Behavioral Health Emergency & Forensic Clinician I/II

Butte County•Oroville, CA

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

This classification is scheduled to receive a 5% COLA effective July 2027. This Classification REQUIRES a Master’s degree in social work, marriage family therapy, clinical counseling, or related field. The Department of Behavioral Health is actively recruiting for positions within the Forensic programs. BC-BH Forensic Programs provide an array of assessment and treatment services in collaboration with the courts and serve as a bridge to get justice involved individuals into the appropriate treatment setting. The programs also provide ongoing mental health services for the justice involved population. These positions are M-F during business hours. The eligible list established by this recruitment process may be used to fill current and future vacancies on a regular, full-time, part-time, temporary (Extra Help) Sunset and/or TERM basis. For terms and conditions concerning Extra Help with Butte County, see Section 6.12c of the Butte County Personnel Rules. THE SUNSET POSITIONS ARE SET TO END October 31, 2028. An allocated position that is limited in duration to a particular period of time, usually because the funding source for the position is not ongoing. For terms and conditions concerning the appointment of a Sunset employee, see the 2019 Adopted Personnel Rules. This recruitment is for Level I and Level II. The salary rage for level I is $3,128.80 - $4,194.40 biweekly ($39.11 - $52.43 per hour). The salary rage for level II is $3,456.80 - $4,632.00 biweekly ($43.21 - $57.90 per hour). FLSA: Exempt.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work, marriage family therapy, clinical counseling, or related field.
Behavioral Health Emergency and Forensic Clinician I: None.
Behavioral Health Emergency and Forensic Clinician II: One (1) year of professional-level counseling/therapy experience in a behavioral health inpatient or outpatient setting.
Understanding of Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS) requirements and ability to manage conservatorship referrals and treatment recommendations.
Understanding of criminogenic thinking and behavior and ability to therapeutically intervene with these populations and characteristics.
Operations, services, and activities of a comprehensive behavioral health program which encompasses adult, juvenile, and children services.
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures including confidentiality laws and those governing patient rights as it relates to treatment options including commitment.
Principles and practices of clinical casework.
Social, psychological, and physical causes of behavioral disorders and chemical dependency.
Application of general psychiatric emergency intervention and diagnostic principles.
Principles and practices of crisis intervention and conflict resolution, including management of assaultive behavior, seclusion, and restraint philosophies.
Short- and long-term therapeutic methods.
Concepts and principles related to adult and child psychology, including theories of human behavior and personality development.
Case management principles, practices, and processes related to the assessment, care, treatment, and documentation of individuals with behavioral disorders.
Methods and techniques of conducting assessments, interviewing clients, and preparing reports and treatment plans.
Techniques for working with individuals with significant behavioral health challenges.
Theories, and principles and practices of group and individual counseling and therapies.
Latest trends and research in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Mandated reporting requirements, ethics, and laws.
Normal and abnormal development, including impact of environmental, trauma, and personality development.
Theory and principles of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
Community resources available to clients.
Community socioeconomic and cultural demographics.
Principles and practices of complex documentation preparation and recordkeeping.
Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.
The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
Ability to provide professional behavioral health clinical intervention and recovery services and manage a psychiatric caseload in multiple settings.
Ability to conduct psychiatric assessments; and plan, develop, and implement comprehensive treatment plans, programs, and services either internally or with external service providers.
Ability to evaluate patients for medication needs and consult around any suspected medication reactions.
Ability to analyze crisis situations and determine appropriate courses of action.
Ability to collaborate and present progress reports and related findings to team members.
Ability to coordinate emergency psychiatric support services with appropriate hospitals and other providers.
Ability to conduct group and individual client therapy.
Ability to clinically assess, diagnose, and treat clients.
Ability to understand and apply criteria for various diagnoses.
Ability to understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed, including those related to patient privacy.
Ability to effectively represent the department and the County in meetings with governmental agencies; community groups; various business, professional, and regulatory organizations; and in meetings with individuals.
Ability to independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
Ability to effectively use computer systems, software applications, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
Ability to use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
Ability to establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Level I: Must be a registered intern or eligible to register as an intern in the State of California at time of appointment. Must either be eligible to obtain an appropriate license and/or waiver under the provisions of Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5751.2 to practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, Professional Clinical Counselor, Clinical Psychologist, Registered Nurse, or Psychiatrist in the State of California.
Level II: Must possess appropriate licensure to practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, Professional Clinical Counselor, Clinical Psychologist, Registered Nurse, or Psychiatrist in the State of California.

Nice To Haves

Daily and ongoing exposure to volatile, acting out, verbally aggressive and physically violent clients, including clients who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol or with a history of criminal violence.
Required to physically intervene and/or restrain clients.
Must be willing to work afterhours, weekends, and holidays as needed.
Employees may be at risk for secondary trauma and long hours and schedules.

Responsibilities

Provides behavioral health clinical intervention and recovery services to assigned clients.
Manages a psychiatric caseload for adults, juveniles, and children.
Evaluates patients in multiple facilities, including inpatient, crisis/acute service locations, forensic out-patient clinics, and correctional/jail facilities (service locations may occur in office based or field/community based settings).
Performs psychotherapeutic counseling, including individual, group, family, and other approved techniques.
Provides outreach, and emergency services and counseling in crisis situations.
Performs Behavioral Health Emergency & Forensic Clinician duties in a locked facility with constant and direct patient interaction.
Performs complex forensic, mental health, or substance use related evaluations.
Attends court proceedings and is expected to interact with Judges, District Attorneys, Probation, Public Defenders, County Counsel, and other agency officials.
Provides regular/ongoing redirection of inappropriate behaviors.
Responds as needed to cover shifts to meet mandatory staffing requirements (weekends, holidays, and afterhours included).
Facilitates and participates in Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS) related certification hearings, LPS conservatorship hearings, Mental Health Diversion proceedings, and other court procedures as required.
Transports and monitors involuntary clients within community.
Offers/provides rehabilitative and recreational opportunities and physical activity to patients.
Primarily evaluates patients in a variety of in- and out-patient settings, such as Juvenile Hall, County Jail, County behavioral health offices, hospital emergency, Crisis Response, and other settings; obtains a patient history and conducts behavioral status exam.
Primarily responds to community-based environments (upon referral and acute need), with less access to other in-person behavioral health resources, including but not limited to: homeless encampments, homeless shelters, personal homes, and sober living environments.
Receives and responds to crisis hotline and emergency calls, walk-ins, and field contacts; provides evaluation and diagnosis of patients and makes appropriate referrals for support services; works with hospital medical staff and County behavioral health management to evaluate the client’s risk or danger to self and others; assists in establishing an aftercare plan, or psychiatric hospitalization, depending on the client’s best interests.
Makes presentations of physical and behavioral condition findings to on-call psychiatrist, who determines if medication should be prescribed; reports and consults around any suspected adverse medication effects.
Consults with, and serves as a liaison for, community agencies and other behavioral health programs and services to evaluate community health needs and services.
Provides individual or group therapy using a variety of counseling techniques and modalities; provides psychotherapy to chronically behaviorally ill persons who need periodic maintenance appointments, and brief therapy for clients experiencing situational-type problems.
Provides case management services to severely behaviorally ill clients, including out of home placements; determines suitability of treatment facilities or prospective foster parents based upon an analysis of individual psycho-social needs.
Collaborates with the Office of the Public Guardian-Conservator for behavioral health clients who have been conserved; clinically evaluates clients to represent their interests in treatment and placement; researches treatment resources available on a local and regional basis to ensure optimal client placement.
Participates as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team providing critical clinical input related to patient diagnosis and recommended treatment plans; presents findings and clinical observations; receives clinical feedback and assistance in managing transference/counter-transference; participates in case conferences and consults with psychiatric staff to review patient cases and resolve difficult therapeutic problems.
Evaluates clients for voluntary and involuntary commitment; signs commitments for clients requiring hospitalization after completion of county training and designation.
Participates as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team providing consultation to school and adult programs; performs program planning to develop and implement services appropriate to assisting both child and adult psychiatric patients.
Conducts discharge planning with clients; gathers resources; provides therapy; completes safety plan; and facilitates referrals and interagency services.
Adheres to the standards of the Privacy Act of 1974, U.S.C. § 552A as amended; maintains and enforces all aspects of confidentiality of client information.
Performs detailed patient record documentation and maintains caseload records; prepares intake and discharge summaries, progress notes, and treatment reviews.