Lead Mental Health Clinician - ReTurn Project

ENCOMPASS COMMUNITY SERVICES • Santa Cruz, CA

29d • $30 - $34 • Hybrid

About The Position

The ReTurn Project Mental Health Lead Clinician will be on the licensure track with the BBS and will provide in-office, telehealth, jail-site, and community-based re-entry focused mental health services in North and South Santa Cruz County to adults 18 and over involved in the criminal justice system. The Mental Health Lead Clinician will provide a safe and welcoming environment as an advocate and therapeutic provider, using trauma-informed practices, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other evidence-based practices, endorsing positive development in social and emotional recovery. The Mental Health Lead Clinician will coordinate with internal case management, legal affiliates including probation, and external resources to ensure whole-person care and individualized mental health treatment. The Mental Health Lead Clinician will also work directly with management, leadership, and contracting partners at Santa Cruz Probation to endorse contract compliance, agency standard compliance, chart accuracy throughout the team, and updated workflows according to program needs. The Mental Health Lead Clinician will help with outreach efforts, in both internal and external programs and resources. Services will be delivered with dignity and respect for each individual client and a commitment to their right of choice, and will include BioPsychoSocial and other assessments, individualized Treatment Planning, and a strong commitment to timely and accurate documentation. Mental Health Lead Clinician will engage in trainings relevant to behavioral health, personal reflection, and regular supervisor dialogues to ensure confidence, stability, ethical care, and personal boundaries. This clinical track position supports an active pathway towards BBS licensure (LCSW, LMFT or LPCC). Clinical supervision is provided by the agency to gain hours towards licensure. Position is scheduled to work 32-40 hours per week.

Requirements

• Licensure track status (with registered Associates status within the BBS preferred).
• Strong commitment to equity, diversity, and reducing recidivism.
• Passion for working with clients in the community facing complex challenges.
• Strong communication and active listening skills and adherence to professional boundaries.
• Ability to pass background clearance (Department of Justice and FBI)
• Ability to maintain licensure track status
• Possession of reliable vehicle, valid CA driver’s license, vehicle insurance, and good driving record
• Excellent interpersonal, written/oral communication and basic computer skills.
• Willingness to engage in ongoing training and personal development, including provider training and administrative training
• This job requires use of various software platforms and ability to maintain clear, accurate, timely documentation in Microsoft programs and electronic health records

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual – English/Spanish preferred (will receive bilingual stipend of $1.00 per hour on top of hour pay rate).

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain individual caseload of clients; capacity determined by acuity and demand
• Provide individual sessions and collaborative relationship sessions to enrolled clients
• Coordinate funding source authorizations and seek extensions when appropriate with support from Program Manager
• Conduct regular assessments using the BioPsychoSocial, WHOQOL-BREF, and other behavioral health and feedback-informed-treatment assessments
• Develop and maintain individualized treatment plans that are dictated by assessments
• Provide focused mental health treatment based on assessments, treatment plans, and client identified goals and needs
• Develop and provide discharge planning sessions with clients as treatment comes to closure
• Maintain background clearance eligibility for jail site and probation site provision
• Attend corrections trainings as assigned to maintain access to jail sites
• Provide both in person and telehealth sessions to incarcerated individuals
• Coordinate regularly with Jail program staff and Program Manager
• Work alongside licensed medical providers, SUD counselors, internal case manager, and behavioral health professionals within and outside the outpatient program to complement traditional treatment approaches.
• Attend and contribute to team meetings, uplifting the clients’ voice in decision-making.
• Participate in team trainings, supervision, and reflective practice.
• Endorse structural wellbeing of the program by committing to safety, workflows, and collaborative team decision-making with respect and professionalism
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in various systems as required and achieve productivity requirements.
• Demonstrate organization, clear task completion, and strong communication across cultures and identities with supervisor support on strategies for adherence.
• Model positive relationships, respectful boundaries, and maintain a safe and supportive environment.
• Use trauma-informed methodology to throughout all colleague, client, and partner engagements
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• medical and dental insurance plan
• acupuncture
• chiropractic
• 403(b) retirement plan
• 11 vacation days
• 15 paid holidays
• 12 sick days
• Employee Assistance Program
• Ongoing training opportunities - including individual and group supervision for Registered Associate’s - to support professional development

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed