Psychiatric Social Worker II - Custody Health Services

Salary : $113,416.16 - $137,217.60 Annually
Location : Throughout the County of Santa Clara, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-Y41-B
Department: Santa Clara Valley HHS - Custody Health Services
Opening Date: 11/05/2026
Closing Date: 11/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 01

Description

Under general supervision, the Psychiatric Social Worker II (licensed) provides counseling, psychotherapy, case management, and treatment services in a counseling center, clinic, or institutional setting.

This is a posting to fill vacant positions that may be filled in the classifications of Marriage and Family Therapist I (associate), Marriage and Family Therapist II (licensed), Psychiatric Social Worker I (associate), or Psychiatric Social Worker II (licensed). Candidates need only to apply to one of these four postings for which they qualify to be considered. Additionally, this posting will create a list that will be used to fill vacancies for the following month. Qualified applicants will remain on the list for one month and will be referred to available vacancies. To be considered for future opportunities, applicants must reapply each month to be placed on the eligible list for the following month.

Custody Health Services (CHS) provides medical, mental health, and dental services to patients in custody at the four County detention facilities: Main Jail, Elmwood, Juvenile Hall, and James Ranch. On-site routine and urgent/emergent medical services are provided at both Main Jail and Elmwood adult jail facilities in Santa Clara County. Health care of incarcerated patients includes care of acute and chronic illness as well as preventative and specialty care. CHS also operates a 40-bed acute psychiatric inpatient housing unit at the Main Jail facility for incarcerated adults who require acute inpatient services for stabilization. Juvenile Custody Health Services provides integrated medical services including comprehensive pediatric medical, mental health, and dental care to justice-involved youth housed in Juvenile Hall and James Ranch.

Selected candidate(s) must be able to work in a correctional facility, which requires passing a background check for security clearance.
Some positions may require credentialing prior to appointment. If you have not previously completed a CAQH (Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare) application, it is recommended that you start one at the same time you submit your application for this recruitment. To start your CAQH application, visit .
CANDIDATES HIRED MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A SIGN-ON BONUS OF UP TO $5,000. A new hire or a regular coded full-time or part-time employee who is hired into, transfers, or promotes in the Marriage and Family Therapist or Psychiatric Social Worker classifications may be eligible to receive a sign-on bonus of up to $5,000 (subject to discontinuation at any time).

Typical Tasks
The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

• Performs intensive case management, counseling, psychotherapy, and treatment services with patients or clients and their families;

• Participates in the evaluation of problems presented and in the development of treatment plans;

• May participate in group therapy programs;

• Prepares social case histories with particular emphasis upon psycho-social factors affecting the patient or client;

• Cooperates with staff and other community agencies in carrying out treatment plans;

• Participates in psychotherapy programs with psychiatric staff treatment teams;

• Interprets and explains social and emotional factors pertaining to illness to clients, relatives, and community groups, and may conduct educational sessions and training events, as appropriate;

• Evaluates new techniques for dealing with emotional and environmental problems;

• Refers patients or clients to appropriate community agencies;

• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required;

• Performs other related duties, as required.

Employment Standards
Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks, plus the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:
Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through possession of licensure as described in the Special Requirements.
Special Requirements

• Possess and maintain a registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), for the duration of employment in this classification.

• Incumbents in this class must comply with California licensure requirements as outlined by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

• Some positions may require provider credentialing prior to appointment.

• Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work. If driving, possession of a valid California driver's license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.

• *As a condition of employment, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 3100-3109 and Local Ordinance, all County of Santa Clara employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), including extra help. A DSW is required to complete all assigned DSW-related training, and in the event of an emergency, return to work as ordered.

Knowledge of:

• Principles of psychiatric social work and psychotherapy;

• Counseling, case management, and other techniques of psychiatric social work;

• Social aspects of behavioral health and emotional disturbances;

• Theory and practice of community behavioral health and substance use interventions;

• Community agencies and community resources serving the mentally ill, alcohol and drug abusers, and alcoholism;

• Physical and mental illnesses and their impact on personality.

• English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling;

• Common computer systems and applications.

Ability to:

• Effectively apply psychiatric social work theory and case management skills and psychotherapeutic interventions;

• Conduct differential diagnosis;

• Develop and implement a treatment program;

• Secure and record accurate and pertinent social and personal data;

• Effectively use psychiatric consultation;

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures;

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, at all levels, including colleagues, the public, and representatives of other agencies.

The County offers comprehensive first-class medical, dental, and vision benefits plans for County employees and their dependents, including plans with no deductibles, no co-pays, no co-insurance, and no prescription drug co-pays. Learn more

The County also offers generous paid time off with significant vacation, sick time, and 13 paid County holidays annually! Details are included in the with the bargaining unit applicable to the job classification.

In addition to the amazing perks above, the County also offers the additional benefits below.

Retirement Benefits
The County offers robust retirement plans including a (similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan) and the In addition to lifetime retirement income available through the CalPERS pension plan, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan provides a great way to save for retirement and supplement the defined benefit pension available to employees. These plans help our employees build a plan for their future and contribute to their family's long-term financial well-being.

Health Flexible Spending Account
The empowers employees to manage healthcare expenses efficiently with tax-free contributions (up to $3,200 for the 2024 calendar year). Secure tax-free solutions for your healthcare expenses and enjoy the flexibility to manage your healthcare finances effectively with the HFSA.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
The enables employees to utilize tax-free funds for dependent care services, facilitating a convenient and cost-effective approach for managing your dependent care expenses. The County also offers the , an employer-funded DCAP, for employees with annual income under $120,000.

Life and AD&D
The County offers life and disability benefits including , Insurance, These benefits ensure financial security and income support when you and your family need it most.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The County prioritizes employee mental health and well-being and offers a top-tier through Concern providing confidential counseling sessions covering stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, as well as financial/legal services, personal coaching, child and elder care referrals, and comprehensive crisis support.

Employee Wellness
The offers free wellness programing, fitness classes and resources; including Elevate My Wellness an all-in-one platform designed to elevate your well-being journey.

Education Reimbursement
A generous program is available, including Education Reimbursement for employees seeking additional training and professional development.

NOTE: Benefit and Retirement information may vary from bargaining unit to bargaining unit. Due to changes in State Law, current pension provisions described in the union contracts are not automatically applied. Specific pension benefits for new hires who start on or after January 1, 2013 may be different than indicated in the union contracts.

Click here to access all Memoranda of Understanding and most recent Summary of Changes.
01

(REQUIRED) Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Initially, it will be used to determine minimum qualifications. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating evaluation has begun. A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete. Include a detailed description of your work experience in the following format for EACH employer referenced, in each answer:
a) Employer name(s)
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment
d) Total hours worked per week
e) Description of task(s) performedDo you understand the requirement to provide complete answers in order to determine relevant experience for each area in question?

• Yes
• No

02

Have you previously received a sign-on bonus from the County?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have a Master's degree in Social Work, Social Welfare or a in a closely related field that qualifies for licensure?

• Yes
• No

04

If you have a Master's Degree in a closely related field, please indicate which field below. If none, please indicate "N/A."
05

Are you currently registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)?

• Yes
• No

06

Please indicate your current LCSW or LPCC license number with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If none, please indicate "N/A."
07

How many years of clinical experience do you have as a License Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or License Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

08

Please describe your clinical working experience as a License Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or License Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).
In your response, include the name of employer(s), job title(s), dates of employment, number of hours worked per week, and job duties. If none, please indicate "N/A."
09

Select your experience with treatment and counseling in any of the follow areas:

• Client - centered group and individual counseling
• Crisis Intervention
• Relapse Prevention
• Behavior Modification
• Individual and Group Therapy
• CBT, DBT and/or trauma informed therapy

10

Please describe your experience in the above areas you selected and the treatment modalities that you used in the treatment of the patients/clients.
In your response, include the name of employer(s), job title(s), dates of employment, number of hours worked per week, and job duties. If none, please indicate "N/A."
11

Please select all the areas that you have one or more years of clinical exp