Behavioral Health Clinician I - IV / Intensive Services Clinician I - IV

Salary : $62,940.80 - $111,092.80 Annually
Location : Oxnard, and may be required to travel throughout Ventura County, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 0428HCA-26AA (NW)
Department: Health Care Agency
Division: Behavioral/Mental Health
Opening Date: 01/14/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Description
This recruitment opportunity involves two distinct classification series, each with unique roles and responsibilities within the Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH) system.
Behavioral Health Clinician and Intensive Services Clinician:

Under immediate (I, II), general supervision (III), or general direction (IV), provides clinical or administrative behavioral health services under various levels of supervision in diverse, multidisciplinary settings through therapy, case management, interagency collaboration, and community organization.

The ideal Behavioral Health Clinician is a skilled mental health professional specializing in comprehensive mental health and substance abuse services, including therapy, crisis intervention, and case management. They employ culturally sensitive, client-centered, strength-based approaches to support individuals with serious mental illnesses or youth with emotional disturbances. Proficient in clinical documentation, care coordination, and treatment planning, they collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and navigate state and federal programs like Medi-Cal. Organized and communicative, they build relationships with clients, families, and community partners, providing outreach and education. Committed to professional growth, they engage in ongoing training to ensure equitable and effective mental health services in multicultural environments.

Behavioral Health Clinicians I-IV work primarily in office and clinic settings, where they provide essential mental health services, including individual and group therapy, diagnostic assessments, treatment planning, and case management. These professionals collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to address clients' mental health needs, ensuring continuity of care within the structured environment of VCBH facilities.

In contrast, Intensive Services Clinicians operate primarily in the field, playing a critical role in responding to mental health crises in real time. These clinicians are often deployed to various community settings, including homes, schools, or public locations, to assess and stabilize individuals in crisis. Their responsibilities include conducting on-the-spot evaluations, providing immediate intervention, facilitating hospitalizations or alternative care options when necessary, and coordinating follow-up services to support clients' recovery.

These roles demand adaptability, quick decision-making, and the ability to work effectively under pressure to ensure the safety and well-being of those in need. As non-exempt positions, Intensive Services Clinicians would be eligible for overtime pay and shift differentials based on their work schedules and availability. This ensures fair compensation for the demanding and vital nature of their work. For more information regarding hourly benefits, please click here.

Under immediate (I/II) or general (III/IV) supervision, provides on a 24/7 basis, immediate crisis intervention and stabilization services to individuals who are experiencing a mental health emergency or urgent mental health situations on an intermittent basis; and triages, assesses and provides crisis mental health support services for persons seeking specialty mental health services or experiencing a mental health emergency, utilizing culturally-sensitive, client/family-centered, strength-based, wellness and recovery models of service delivery telephonically and in person in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings.

Behavioral Health Clinician I/Intensive Services Clinician I ($30.26 - $42.40 - hourly) unlicensed: is the entry/trainee level classification, where emphasis is on learning casework and treatment methods appropriate to a public mental health setting, procedures and policies as part of a multi-disciplinary team under the close clinical supervision of a California Board of Behavioral Sciences Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Psychologist or Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Behavioral Health Clinician II/Intensive Services Clinician II ($2,766.89 - $3,878.49 - biweekly) - unlicensed: is the journey-level classification, providing behavioral health services as part of a multi-disciplinary team under general supervision with clinical supervision by a California Board of Behavioral Sciences Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Psychologist or Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Behavioral Health Clinician III/ Intensive Services Clinician III ($2,905.79 - $4,070.28 - biweekly) - licensed: is the advanced journey-level classification providing behavioral health services as part of a multi-disciplinary team under general supervision. Incumbents in this classification demonstrate greater skill and depth of job knowledge in the assessment of consumer and family needs, and in the formulation and implementation of treatment and wellness and recovery plans.

Behavioral Health Clinician IV/ Intensive Services Clinician IV ($3,049.80 - $4,272.70 - biweekly) -licensed:: is the expert level of the series, able to independently perform the most complex clinical and case management assignments and provide clinical supervision according to licensure and training. Demonstrates leadership within the multi-disciplinary team.

EDUCATIONAL/BILINGUAL INCENTIVE: Incumbents may be eligible for educational incentive of 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% based on completion of an Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree that is not required for the classification. Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Health Care Agency - Behavioral Health

Behavioral Health Clinician and Intensive Services Clinician series are represented by the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) and are eligible for overtime compensation.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, and Extra-Help vacancies within the Health Care Agency. There are currently multiple Regular vacancies for both classification series located throughout Ventura County.

NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, incumbent may be promoted to the higher level(s) without further examination upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OPENING DATE: 1/14/26

CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive enough qualified applications to meet business needs. It is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible.
Examples Of Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following for the Behavioral Health Clinician series:
Behavioral Health Clinician I/II

• Assesses, evaluates and provides mental health and/or substance abuse services including individual, group and family therapy/counseling, rehabilitation, crisis intervention and case management services for persons with serious mental illness or youth with serious emotional disturbance utilizing culturally-sensitive, client/family-centered, strength-based, wellness and recovery models of service delivery;
• Performs clinical documentation and maintains productivity according to department standards;
• In collaboration with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, including consumers and family members, participates in the development of treatment plans, coordinates treatment, case management and discharge planning;
• Collaborates on behalf of the consumer/family with other support services provided by health care, social services agencies and community organizations;
• Participates in training on various topics such as cultural competency, clinical practice, compliance, treatment planning, case management, co-occurring disorders and substance abuse;
• Provides administrative support services including outreach and information about how to access and apply for state and federal programs (such as Medi-Cal), performs pre-screening and assists in paperwork completion to determine eligibility; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

Behavioral Health Clinician III
In addition to the Behavioral Health Clinician I/II duties listed above, Behavioral Health Clinician III duties may include:

• Completes clinical documentation and maintains productivity according to department standards with minimal administrative oversight;
• Collaborates on behalf of the consumer/family with other support services provided by health care, social services agencies and community organizations;
• Provides 5150 evaluations and writes holds as appropriate;
• May provide clinical supervision to unlicensed clinicians and student interns within the context of licensure, in keeping with BBS regulations and according to applicable Ventura County Behavior Health (VCBH) policies; and

Behavioral Health Clinician IV
In addition to the Behavioral Health Clinician I/II/III duties listed above, Behavioral Health Clinician IV duties may include:

• Develops and participates in training on a variety of topics such as cultural competency, clinical practice, compliance, treatment planning and case management, and makes presentations to local agencies and community groups regarding issues related to mental health or substance abuse;
• May participate as a member of a committee or team as assigned, and develops and/or delivers related training materials to other staff, consumer/family members or the public;
• May provide leadership and support to Behavior Health Clinicians providing clinical supervision through the facilitation of a supervision group etc.;
• Provides support to the Clinical Administrator with assigned duties to ensure efficient clinic operation; and

Duties may include but are not limited to the following for the Intensive Services Clinician series:
Intensive Services Clinician I/II

• Triages, assesses and provides referrals to individuals such as children, Transitional Age Youth (TAY) and adults, seeking specialty mental health services.
• Provides crisis intervention services to individuals in the community and emergency rooms experiencing an urgent or emergency mental health situation, utilizing culturally sensitive, client/family-centered, strength-based, wellness and recovery models of service delivery.
• Performs clinical documentation and maintains productivity according to department standards with minimal administrative oversight.
• Collaborates on behalf of the consumer/family with other support services provided by health care, social services agencies and community organizations.
• Participates in staff meetings; and Ventura County Behavior Health trainings on various topics such as cultural competency, compliance, co-occurring disorders and substance abuse.
• Provides administrative support services, including outreach and information about how to access and apply for state and federal programs (such as Medi-Cal), performs pre-screening and assists in paperwork completion to determine eligibility.
• Operates a vehicle to transport individuals and their families for the purpose of providing crisis mental health services.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Intensive Services Clinician III
In addition to the Intensive Services Clinician I/II duties listed above, Behavioral Health Clinician IV duties may include:

• Provides 5150 evaluations and writes involuntary holds as appropriate.

Intensive Services Clinician IV
In addition to the Intensive Services Clinician III duties listed above, Intensive Services Clinician IV duties may include:

• Provides clinical supervision to unlicensed clinicians and student interns within the context of licensure, in keeping with BBS regulations and according to applicable Ventura County Behavior Health (VCBH) policies.
• May participate as a member of a committee or team as assigned and develops and/or delivers related training materials to other staff, consumer/family members or the public.
• May provide leadership and support to Intensive Services Clinicians providing clinical supervision through the facilitation of a supervision group etc.
• Provides support to the Clinical Administrator with assigned duties to ensure efficient clinic operation.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE:
A Master's degree in one of the following is required (by date of hire) for all Behavioral Health Clinician and Intensive Services Clinician levels:

• Marriage & Family Counseling;
• Counseling Psychology;
• Clinical Psychology;
• Clinical Counseling;
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling;
• Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling;
• Social Work with an emphasis on Clinical Social Work; OR
• Other equivalent Master's degree from a college or university approved by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Science Examiners;

AND:

Behavioral Health Clinician I /Intensive Services Clinician I
Must either be currently registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) within the last six (6) years as a:

• Associate Marriage and Family Therapist;
• Associate Clinical Social Worker; OR
• Associate Professional Clinical Counselor

OR

Be within 90 days of completing all requirements for graduation with a Master's degree in one of the disciplines listed above.

Prior to hire, applicants must provide proof of a Master's degree and an active BBS Associate registration by submitting their registration number.
Note regarding the 6 year rul