Position: Mental Health Therapist
Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS)
On-going Posting
Hours: Full Time
Definition
Under immediate (I, II), general supervision (III), or general direction (IV), provides
clinical and/or administrative mental health services in a multi-cultural, multidisciplinary
environment through the use of therapy (individual, family or group),
case management, interagency collaboration and community engagement according
to VCBH-Specialty Mental Health Services within the SMHS contract and Interface
Mental Health standards.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Mental Health Therapist I-SMHS (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
Mental Sciences Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Psychologist or
Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Hourly Rate: unregistered-$25/ $26 bilingual – registered up to 1yr post grad
$27/$28 bilingual
Mental Health Therapist II-SMHS (unlicensed) – is the journey-level classification,
providing mental health services as part of a multi-disciplinary team under general
supervision with clinical supervision by a California Board of Mental Sciences
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Psychologist or Licensed Clinical
Social Worker. May take on additional community engagement duties.
Hourly Rate: registered, 1yr+ post grad $28.50/ $29.50 bilingual
Mental Health Therapist III-SMHS (licensed) – is the advanced journey-level
classification, providing mental 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, in
the formulation and implementation of treatment and wellness and recovery plans,
and in community partnership engagement.
Hourly Rate: licensed, 3yrs + post grad $30/ $31 bilingual
Mental Health Therapist IV-SMHS (licensed) – is the expert level of the series, able
to independently perform the most complex clinical and case management
assignments and providing clinical or administrative supervision according to
licensure and training, key roles in community partnership
engagement. Demonstrates leadership within the multi-disciplinary team.
Hourly Rate: 2yrs licensed, 3yrs + post grad $32/ $33 bilingual
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
Assess, evaluate and provide mental health and/or substance abuse services
including individual, group and family therapy/counseling, rehabilitation, crisis
intervention and intensive care coordination, case management services for
youth with serious emotional disturbance utilizing culturally-sensitive,
client/family-centered, trauma responsive, strength-based, wellness and
recovery models of service delivery.
Performs VCBH SMHS/SMHS clinical documentation and maintains SMHS
productivity according to department expectations.
In collaboration with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, including
consumers and family members, participates in the completion of all required
documents according to the VCBH SMHS contract and completes timely
completion into the Avatar electronic health record.
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 including those outlined in the
VCBH/Interface contract including but not limited to cultural competency,
clinical practice, compliance, treatment or service 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.
Performs other related duties as required.
Qualification Guidelines
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Working knowledge of: the diagnosis, assessment, prognosis, treatment,
rehabilitation and case management for persons with serious mental illness, alcohol
and drug issues, co-occurring disorders and/or youth with serious emotional
disturbance; effective therapeutic techniques and modalities; psychosocial and
cultural factors affecting mental health and service delivery; and administrative
procedures related to the delivery of mental health services, and Medi-Cal, state and
federal mental health programs descriptions, treatment benefits, application
procedures, etc.
Ability to: establish and maintain effective working relationships with others as part of
a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team; assess, treat and manage cases for an
ethnically diverse population with mental illness and their families; communicate
effectively in writing and orally, including public speaking; efficiently organize time
and workload responsibilities; effectively utilize agency and community resources;
conduct group meetings, interpret and explain laws, rules and regulations to other
staff, clients, family members and the public; and help implement state, federal and
County mental health programs.
Recruiting Standards
Education/Experience:
A Master’s degree in one of the following is required:
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 Mental Science Examiners;
AND
Must either be currently registered with the California Board of Mental Sciences
(BBS) as a:
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist;
Associate Clinical Social Worker; OR
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor*;
OR
Be within 90 days of completion of the requirements for graduation with a Master’s
degree in a discipline as noted above; and Following graduation, provide
documentation that an application for an intern or associates registration number has
been submitted to the BBS.
*In order to qualify for this job classification as a California Associate Professional
Clinical Counselor, applicants must meet one (1) of the following additional training
and education requirements beyond the minimum training and education required for
licensure:
Six (6) semester units or nine (9) quarter units specifically focused on the
theory and application of marriage and family therapy; OR
A named specialization or emphasis area on the qualifying degree in
marriage and family therapy; marital and family therapy; marriage, family and
child counseling; or couple and family therapy.
Note: Proof of Master’s degree and BBS registration is required by date of hire, or be
within the 90 days of completion of the requirements for graduation with a Master’s
degree, and as noted above.
If qualifying as a California Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, proof of
meeting the criteria outlined above, which allows Licensed Professional Clinical
Counselors in the State of California to provide counseling, assessment and
treatment to couples and families, is also required by date of hire.
Other Requirements
Special Requirements:
Candidates are required to have at time of hire and maintain a current
California Board of Mental Sciences registration number as a condition of
continued employment, and malpractice insurance policy.
Incumbents are encouraged and supported to obtain a LMFT (Licensed
Marriage and Family Therapist) license, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social
Worker) license or LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) license
with the California BBS within six (6) years of initial registration as an
Associate Marriage Family Therapist, Associate Clinical Social Worker or
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor as a condition of continued
employment. Once licensed, Mental Health Therapists who are California
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors must complete a minimum of six
(6) hours of continuing education, specific to marriage and family therapy, in
each license renewal cycle as a condition of continued employment.
If pursing a California LPCC, individuals must successfully complete 500
hours of documented supervised experience working directly with couples,
families, or children within six (6) years of initial registration as an
Associate Professional Counselor as a condition of continued employment.
Certain positions may require work experience with specific age groups such
as children, adults, or older adults and/or related service types. Some
positions require some evening hours.
Related work experience with a multi-cultural client population and Spanish-
English bilingual skills, desirable, incentive provided at $1/hr.
Successful background and criminal clearance required and maintained,
including but not limited to California Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI, Child Abuse Index and Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV). Proof of a valid California Driver License, reliable
transportation, proof of automobile insurance (listed as covered), pass and
maintain driving approval as required by our insurer.
Supplemental Information:
All assignments involve work in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural settings with
seriously mentally ill adults or seriously emotionally, disturbed children or
adolescents, or complex trauma. Mental health services are decentralized
throughout the County and involve field-work and travel within the
County. Incumbents are expected to work locally at Interface site locations or school
environments providing primarily in person services, schedule includes 2-3 evenings
per week.
Continuous review of BBS requirements and funder requirements may result in
position descriptions update. When updated positional descriptions will be reviewed
with incumbents.
To apply for this job email your details to hrstaff@icfs.org
