Behavioral Health Practitioner

The Residential Placement Unit serves Marin County residents, 18 and older, who have been admitted to a contracted treatment facility following an inpatient hospitalization and Temporary Conservatorship or LPS conservatorship due to grave disability. Services include comprehensive assessment, collaboration with facility staff, chart reviews, individualized planning, writing assessments as needed, crisis management, med support, psychoeducation, addressing interpersonal issues, following facility rules, and engagement in treatment.

Our mission is to step each client down to the lowest level of care possible to meet their needs and we do this through a very recovery focused lens believing that recovery looks different for everyone and that recovery is always possible. We treat our clients with respect always elevating their voice and their goals to the forefront of our work.

Under the direction of the Behavioral Health Unit Supervisor, the practitioner provides case management services to adult clients who suffer from chronic mental health issues, substance use issues and who require intensive treatment in a facility due to significant functional impairments directly related to their mental health symptoms resulting in them not being able to meet their basic needs. In addition, they provide on-going assessment, treatment planning and act as a client advocate when client is unable to advocate for themselves. The practitioner works collaboratively with an intensive, multi-disciplinary team of highly skilled professionals, engages with facility staff, the Public Guardians Office, and other members of the treatment team. The practitioner is responsible for keeping electronic medical records current(service notes completed within 72 hours of service) and for meeting monthly productivity standards (60%).

There is one full-time vacancy that will be filled with a Behavioral Health Practitioner.

Knowledge of

• Considerable knowledge of the principles, procedures, techniques, trends and literature of community mental health and the dynamics of human behavior trauma informed care evidence based practices and co-occurring disorders.
• Social aspects of mental and emotional disturbances.
• Community resources available for assistance to individuals suffering from behavioral and/or emotional problems.
• The nature of problems calling for the use of public or private community resources.
• Scope and activities of health and welfare agencies.
• Methods and techniques of crisis assessment and intervention.
• Individual, family and/or group therapy.
• Charting or documentation standards such as, Short Doyle Medi-Cal/Drug Medi-Cal.

Ability to

• Evaluate personal and psychological factors in the individual's and/or family situation and develop an appropriate service plan.
• Effectively counsel clients and conduct individual, family and/or group therapy or provide crisis intervention, case management or psychosocial rehabilitation services, depending upon assignment.
• Understand, interpret and apply procedures, regulations related to treatment services.
• Understand the legal implications of treatment.
• Communicate and interact in situations requiring instructing, persuading, consulting, counseling and motivating people.
• Prepare clear, concise and accurate case records, reports, correspondence and other written materials.
• Maintain accurate records and files.
• Assist in the formation of policies and procedures.
• Guide, orient, and train less experienced workers and interns.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted during the performance of duties.
• Obtain data and record such data systematically and interpret data.

EITHER possession of a Master's degree from an accredited institution in social work, psychology, counseling or a closely related field by first date of employment OR possession of a Doctoral degree in clinical psychology or a closely related field by first date of employment AND equivalent to one year of clinical behavioral health experience under qualified supervision in a behavioral health setting appropriate to the assignment.

Certificates and Licenses

Behavioral Health Practitioner

From the first date of employment, an employee must be registered with the State of California, Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Clinical Social Worker, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist OR an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor AND employees must successfully pass the licensing exam within six years from the date of employment.

From the first date of employment, an employee who is an unlicensed Psychologist is required to be waiver-eligible AND must successfully pass the licensing exam within the five-year waiver period.

Failure to obtain licensure within specified timelines will result in termination of employment. Incumbents must acquire the appropriate licensure before advancing to the Licensed Behavioral Health Practitioner.

Licensed Behavioral Health Practitioner

Must be professionally licensed by the State of California, Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor OR must be professionally licensed as a Clinical Psychologist issued by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Psychology.

Qualified non-California residents must submit proof of license eligibility in California that meets the requirement of their prospective licensing board and have a waiver from the California Department of Health Care Services. Failure to obtain licensure within the specified timelines will result in termination of employment. Failure to obtain licensure within the specified timelines, and/or loss of State registration at any time, will result in termination of employment.

Employees who drive on County business to carry out job-related duties must possess a valid California driver's license for the class of vehicle driven and meet automobile insurability requirements of the County including review of a recent DMV history. At the time of the selection interview by the appointing authority, applicants will have to furnish a recent DMV driving record.