Job Description

Posting number: 202600123

Department: HHSA - Behavioral Health

Job classification: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICIANIII

Posting type: External - Open

Categories: Mental Health

Summary

Clinician I: $28.28/hr - $34.38/hr

Clinician II: $31.11/hr - $37.82/hr

Clinician III: $34.22/hr - $41.60/hr

Under general supervision, provides professional, specialized behavioral health services, and participates as part of a multidisciplinary team providing counseling, psychotherapy services, as well as related treatment and case management services to persons with mental illness in clinic, community, or various outpatient settings; and performs related duties as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from assigned Behavioral Health Program Supervisor. Exercises no direct supervision of staff. May exercise technical and functional direction over, and provide training to lower-level staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

Behavioral Health Program Clinician I: This is the entry level, pre-professional licensure classification.in the Behavioral Health Clinician series. Incumbents will have completed a qualified Master’s level program as accredited by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for professional licensure. Incumbents will be expected to register with the Board and submit proof of registration number within 4 months of employment. Incumbents will be expected to provide crisis intervention, case management, individual and group therapy and/or counseling, participate in assessment and treatment planning.

Behavioral Health Program Clinician II: This is the registered California pre-professional licensure level in the Behavioral Health Clinician series. Incumbents are fully qualified to perform the full range of duties. Incumbents must be registered interns or associates with the BBS. Incumbents are supervised for clinical hours towards licensure and will learn and perform duties of increasing complexity in assessment, diagnosis, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, psychotherapy, treatment planning and case management, and professional consultation. Incumbents have met the educational and clinical requirements to be license eligible and exercise independent judgment within the scope of established policies and procedures.

Behavioral Health Program Clinician III: This is the advanced, licensed level in the Behavioral Health Program Clinician series. Incumbents exercise considerable independent clinical judgment within the scope of program responsibilities and licensure. This class is distinguished from the Behavioral Health Clinician II in that this class performs work in accordance with the licensing requirements, as a licensed mental health professional with full exercise of authority to approve and make professional clinical decisions. In addition, this class may provide training and guidance to less experienced employees and/or provide clinical supervision to unlicensed Behavioral Health Program Clinicians for hours towards licensure.

Positions in the Behavioral Health Program Clinician class series are flexibly staffed and positions advance to the next level after gaining the knowledge, skill, experience, and licensure, which meet the qualifications for and after demonstrating the ability to perform the work of the higher-level class.

Examples of duties

(Illustrative Only)

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Provides direct and indirect behavioral health services to a varied caseload of patients in outpatient clinics, homes, schools, and community settings; functions as a member of multidisciplinary teams in the provision of assessment, treatment planning and case management services.
• Provide on-call crisis services evenings, weekends and holidays as assigned.
• Conducts diagnostic clinical interviews to gather, analyze and evaluate psycho-social data, both on a regular basis and as part of crisis intervention.
• Provides individual, family, child, and group therapy, independently or as a team member, in accordance with assigned program objectives and policies.
• Conducts intake/psychosocial assessments of those seeking behavioral health services; prepares diagnoses, treatment recommendations, and referrals; evaluates appropriateness of and authorizes, re-authorizes or denies clinician requests for initial and continuing client behavioral health services.
• Develops and implements written treatment plans; participates in case conferences and clinical meetings.
• Provides professional consultation to and coordination of services with other county departments, other agencies, community organizations and groups, schools, and others concerned with behavioral health services.
• Prepares, processes and provides timely documentation of all clinical contacts and forms and reports associated with admissions, evaluations, diagnoses, treatment plans, referrals, authorization of services, discharges and outcome measures.
• Participates in a variety of meetings, training sessions, conferences, and presentations; promotes community education and information on behavioral illness.
• May assist in planning, developing, implementing and evaluating Managed Care program policies, procedures and forms.
• Performs related work as required, which may include but is not limited to preparing correspondence and reports, copying and filing documents, answering the telephone, ordering supplies and materials, entering computer data, maintaining logs and lists, sending and receiving faxes, processing mail, etc.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Codes and regulations relevant to behavioral health treatment and recovery including Welfare and Institution Code Section 5328, Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Title 42, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Associated Code of Conduct requirements related to specific licensing board regulations.
• Theories, principles, practices and techniques of behavioral health treatment and recovery including clinical interviewing, assessment, diagnosis, crisis intervention, individual and group therapy and counseling.
• Psychological, physical and social aspects and characteristics of behavioral illness, emotional disturbances and chemical dependency.
• The principles and techniques of behavioral health treatment and recovery theories.
• Federal, state and local laws, regulations, rules and requirements including Medicare and Medi-Cal requirements pertaining to behavioral health programs and documentation.
• Principles, practices, procedures and operations of Managed Care programs.
• County and community behavioral health systems of care, community resources and related services.
• Basic psychiatric terminology and treatment methods, including uses and effects of psychotropic drugs.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.

Ability to:

• Effectively assess and evaluate behavioral health status, developing treatment plans, making appropriate referrals, and providing therapy for individuals, groups and families.
• Evaluate behavioral health service needs and provide and authorize services.
• Provide ongoing therapeutic support and case management services.
• Communicate and coordinate services with other county and community agencies.
• Respond appropriately in crisis intervention situations.
• Evaluate the treatment decisions of other clinicians for appropriateness and conformance to Managed Care requirements.
• Understand and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures of behavioral health programs, services and treatment methods.
• Work cooperatively and effectively as a member of a team, as well as independently without close supervision.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Preparing clear, accurate, timely and complete clinical documentation in accordance with requirements of regulatory and funding agencies.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Utilize skills in engaging and working with others from diverse ethnic and cultural groups.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Behavioral Health Program Clinician I: A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, counseling, psychiatric social work, or a related behavioral science and eligibility for registration as an intern, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) candidate or Masters in Social Work (MSW) associate with the BBS.

Behavioral Health Program Clinician II: Master's degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, counseling, psychiatric social work, or a related behavioral science. Registered as an intern or associate with the BBS for supervised clinical experience sufficient to qualify for licensure, and under qualified supervision in a mental health setting.

Behavioral Health Program Clinician III: Master's degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, counseling, psychiatric social work, or a related behavioral science and completed licensure as an Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Marriage, Family Therapist (MFT) or LPCC.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s License by time of appointment.
• Behavioral Health Program Clinician III: Possession of current licensure by the State of California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners as either a LCSW, MFT or LPCC.