DEFINITION

Under limited supervision, supervises Behavioral Health Clinicians or other assigned staff to assure that effective and appropriate psychotherapeutic services are provided for behavioral health clients.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives limited supervision from a Program Manager or designee. Supervises Behavioral Health Clinicians or other assigned staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

Incumbents are required to work within the scope of either a Marriage and Family Therapist or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker license; incumbents manage staff and exercise independent judgement for managing the treatment of assigned clients.

EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Typical functions may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, abilities, and other characteristics. The list that follows is not intended as a comprehensive list; it is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed, and may be required to perform additional, position-specific tasks.

• Guides, supervises and assists staff; prioritizes and assigns cases and tasks; develops staff skills; completed performance evaluations; identifies training needs and provides training for staff.
• Provides input into selection decisions, disciplinary matters, and other personnel decisions.
• Supervises Behavioral Health Clinician Interns for State licensure hours; provides coaching, counseling and guidance on professional responsibilities and technical skills.
• Reviews cases, and assigns to Clinicians; facilitates and guides development of behavioral health assessment and treatment plans; reviews and critiques progress notes and performance outcome measures; performs ongoing risk management assessment of cases and Clinicians.
• Leads and manages multi-disciplinary team meetings to review client caseload, treatment, concerns, and recommendations; prepares and presents progress reports.
• Performs intensive casework services with children and adult clients and their relatives through individual and group therapy; participates in the intake process, the evaluation of problems presented and the development of treatment plans.
• Gather’s data of client’s history through personal interviews with client, relatives, friends, teachers and employers; prepares case histories with particular emphasis on psycho-social factors affecting client; cooperates with other staff members and community agencies in carrying out treatment plans; acts as liaison with parents of clients and group homes where clients are located.
• Analyzes trends and evaluates program requirements and resource utilization; coordinates program planning and evaluation; coordinates protocols to affect integrated services with other programs, departments and agencies; responds to requests for information.
• Monitors budget and expenditures for services; assures that appropriate services are provided; coordinates information and assures effective communications between programs.
• Coordinates, develops and monitors specialized trainings according to industry trends and continuing education requirements; oversees tracking of trainings completed by staff and reports to management on training requirements and mitigates identified deficiencies.
• Acts as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to inform departmental procedures and policy.
• Performs a wide range of general administrative duties; creates, reviews and approves documents.
• Provides ongoing psychosocial assessment, treatment planning and psychotherapeutic treatment of clients; utilizes specialized techniques for treatment and prevention of violence.
• Documents clinical files and billing records for all client contacts.
• Provides individual and group therapeutic services; facilitates group therapy sessions; assists client to learn skills required to successfully engender psychological stability and personal independence.
• Supports and enhances the clients’ emotional stability; explains nature of illness, plan of care, procedures and treatments to clients, family and significant others; provides advocacy as needed.
• Develops and enhances cooperative professional relationships with stakeholders and local community agencies.
• Provides consultation and training to other organizations in the community on mental health issues; conducts presentations and training to county staff and general public to introduce and communicate the roles and functions of the behavioral health programs.
• Maintains expertise in field of service through participation in applicable educational opportunities.
• 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 other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• County, state and federal laws, statutes, rules, ordinances, codes and regulations.
• County and department policies and procedures.
• Protocols and practices in behavioral healthcare, and principles of psychotherapeutic techniques and procedures, including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV).
• Principles and practices of legal, ethical and professional rules of conduct.
• Social program and justice system administrative processes and protocols.
• Principles, practices, and trends in public administration, supervision and training.
• Local community resources and various community services programs.

Ability To:

• Lead, schedule and supervise staff, skills training, and delegate tasks and authority.
• Analyze problems, identify solutions, recommend and implement methods, procedures and techniques for resolution of issues.
• Understand, interpret and apply relevant statutes, ordinances, codes and regulations.
• Assess and evaluate behavioral health problems, and make recommendations based on observations and interviews.
• Assess and prioritize multiple tasks, projects and demands.
• Establish and maintain effective working relations with co-workers, other county employees and representatives from other city, county, state and federal agencies.
• Operate a personal computer utilizing a variety of business software.

Education and Experience:

Master’s degree from an accredited two year graduate school or program in Social Work or a related field; and

Two (2) years of experience as either a Marriage and Family Therapist or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and one (1) year of supervisory experience including the planning, scheduling, assigning, evaluating, training and directing the work of subordinate staff; or

Three (3) years of professional counseling/therapy in a Behavioral Health setting, including one (1) year of lead or supervisor experience.

Certifications and Licenses:

• Must possess a license as either a Marriage or Family Therapist or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of California as granted by the Board of Behavioral Science Examiners. (Candidates from out of state who hold a comparable license may be considered with the stipulation that they are eligible for an appropriate California license and that they receive the license by the end of probationary period.)
• Must meet state requirements for Clinician Supervisor.
• A position assigned to this class may require possession of a valid California Driver's License.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Physical demands are in a variety of settings; involves the potential for high stress levels and exposure to hostile situations; some non-standard work hours are required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Must work with a highly manipulative, questionably motivated and clinically challenging client population; must be able to maintain professional composure and clinical effectiveness.

EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS UTILIZED

• Equipment utilized includes personal computer, fax machine, and standard office equipment.

Disaster Service Worker

All Butte County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.