarily provide case management and resource information/referral services. Additional services can include groups, community outreach/presentations, caregiver consultations, trainings, and other resource development and organization. Clinicians may also perform case consultations, intern supervision, and quality assurance for service documentation.
- Adult and Homeless Full Service Partnership Teams (AFSP or HFSP): Two distinct teams (HFSP primarily serves the unhoused population) providing intensive services to adults with serious mental illness (SMI), complex needs, and high utilization of crisis, hospital, and other systems of care. Both teams use the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model, in which clinicians share responsibility for clients as a team rather than managing individual caseloads. Staff-to-client ratios are approximately 1:10 and services are provided primarily in the community. Services include mental health treatment, crisis support, symptom management, and hands-on assistance with housing, medical appointments, benefits, and daily living needs.
- Comprehensive Community Treatment (CCT): Provides ongoing mental health treatment and case management to adults with moderate to serious mental illness who need regular support to maintain stability and work toward recovery goals. Clinicians manage individual caseloads of approximately 20-25 clients, providing services in the clinic and in the community. Services include symptom management, assistance with obtaining and maintaining housing, accessing benefits such as CalFresh, connecting with primary care providers, attending medical appointments, and building independence.
- Focus on Independence Teams (FIT): Provides mental health treatment and case management to adults who have stepped down or graduated from more intensive services within Berkeley Mental Health. Clinicians manage individual caseloads of approximately 30-35 clients, providing services in the clinic and in the community. Services focus on maintaining stability and increasing independence, including symptom management, accessing benefits such as CalFresh, joining housing waitlists, connecting with primary care providers, and attending medical appointments.
- Crisis Assessment and Triage/Transitional Outreach Team (CAT/TOT): Acts as a waystation to provide screening for ongoing behavioral health services, follow-up to connect individuals to Berkeley Mental Health for those who meet criteria, linkage to social services, coordination with other agencies, and presentations to the community about behavioral health services.
- High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW): Intensive, team-based model providing support for children, youth, and young adults in families with complex needs, often involving more than one system, such as child welfare, probation, or special education. The team is comprised of a lead facilitator, clinician/family specialist, youth partner, and parent partner.
- High School Mental Health (HSMH): Berkeley High School Health Center and Berkeley Technology Academy Health Center are integrated, multidisciplinary co-locations of our Mental Health and Public Health Divisions. Services include individual therapy, group therapy, crisis assessment/intervention, case management, educational advocacy, community outreach, and collaboration with parents, caregivers, and families.
See the full for more information about this job.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position is:
A master's degree from an accredited school in Social Work, Counseling, Psychiatric Nursing, or other Marriage and Family Therapy eligible discipline, or a doctorate degree in Psychology, with field placement of at least one (1) year in a medical, psychiatric, or community mental health setting.
Must have registration as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW), and/or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) with the State of California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).
Must be able to travel to various locations within and outside of Berkeley to meet program needs and to fulfill the job responsibilities. When driving on City business, incumbents must have a valid California driver's license as well as a satisfactory driving record.
APPLICATION PROCESS Applicants must submit a completed application, proof of registration, and responses to the supplemental questionnaire. Please note that attachment of a resume is not a substitute for a completed application. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis and will be reviewed on the last calendar day of each month.
Applications are available in alternative formats (audio-format, braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) upon request to Please allow 10 days for production of the material in an alternative format.
Please be aware of unauthorized job postings and communications. Applications will
only be accepted via GovernmentJobs.com and we will only email candidates from the governmentjobs.com or berkeleyca.gov domain. If you encounter a suspicious job post or communication, please alert us at
EXAM PROCESSThe exam process will include, but is not limited to:
- Application review for minimum qualifications and required documents (qualifying experience will be calculated as of the administrative review date; administrative reviews will be conducted on the last calendar day of each month)
Tests may consist of any combination of written, oral or other exercises or assessment procedures that test content and may include, but are not necessarily limited to, typing, math, reading, writing and analytical skills; problem solving ability; computer and software proficiency, or any other job-related knowledge, skill, ability or qualification. The examination process and dates are subject to change. The City may, without notice, change or eliminate any assessment component as needs dictate. Applicants passing all examination phases will have their names placed on an employment eligible list that hiring departments will use to conduct final selection interviews.
Reasonable Accommodations: The City is committed to making reasonable accommodations in the examination process and in the work environment. Individuals requesting reasonable accommodations in the examination process must submit a request in writing to hr@berkeleyca.gov at the time of application.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROCESS Candidates under final consideration for employment with the City will undergo an employment background check that may include, but is not limited to: confirmation of employment history, educational credentials and degrees, certificates, registrations, and licenses including driver's license; credit check; criminal history check; and Live Scan fingerprinting.
Benefited employees receive a myriad of financial and other , including CalPERS pension and other retirement plans, medical and dental coverage, tuition reimbursement, paid time off and more.
Benefit-eligible employees include those with a regular work schedule of at least 20 hours per week. Employees working less than 30 hours per week may receive pro-rated benefits.
RetirementCalPERS
City employees are included in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). The retirement formula is either 2% at age 62 (PEPRA members) or 2.7% at age 55 (Classic members).
Supplemental Retirement Income Plan (SRIP)
The City contributes 6.7% of the first $32,400 of the employee's salary (up to $2,170.80 annually) into a 401(a) account. The City is not a member of Social Security, therefore only the Medicare portion is deducted from employees' salaries.
Deferred Compensation
The City offers voluntary 457 deferred compensation plans with CalPERS or Empower. Employees may contribute up to the IRS maximum on a pre-tax basis.
Medical PlansEmployees can choose coverage under Kaiser HMO or Sutter Health Plan HMO. The City contributes an amount equal to the cost of the Kaiser premium. Employees who have medical coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided medical coverage and receive a monthly stipend.
Dental PlanThe City provides group dental benefits through Delta Dental of California. The City contributes up to the family coverage for the plan, which covers 90% of the dental charges up to $2,000 annually per person. Orthodontic benefits are offered at a $2,000 lifetime maximum per person. Employees who have dental coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided dental coverage and receive a monthly stipend.
Vision PlanThe City provides vision benefits through Vision Service Plan. The plan covers 100% for eye exams and lenses every 12 months with $25 copays. The plan also provides an allowance for frames every 24 months.
Life InsuranceThe City provides employees with a Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy in the amount of $50,000. Employees have the option to purchase additional term life insurance up to a maximum of $300,000.
Sick LeaveEmployees earn one day of paid sick leave per month.
VacationNew employees accrue 80 or 120 hours of vacation annually, depending on classification. Vacation accrual rates increase with additional years of service. See the for details.
Holidays15 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays annually
Uniform AllowanceEmployees in select classifications receive up to $1,400 annually (see )
(SEIU CSU)
01
Do you have a master's degree from an accredited school in Social Work, Counseling, Psychiatric Nursing, or other Marriage and Family Therapy eligible discipline, or a doctorate degree in Psychology?
Please ensure that the school, degree, and discipline are included in the Education section of your application. 02
Have you completed field placement of at least one (1) year in a medical, psychiatric, or community mental health setting?Please indicate the organization/agency and dates of your field placement below.
03
Are you registered as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW), or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) with the State of California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) or as a Psychologist with the Board of Psychology? Please indicate the type, issue date, and expiration date of your registration below.
04
I understand that I am required to attach a copy of my registration to this application.
05
When assigned to certain case management teams, the Behavioral Health Clinician I performs significant field work in order to provide services to residents out in the community. Please briefly describe your experience performing this type of field work. If you do not have experience in this area, you may type N/A.
06
Which of the below populations have you worked with in a medical, psychiatric, community mental health, or similar setting? Select all that apply.
Please ensure that your experience with each population you select is also reflected in the Work section of your application. - Children
- Adults
- Seniors
- Unhoused people
- None of the above
07
Please select the team(s) you are most interested in (you may select more than one).
- Social Services Unit (SSU)
- Adult and Homeless Full Service Partnership Teams (AFSP or HFSP)
- Comprehensive Community Treatment (CCT)
- Focus on Independence Teams (FIT)
- Crisis Assessment and Triage/Transitional Outreach Team (CAT/TOT)
- High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW)
- High School Mental Health (HSMH)
08
I acknowledge that I have reviewed my application and my answers to all above supplemental questions for accuracy. I understand that an incomplete application, inconsistent or conflicting information, or incomplete answers to the
