Mental Health Clinician I (#RS2011)
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$42.36-$51.48 Hourly / $7,341.56-$8,923.72 Monthly / $88,098.80-$107,084.65 Yearly

Under direction, performs casework in a mental health or related setting; and does related or other work as required in accordance with Rule 3, Section 3 of the Civil Service Rules.

This is the entry level in the professional Mental Health Clinician series. Assignments require advanced counseling and casework skills and techniques designed to restore or improve individual physical, mental or emotional functioning. This class is distinguished from Mental Health Clinician II in that the latter is the fully-licensed, journey level practitioner. Typically, upon obtaining licensure, incumbents in this class advance to Mental Health Clinician II.

• Interviews clients and relatives to collect and compile extensive case histories for use by medical staff in diagnosis and determination of treatment and for use by social service personnel in related casework.
• Completes biopsychosocial assessments and develops treatment plans.
• Participates in diagnostic and technical staff conferences with other disciplines for treatment planning; interprets recommendations to clients and families.
• Implements intensive treatment counseling with individuals, families and/or groups; may participate in collaborative treatment with professional members of other disciplines or other agencies.
• Makes pre-release evaluations; evaluates suitability of environment to which client will be released; makes appropriate recommendations.
• Acts as liaison among the client, department, family, and community agencies; interprets client’s needs and problems; assists clients in adjustment to new situations.
• Participates in training programs, including the teaching of diagnosis and treatment methods, conducted for public and private community and social agencies.
• May provide consultation to other disciplines regarding case histories, client’s progress, plans for client rehabilitation and related casework activities.
• Maintains records; prepares reports; writes correspondence.
• Participates in in-service training programs; may attend seminars or participate in coursework in order to develop and/or maintain professional skills.
• May be responsible for coordinating a client caseload requiring clinical case management and providing related services in office and/or field settings.

Education: Graduation from an accredited school or university with a master’s or doctorate degree in social work, counseling, psychology or other course of study acceptable to the State of California Board of Behavioral Sciences towards licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).

Principles, practices and techniques of social casework; social and psychological aspects of mental illnesses and disabilities and current modern methods of treatment; social work placement methods and practices; values and standards of other health care professionals.

Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with clients, families, physicians, social agencies, and others; prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive social casework records; analyze data and make appropriate conclusions; recognize and differentiate psychological and social problems within the individual; select interventions appropriate to the client’s problem; summarize and describe client’s problems to other health professional; effectively use related computer applications.

Mobility – frequent operation of a keyboard, sitting for long periods of time, walking; occasional standing for long periods of time, pushing/pulling, bending/squatting and stair climbing; Lifting – frequent lifting of 5 lbs. or less; Visual – constant use of overall vision, hand/eye coordination, depth perception and reading/close-up work; frequent need for color perception and field of vision/peripheral; Dexterity – frequent holding, reaching, grasping, repetitive motion and writing; Hearing/Talking – constant hearing of normal speech, talking in person and talking on the telephone; frequent hearing on a telephone/radio; occasional hearing of faint sounds and talking over a public address system; Emotional/Psychological Factors – constant public contact, decision-making and concentration; frequent exposure to emergency situations; occasional exposure to trauma, grief or death; Environmental and Other Conditions – frequent work in an indoor office and/or outdoor field environment; occasional exposure to noise, varied outdoor weather conditions; occasional working alone, working weekends/nights, overtime, and/or work-related travel.

San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.