Behavioral Health Clinician III

Description

About Wellness Equity Alliance

Wellness Equity Alliance is a national multidisciplinary health organization that designs and delivers integrated, community-based care for populations most impacted by health inequities. We do this through mobile and field-based models, providing medical care, behavioral health services, substance use treatment, harm reduction, and care coordination in nontraditional settings such as encampments, schools, reentry sites, and rural communities, as well as with sovereign tribal nations. Grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and data-driven practices, WEA combines clinical expertise, lived experience, and advanced population health analytics to reduce barriers to care, improve continuity, and strengthen local systems. We have partnered with more than 60 public agencies, managed care plans, and community-based organizations across the U.S. to implement scalable, sustainable programs that are advancing health equity and improving outcomes for historically marginalized populations.

We are known as Renegades, Rebels, Disruptors, and Dreamers. If that sounds like you, we want you on our team.

About the Behavioral Health Crisis Walk-In Center

The Behavioral Health Crisis Walk-In Center (CWIC), located on the behavioral health campus of Riverside University Health System in Indio, CA, offers 24/7 walk-in, voluntary crisis services for adults and children ages 5 and older. Designed to provide immediate, accessible care, the center serves up to 20 youth and adult patients at a time.

Position Summary

The Behavioral Health Clinician III (LCSW, LMFT, or LPCC) serves as a frontline clinician at the CWIC, providing rapid assessment, crisis intervention, therapeutic engagement, care coordination, discharge planning, and short-term stabilization services for youth, adults, and families experiencing acute behavioral health needs. The Behavioral Health Clinician III is distinguished from the Behavioral Health Clinician II by also serving as a clinical supervisor for Behavioral Health Clinician I staff (associate registrants) working toward California BBS licensure.

This role helps individuals stabilize quickly, engage personal and community supports, and transition safely to ongoing care. Clinicians work in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment and support individuals with standalone and co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges.

The Behavioral Health Clinician III works closely with an interdisciplinary team, including peer support, nursing, psychiatry, and site operations, and partners with clinical leadership to ensure safe, effective, and compassionate care. This is a high-impact role for clinicians experienced in mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorder treatment and care coordination who thrive in crisis settings and are motivated to serve vulnerable populations with empathy, structure, and clinical excellence.

Key Responsibilities

1. Crisis Response & Stabilization

• Conduct timely, comprehensive behavioral health assessments for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.
• Perform suicide and safety risk assessment and planning to ensure appropriate, safe care and discharge.
• Provide crisis counseling, emotional support, and developmentally appropriate therapeutic interventions.
• Support rapid stabilization through short-term, solution-focused care approaches.
• Monitor client progress during the stabilization period and adjust interventions as needed.
• Engage family members and caregivers to promote safety, stabilization, and continuity of care.
• Support individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns through early intervention, psychoeducation, and care linkage.

2. Care Coordination & Transitions

• Develop individualized safety plans and transition plans aligned with patient needs.
• Coordinate referrals and warm handoffs to outpatient mental health services, substance use treatment, youth services, and community-based resources.
• Coordinate discharge placement to inpatient treatment settings in conjunction with nurses and prescribers.
• Collaborate with internal team members, including peer support specialists, nurses, prescribers, and operations staff.
• Build and maintain relationships with external partners such as schools, social services, hospitals, and crisis response teams.

3. Clinical Supervision & Shift Leadership

• Provide weekly clinical supervision to Behavioral Health Clinician I staff (ASW, AMFT, APCC registrants) pursuing BBS licensure in California.
• Serve as the highest-level Behavioral Health Clinician on shift when assigned, acting as shift lead in collaboration with the Lead RN, Advanced Practice Provider (APP), and Site Director(s).
• Mentor and provide day-to-day guidance to Behavioral Health Clinician associates.
• Support onboarding of newer clinicians.

4. Team Collaboration & Interdisciplinary Care

• Participate in daily clinical huddles and team-based care coordination.
• Contribute to a collaborative, team-oriented environment focused on patient safety and quality care.
• Communicate effectively with clinical leadership and team members to escalate risks and support care decisions.
• Partner with clinical and operational leadership to support smooth patient flow and care delivery.

5. Documentation & Compliance

• Complete timely, accurate, and thorough documentation of assessments, interventions, and care plans.
• Maintain compliance with program requirements, documentation standards, and applicable regulations.
• Support continuity of care through clear, professional communication with internal and external stakeholders.

6. Patient & Family Engagement

• Build trust with patients and families through empathetic, culturally responsive care.
• Provide education and support to individuals and caregivers during moments of crisis.
• Promote patient dignity, autonomy, and engagement in care planning.

7. Continuous Improvement & Clinical Excellence

• Apply critical thinking and clinical judgment in high-pressure situations.
• Participate in quality improvement efforts and feedback loops to strengthen program effectiveness.
• Contribute to a culture of learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Key Competencies

• Crisis assessment, de-escalation, and stabilization
• Trauma-informed and culturally responsive care
• Care coordination and discharge planning for complex cases
• Clinical supervision and staff development
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Ability to remain calm and effective under pressure
• Team-based care and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Clinical judgment and adaptability in dynamic environments

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Active LCSW, LMFT, or LPCC license in good standing with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS)
• Meets California BBS requirements to serve as a clinical supervisor for ASW, AMFT, and APCC registrants, including completion of required supervisor training
• 3+ years of experience providing behavioral health services, crisis intervention, or counseling
• Experience supporting individuals in acute distress, including mental health crises and/or substance use challenges
• Strong crisis de-escalation, assessment, and stabilization skills
• Experience with care coordination and discharge planning
• Experience working in an electronic health record (EHR)
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment
• Excellent communication, organization, and teamwork skills
• Willingness to work 12-hour shifts and meet minimum availability expectations for daytime, overnight, weekend, and holiday shifts
• Ability to meet WEA’s Occupational Health Clearance requirements upon conditional offer

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in crisis settings such as a crisis walk-in center, crisis stabilization unit (CSU), emergency department, urgent care, or community crisis program
• Experience working with youth and family systems
• Experience supporting individuals with co-occurring (dual diagnosis) conditions
• Prior experience formally supervising or mentoring clinical staff
• Bilingual English/Spanish (strongly preferred)
• Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act / 5150 designation in Riverside County
• Familiarity with Coachella Valley community mental health and social service resources

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Because we serve a diverse community in the Coachella Valley, we actively encourage applications from people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with unique recovery backgrounds. Individuals with shared life experience are encouraged to apply.

Third-Party Recruiting Notice: Wellness Equity Alliance does not currently accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from third-party recruiters, staffing agencies, search firms, or other external recruiting vendors. Please do not contact hiring managers or members of our People & Culture team regarding recruitment services unless you have an existing agreement with WEA.

Any unsolicited resumes or candidate information submitted without a current, authorized agreement will be considered the property of Wellness Equity Alliance, and no placement fee or other compensation will be owed in connection with any resulting hire.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.