Salary : $84,622.72 - $102,177.92 Annually
Location : San Jose Metropolitan Area, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 25-S87-A
Department: County-Wide Recruitment
Opening Date: 08/14/2025
Closing Date: 8/28/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 01

Description

Under general supervision, performs general and psychiatric nursing care to mentally ill or emotionally disturbed patients, including the administering of medication in an acute services or health center setting.

This recruitment will be used to fill any current or future vacancies as needed per department. There are currently three (3) departments that have this classification, Custody Health Services, Behavioral Health, and Santa Clara County Health and Hospital System.

Custody Health Services (CHS) provides medical, mental health, and dental services to patients in custody at the 3 County Jail facilities: Main Jail, Elmwood and Juvenile Detention facilities. CHS provides on-site routine and urgent/emergent medical services at both Main Jail and Elmwood adult detention facilities in Santa Clara County. Health care of incarcerated men and women includes care of acute and chronic illness as well as preventative and specialty care. CHS also runs a 39 single-bed acute psychiatric inpatient housing unit at the Main Jail. The services are provided for adult male and female patients who require acute inpatient services for stabilization. Juvenile Custody Health provides integrated medical services to justice involved youth housed in Juvenile Hall and in James Ranch to include comprehensive pediatric medical, mental health, and dental care.Some positions may require to work in a locked facility, which requires passing a background check for security clearance.

The County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department (BHSD) strives to be a premier integrated behavioral health care provider, employer, and partner. We are a passionate team of caring, courageous staff and professionals dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals, children, families, and older adults impacted by mental health and substance use challenges. To support achievement of their hopes, dreams, and quality of life goals, our team provides high quality whole-person care and comprehensive community-based behavioral services through the lens of race, equity, diversity and inclusion. We are looking for stellar health care professionals like you to start a rewarding career with us and be a partner for health and wellness in the community.
Typical Tasks

Acute Services Setting:

• Evaluates patient behavior and initiates therapeutic interventions.
  
• Assists in arranging, coordinating and may lead in providing a variety of therapy techniques such as assertive behavior training, role training and primary process and life skills groups.
  
• Assumes lead function of staff members in controlling physically aggressive and/or resistive patients in order to avoid destructive behavior and prevent injuries.
  
• Initiates patient care duties such as admitting, orienting, discharging, taking vital signs, and assisting with meals.
  
• Maintains records pertaining to patient care.
  
• Accompanies patients to designated areas.
  
• Assists patients in developing or maintaining a well-groomed appearance.

Health Center Setting:

• Responds to requests from community agencies or individuals for mental health evaluations at the centers or through home visits.
  
• Interviews patients and other appropriate persons to determine if patient is in need of voluntary or involuntary psychiatric hospitalization and to identify appropriate treatment services.
  
• Refers patients to appropriate community agencies for treatment and/or assistance.
  
• Provides short term crisis consultation to families, community agencies and the public as required.
  
• Provides follow-up of high risk cases.
  
• Maintains effective relations with local police departments, County departments and other agencies.
  
• May act as co-therapist with individuals and groups previously treated.
  In addition to the tasks described above:
  
• To serve as role model for less experienced personnel and in this way teach more adaptive and efficient means of interacting with disturbed patients and families.
  
• Provides short term crisis consultation to families, community agencies and the public as required.
  
• Administers oral and subcutaneous and intra-muscular medications under the direction of a Physician.
  
• Orients and trains other staff as required.
  
• Performs other related duties as required.

Employment Standards

Possession of a valid license to practice as a Psychiatric Technician issued by the California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric. Technician Examiners and sufficient experience involving a variety of treatment techniques applied to the acutely mentally ill as a Psychiatric Technician, including substantial experience in the administration of medications and group process. Possession of a valid California driver's license may be required.

Experience Note: This employment standard normally represents two years of experience in a Health Care setting, with duties comparable to a Psychiatric Technician I in Santa Clara County.

Knowledge of:

• Leadership in crisis situations;
  
• Practical nursing techniques and their application;
  
• Techniques of physical control and protection;
  
• Behavior patterns of persons with symptoms of emotional disturbance or mental illness;
  
• Reaction, contra-indications and responses to common psychiatric medications;
  
• Medical and psychiatric emergency procedures;
  
• Basic principles and techniques of psychotherapy used in the treatment of psychiatric patients;
  
• Community resources for appropriate referral of patients.

Ability to:

• Act as a leader in crisis situations;
  
• Administer oral and subcutaneous medications;
  
• Apply basic nursing care principles and procedures in the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric patients;
  
• Exercise judgment in recognizing symptoms indicative of adverse patient reactions;
  
• Respond to psychiatric emergencies with appropriate intervention;
  
• Ability to work effectively as a member of the treatment team;
  
• Maintain accurate records;
  
• Analyze situations accurately and take effective action;
  
• Speak before individuals and groups;
  
• Apply a reasonable degree of physical exertion occasionally in restraining over-active patients.

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

Do you have possession of a valid license to practice as a Psychiatric Technician issued by the California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric?
If yes, enter the licensure information in the Certificate and License section or the application, and upload a copy of your license. Failure to do so will result in disqualification of moving forward in the recruitment.

• Yes
• No

03

Please provide your valid Psychiatric Technician license number and expiration date, as issued by the California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners. Attach proof of current license to your application.
04

How many years of experience do you possess working as a Psychiatric Technician?

• 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 to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten yeas
• Ten or more years

05

Describe your health care experience equivalent to a Psychiatric Technician I* in Santa Clara County.
Include 1) experience involving various treatment techniques applied to patients and 2) experience in the administration of medications and group processes. If no experience, enter "N/A".
*For the Definition and Typical Tasks performed by a Psychiatric Technician I with the County of Santa Clara, view the
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."
06

Do you have experience evaluating behavior patterns of persons with symptoms of emotional disturbance or mental illness?

• Yes
• No

07

Describe your experience evaluating behavior patterns of persons with symptoms of emotional disturbance or mental illness.
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."
08

Do you have experience assessing clients for 5150 holds?

• Yes
• No

09

Describe your experience assessing clients for 5150 holds.
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."
10

Do you have experience providing injections for patients?

• Yes
• No

11

Describe your experience providing injections for patients.
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."
12

Do you have experience assisting psychiatrists with prior medication authorizations?

• Yes
• No

13

Describe your experience assisting psychiatrists with prior medication authorizations.
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."
14

Do you have experience assisting psychiatrists with the REMS system and clozapine?

• Yes
• No

15

Describe your experience assisting psychiatrists with the REMS system and clozapine.
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."
16

Some positions may require you to work in a locked facility i.e. jail or psychiatric facility, which requires passing a background check for security clearance. Are you willing to work in this environment and agree to this requirement?

• Yes
• No

17

CERTIFICATION
Do you certify that all of the statements made on this form are true, complete and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief and are made in good faith? Do you understand that you may be expected to substantiate these self-ratings if invited to interview for this position?

• Yes
• No

18

How did you find out about this job?

• Contacted by County Recruiter
• Contacted by a Recruitment Firm
• County Employee Referral
• County of Santa Clara Career Website
• County of Santa Clara Job Interests Email Notification
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Virtual Job Fair
• In Person Job Fair
• In-Person Networking Professional Event
• Virtual Networking Event
• Community Event
• Glassdoor
• Governmentjobs.com
• Professional Association
• Search Engine (Google, Bing, online search, etc.)
• Hospital Website: SCVMC, O'Connor Hospital, St. Louise Regional Hospital Website
• Handshake
• Student Career Center
• County Text Message
• Other (Specify in the next question)

19

If you selected an event/fair or other in the question above, please specify. If not, type N/A.
Required Question