FILING PERIOD: Continuous

TENTATIVE EXAMINATION DATE: TBA

This examination is being given to fill vacancies as they occur in the Mental Health Division of the Department of Health Care Services.

TYPICAL DUTIES: The Mental Health Clinician I is the entry level in the Mental Health Clinician series. Assignments require advanced counseling and casework skills and techniques designed to restore or improve individual physical, mental or emotional functioning. The Mental Health Clinician II is the journey level in the Mental Health Clinician series and functions as an advanced practitioner in handling the most responsible and difficult casework in improving or restoring individual physical, mental, or emotional functioning.

License: Possession of a valid California driver's license.

AND
EITHER I

Education: Master's degree from an accredited school or university in social work, counseling, psychology or related field.

Education: A doctorate in psychology from an accredited school or university.

Special Requirements-Mental Health Clinician I: (1) Must be eligible for waiver of licensing requirements for a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Marriage, Family and Child Counselor (MFCC), or Psychologist set by the State of California Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 5600.2. Generally, LCSW and MFCC candidates have three years and Psychologist candidates have two years to obtain their license, commencing with the date of employment in a job that requires licensure. Out-of-state candidates who are eligible for licensure have two consecutive opportunities to pass the California exam before they are no longer within the waiver period. (2) MFCC and LCSW candidates must be registered or be eligible for registration with the California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners for the purpose of accumulating supervised hours toward qualification for licensure and must notify the Board within 30 days of employment of their intent to gain such experience.

Knowledge: 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 standard of other health care professionals.

Ability to: 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 professionals.