lead mental health clinician

Career Opportunities with Neighborhood House Association
About NHA:
The Neighborhood House Association is a non-profit organization. Head Start positions are funded in whole or in part by money provided through the State and Federal Government. Additionally, some Social Service Program positions may be funded in whole or in part through grant funds. Because positions and salaries may be funded through grants, and State and Federal funds ongoing employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these funds.

Our EEO Policy:
Neighborhood House Association Neighborhood House Association is an equal opportunity employer (Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans). We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.  To read more about this, view the EEO is the Law poster and this EEO is the Law Poster Supplement.

Benefits:
 
Eligible employees receive the following benefits:

• 15 Holidays Days   
• 401(K) Retirement 6% Match
• Paid Vacation and Sick Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement up $2,500 
• 2 Personal Days
• Group Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Agency-Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Live Well Program
• 4 Paid Days Annual Bereavement (Note Total of 5 days of bereavement leave per loss)
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
• Voluntary Benefits: Life and AD&D Accident, Short-Term Disability, and Critical Illness Insurance
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

 
**Medical and dental benefits are provided to regular employees who work a minimum of 30 hours per week.**
 

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Lead Mental Health Clinician provides services to incarcerated individuals age 18+ with co-occurring substance use and/or psychiatric disorders as they prepare to exit detention facilities, including providing individual counseling, group counseling, clinical case management, researching and organizing the necessary community resources in order to support clients' transition to the community, and following through to ensure service efficacy; and performs related work as required. The Lead Mental Health Clinician is also responsible for training new staff and supporting the in supervising staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this position.

• Supervise and direct social workers and peer staff in close collaboration with Licensed Mental Health Clinician Manager;
• Oversees time star, provides training to staff members, completes staff evaluations, and completes other tasks as assigned;
• Monitor staff progress and assist with professional development;
• Assist with monthly and quarterly reports;
• Provides clinical case management, mental health assessments, individual and group counseling;
• Performs crisis intervention as needed; assesses and identifies clients' needs for supportive services, acts as a partner and resource, performing case management services and client advocacy by obtaining appropriate linkages for necessary or requested services (e.g., mental health, housing, vocational, employment, food, etc.) and following through to ensure service efficacy;
• Completes intake assessments, updated assessments, and other necessary paperwork, including service plans and service plan reviews; enters necessary data and information;
• Collaborates with and advises other service team members on client concerns;
• Works closely with the program management in implementing program changes and adaptations, and assists program staff with effectively adopting changes;
• Requests assistance and guidance from management and professional staff when necessary to address client issues and problems; establishes and maintains contact with community resources to ensure continuity of care;
• Creates detailed documentation of client progress and performs various other administrative functions associated with the program; maintains client charts;
• Updates assigned clients' progress notes, maintains daily log of clients seen and writes necessary communication; Transports clients to their needed linkage resource(s);
• Provides information, presentations and outreach to the community as needed;
• Upholds all Program Safety Policies and Procedures and ensure that clients, staff and program facility are safe at all times;
• Maintains a good rapport, respect and communication with law enforcement or court officials, clients, and community service agencies;
• Monitors, evaluates, and records client progress with respect to case management goals;
• Coordinates client activities and/or events for clients;

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:

• Assessment of clients with substance abuse disorders, counseling theory, and clinical care coordination principles and best practices;
• Cultural and socio-economic issues relevant to providing appropriate case management services to special population groups, including Latino, African-American, and Transition Age Youth;
• Legal and ethical issues pertaining to delivery of professional services;
• Cognitive-behavioral theory, Dialectical Behavior Theory, and evidence-based practices;
• Groups and individual therapy;
• 2+ years in supervision of staff and management;
• Reviewing case notes;
• Local community and mental health resources available to assist incarcerated clients;
• Detailed mental health treatment plans;
• Diagnostic categories (DSM V);
• Social, psychological and physical factors of mental, emotional, and substance use disorders;
• Types of illicit drugs and behavior patterns associated with them;
• Addictive behavior treatment methods; and Community resources
• Motivational interviewing

Ability to:

• Assess to acquire diagnostic information and develop case management treatment plans;
• Work with the incarcerated population and correctional staff;
• Maintain detailed client documentation;
• Exercise tact, objectivity, sensitivity, strategy and judgment in dealing with people with mental illnesses;
• Organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, correctional staff, other professional staff and the public;
• Operate a computer using word processing, spreadsheet and database software applications, and operate other standard office equipment;
• Understand, interpret, explain and apply local, state and federal law and regulations governing mental health programs and correctional facilities;
• Analyze complex mental health and substance abuse program issues and problems, evaluate alternative solutions and develop sound conclusions, recommendations and courses of action;
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
• To successfully perform duties in a field-based setting;

Experience and Training:

Typical ways to obtain the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above are:

Minimum of completion Master's Degree from an accredited university, plus license or registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences in one of the following: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT); or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW); Associate Marriage and Family Therapist or Associate Social Workers are also acceptable. Graduate-level internship experience working with population with co-occurring disorders is preferred. A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in a substance use/mental health setting, experience with motivational interviewing and different therapeutic approaches, experience with mental health diagnoses, experience working with communities of color and the incarcerated population is preferred. 

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, & SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

2 + years of supervisory experience. Licensed and/or registered MFT or Registered Social Worker through California Board of Behavioral Science. Ability to obtain licensure within 12 months of hire.

A valid CA Driver License; CPR/First Aid Certified; Must obtain and maintain a current Physical & TB prior to commencing employment; On occasion may require transportation of clients in personal vehicle. Bilingual preferred. Bilingual candidates will be required to pass a bilingual competency test prior to their hire date.

Must pass Sheriff's background clearance.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit or stand for long periods; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; and lift up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve complex problems; observe and interpret complex situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform work on multiple, concurrent tasks; work with constant interruptions and interact with NHA management, staff, clients, clients' family members, funding agency representatives and others encountered in the course of work. The employee may have contact with abusive and physically violent clients.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The employee works in a field-based setting.  Employee provides services in correctional facilities, at community or social settings, or in clients' homes when appropriate.

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