Community Mental Health Worker
About The Position
The Community Mental Health Worker in the Transition, Admission, and Discharge (TAD) office plays a critical role in supporting individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in the emergency department. This position focuses on coordinating care by linking individuals to appropriate inpatient psychiatric facilities and ensuring continuity of care through effective discharge planning and follow-up support. Responsibilities include assessing and prioritizing the needs of individuals in crisis, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to determine suitable placements, and liaising with inpatient facilities to secure timely admissions based on clinical and social needs. The worker collaborates with the county discharge planners and inpatient teams to develop and implement discharge plans that connect clients to community resources, outpatient services, and ongoing support. Additionally, the worker maintains accurate and timely documentation of all client interactions and care coordination efforts while building relationships with local emergency department staff, county mental health programs, and social support agencies to enhance care options. This position strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively in high-pressure environments. The role is vital for improving outcomes for individuals in crisis by ensuring timely access to appropriate care and fostering successful reintegration into the community. This position will require working a shift that includes evenings and a weekend day.
Requirements
- Knowledge of: Basic interviewing and counseling techniques; and general medical and psychological terminology.
- Ability to: Learn to understand and work effectively with mentally ill and substance abuse clients; learn to work with mental health professional, case managers, social service agencies and other staff; maintain confidentiality of information about clients; effectively handle patients in crisis situations; read and understand mental health charts; communicate rules and objective to clients; keep simple records and prepare written reports.
- Completion of fifteen (15) semester or twenty-two (22) quarter units from an accredited college or university in behavioral or social sciences or closely related field; OR Two (2) years of experience working in a mental health or related setting.
- Possession of a valid California driver's license.
Responsibilities
- Confers with inpatient and/or outpatient professional staff to evaluate needs and problems of clients
- Assist in scheduling routine and emergency appointments
- Performs crisis counseling on a regular basis
- Observes clients in individual and group settings to obtain information regarding basic mental health problems and related needs
- Records basic personal history and information
- Reviews referrals from other agencies in order to determine appropriate service
- Makes referrals and provides information to other mental health agencies
- Provides related assistance to case manager and professional staff
- Participates in in-service training activities
- Transports or arranges transportation for various purposes such as to and from doctors and mental health appointments; shopping
- Assists clients to develop skills to enable them to transition into independent living environment
- Assist clients in learning to use social support programs and resources outside of the mental health system
- Under the direction of a case manager, makes home visits to monitor the level of client functioning
- Works as member of a treatment team to allow clients to live in the least restrictive setting
- Maintains records of work performed and prepares written reports
- Participates in in-service training activities
- Assists in initial intakes (processing of paperwork), in scheduling appointments, may observe clients in individual and group settings or consult with other staff in the program to obtain information regarding substance abuse problems and related needs, makes referrals, provides information to other mental health or substance abuse agencies, participates in group case consultations, individual supervision and in-service training activities
- Supports the transportation and childcare for the perinatal women in treatment to remove the barriers to women participating in treatment services.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Industry
Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
Education Level
Associate degree
