Behavioral Health Clinician I/II

Salary: $2,750.40 - $3,512.38 Biweekly
Location : Crescent City, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 22-00025
Department: Health & Human Services
Division: Behavioral Health Branch 129-419
Opening Date: 04/24/2025
Closing Date: Continuous

Job Opportunity:

Only online applications are accepted. It is the responsibility of each applicant to review the full job description and requirements. Resumes are encouraged, but will not be accepted in lieu of required application materials. Applications which are incomplete as of the final date to apply will be eliminated from consideration. Candidates who meet all the minimum qualifications may be invited to an oral interview.
Description
Biweekly salary:

Behavioral Health Clinician I: $2,750.40 - $3,343.14

Behavioral Health Clinician II: $2,889.64 - $3,512.38

The County of Del Norte Department of Health & Human Services - Behavioral Health Branch is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Behavioral Health Clinician I/II. This position is classified as full-time.

Under supervision, performs psychiatric caseload duties; and to perform psychotherapeutic counseling and treatment on an individual, group and/or family basis; and to provide outreach services and counseling in crisis situations.

The Behavioral Health Clinician I is the first level in the professional series assigned casework based upon knowledge of diagnosis, individual and group therapy. The Clinician I may advance after gaining experience and demonstrating the qualifications of the higher level. Clinician I incumbents must obtain a license within five years following intern registration relevant to state licensing waiver regulations.

The Behavioral Health Clinician II is the second working level in this skilled class. This is the licensed level in the series providing psychotherapy to assigned patients in an outpatient setting under minimal supervision. Incumbents may be assigned to provide supervision for licensed interns completing internship within the department.

The Supervising Behavioral Health Clinician is the third and final working level in this skilled class and is assigned team leadership responsibilities with clinical supervision capacity over other professional treatment. Leads a small unit and/or program.
Detailed Work Activities

Essential job duties may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. The list that follows is not intended as a comprehensive list; it is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed, and may be required to perform additional, position-specific tasks.

• Evaluates patients and provides crisis intervention services in a variety of settings including field situations.
• Obtains patient history, completes mental status examinations, diagnosis and conducts complex clinical assessments, utilizing the five axis format using the most recent DSM, and develops service plan.
• Provides ongoing psychotherapy in outpatient and day rehabilitation environment making necessary referrals for patient in an as needed basis.
• Participates as a member of the multi-disciplinary team providing critical clinical input relating to patient diagnosis and recommended treatment plans and case conferences consulting with psychiatric staff in the review of cases and medication issues.
• Evaluates patients for voluntary and involuntary commitment and signs commitments for clients requiring hospitalization as necessary.
• Provides direction, training and chart auditing for assigned student interns, participating in staff intern training and quality assurance/peer review functions.
• As care coordinator, prepares detailed patient record documentation and maintains caseload records, preparing intake and discharge summaries, progress notes, and treatment plan.
• Provides courtroom testimony and consultation to school and other programs as required or developed.
• Performs program planning to develop and implement services appropriate to assisting both adult and child psychiatric clients.
• Consults with and serves as a liaison with community agencies, school personnel, parents and other services to evaluate community mental health needs and services.
• Performs educational services to specific patients or segments of the mental health population.
• Performs related duties as required or assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Possession of a valid California driver's license.
• Master's degree in psychology, marriage and family counseling, social work, psychiatric nursing or related field.
• Possession of a valid intern registration number issued by the Board of Science Examiners or Board of Psychology.
• Possession of an appropriate license to practice as a licensed marriage, family, child counselor, clinical psychologist, licensed professional counselor, or clinical social worker in the State of California within five years following registration as an intern.
• To obtain a II level, possession of an appropriate license to practice as a licensed marriage, family, child counselor, clinical psychologist, licensed professional counselor, or clinical social worker in the State of California.

Note: It is the responsibility of the intern to secure necessary hours of supervision in order to meet licensing requirements. This work consists of routine to complex professional duties performed at an entry level in the classification series.
Special Requirements:
Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's license.

All County of Del Norte employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through State law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County of Del Norte requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Work related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of principles and practices of adult and child psychology and community mental health treatment interviewing, assessment, individual, family and group counseling.
• Knowledge of general psychiatric emergency intervention, diagnosis and brief and long term psychotherapeutic methods.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations related to patients' rights, voluntary and involuntary treatment and commitment for treatment including criteria for commitment.
• Knowledge of community resources and agencies providing service for the community mentally ill or disabled.
• Knowledge of medical record keeping and documentation including patient charting and Medi-Cal regulations and documentation for medical necessity.
• Ability to assess client mental status and make accurate and appropriate diagnosis and effective treatment plans.
• Ability to analyze crisis situations in a prompt and concise manner to facilitate appropriate treatment or referrals.
• Ability to evaluate patients for medication referrals.
• Ability to present accurate and appropriate patient history and behavioral impression for psychiatrists for further review.
• Ability to prepare detailed case summaries and documentation and maintenance of records to comply with local, state and federal rules and regulations.
• Ability to protect patients' rights and providing advocacy for the mentally ill.
• Ability to coordinated emergency psychiatric support services efforts with appropriate county, community, school and other involved agencies.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with other therapists, county staff, school personnel, referral agency representatives, physicians and the general public.
• Ability to present peer review in the most current version of the diagnostic and statistical manual for performing diagnosis on all five axis.

In addition to the above the Behavioral Health Clinician II:

• Knowledge of principles and techniques of comprehensive presentations and training.
• Knowledge of conducting education and presenting training.
• Knowledge of peer review and most current literature pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol and other drug abuse or mental health issues.
• Ability to conduct effective alcohol and other drug abuse education and awareness training or mental health prevention information.
• Knowledge of peer review in the most current version the diagnostic manual for performing diagnosis on all five axis with a general explanatory with a diagnosis manual for use in formally in diagnosis, when needed.
• Knowledge of basic principles of leadership.
• Knowledge of county policies regarding employee supervision including familiarity with the employee handbook.
• Ability to provide support to treatment team members.

Selection Process: