Behavioral Health Clinician I - Correctional Health Services

Job Description:

Behavioral Health Clinician I - Correctional Health Services

Description

CAREER DESCRIPTION

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICIAN I
Correctional Health Services
(Formerly Clinical Social Worker/Marriage Family Therapist I)

In addition to performance-based merit increases, this position is scheduled to receive a salary range increase on the following date:

Effective June 27, 2025 - 4.00% increase

Please note that a valid Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW), Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC), or Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) number issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) is required to be placed on the eligible list. If you have applied for your BBS certificate but do not possess such by the date of application, you are required to provide proof of your BBS certificate application at the time of application submission. Those without possession of a valid ACSW, APCC, or AMFT, or proof of application for a BBS certificate will be disqualified from the recruitment.

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

Premium Pay


In addition to the hourly salary, eligible applicants may receive premium pay for the items listed below.

• Bilingual pay: Qualified employees who meet the criteria found ( page 18 ) shall receive an additional $0.90 per hour for all hours paid.
  
• Night Shift Differential pay: Employees assigned to a night shift shall be paid a night shift differential for each hour actually worked on the assigned night shift. Pay rate is determined by assigned shift hours found here (page 15).
  
• Jail Supplement pay: An employee in this classification who is permanently assigned to the Central Jail/Intake/Release Center (including Correctional Medical Services), Theo Lacy Branch Jail or James Musick Facility shall receive an additional $1.50 per hour for all paid hours.
• Call-Back pay: An employee in this classification who returns to work because of an agency/department request shall be eligible for Call-Back pay as detailed here (page 17).

Other Additional Premium Pays

This recruitment is open to the public.
This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list that will be used to fill current and future Behavioral Health Clinician I positions within the Health Care Agency, Correctional Health Services. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications.

This recruitment will remain open on a continuous basis until the needs of the County are met. Candidates who are placed on the eligible list will remain on the eligible list for six (6) months and may be considered/referred for selection/hiring interviews. After six (6) months, candidates must reapply to receive further consideration.

HEALTH CARE AGENCY
The County of Orange , Health Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the leadership of the Agency Director, a dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five (5) service areas - Strategy and Special Projects, Mental Health and Recovery Services, Correctional Health Services, Medical Health Services and Public Health Services - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.

ADULT CORRECTIONAL HEALTH SERVICES
The Correctional Health Services , Adult Correctional Health Services (ACHS) program provides medical, dental, nursing, infection control, health education and pharmaceutical services at a community standard of care and also provides mental health services including 24-hour emergency triage and crisis intervention, suicide prevention, treatment beds, individual and group therapy, substance use counseling, medication assessment and discharge planning to all adult inmates in the County's five (5) correctional facilities.

THE OPPORTUNITY:
The County of Orange has adopted a Stepping Up Initiative, with a primary goal of reducing the number of individuals with mental illness in the jails and recidivism rates. ACHS is seeking qualified Behavioral Health Clinicians in the CHS Mental Health Services and in the Jail to Community Re-Entry Program (JCRP) to perform extensive case management and discharge planning with the incarcerated population.

The CHS Mental Health Program consists of services to Adults and Older Adult populations who are justice involved. The position provides professional counseling and treatment services for these populations exhibiting a wide variety of mental health, drug abuse and/or alcohol related disorders in an institutional setting.

The JCRP provides services within CHS, providing discharge planning and linkage services to Adults and Older Adult populations who are justice involved. The position provides extensive case management and collaboration with community partners to link clients for post release after care treatment.

The responsibilities of the Behavioral Health Clinician I will include but are not limited to:

• Performing Psychosocial Mental Health evaluations, Drug Screenings and/or conducting needs assessments for facility mental health needs and referrals
• Providing both individual and group interventions utilizing a variety of evidence-based practices, conducting case management activities, facilitating referrals and linkages to community services and documenting services rendered
• Utilizing evidence-based practices (EBP) for individuals and groups with psychological and substance use disorders to address barriers to re-entry and prevent relapse to criminal behaviors
• Planning and coordinating the re-entry plan with the client on an ongoing basis while in custody and ensuring increased follow through
• Avoiding gaps in care with community-based services and post custody supervision
• Developing individualized service plans by determining appropriate level of interventions based on clients’ current levels of functioning, symptoms and behaviors and identifying target inmates' multiple criminogenic needs in order to have a greater impact on successful re-entry and recidivism
• Facilitating connections with family and other support systems such as forensic peer support mentors; conducting re-entry groups with the target population prior to release, in order to troubleshoot possible barriers to successful re-entry
• Collaborating frequently with Behavioral Health Services Agencies, Adult Correctional Health Services (ACHS) and Sheriff's Department staff as well as outside department contacts such as police agencies from the community, family of patients, court personnel, community hospital staff, and other County agencies such as Public Health, Juvenile Health Services and surrounding hospitals in order to match level of criminogenic risks and behavioral health/substance use needs with appropriate levels of community supervision and treatment
• Other work as assigned

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate sound judgment, good decision making and problem solving skills. Additionally, the ideal candidate will have experience working with the severely mentally ill population and have case management experience, be able to work independently and demonstrate reliability, proactive involvement in work and confidence and optimism in performing daily tasks.Also, the ideal candidate should have substantial knowledge and practical experience directly related to:

Technical Knowledge

• Understanding and applying Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Understanding of relapse prevention and best practices for treating and engaging with the mentally ill clients
• Completing and performing clinical risk assessment related to danger to self, danger to others or grave disability (i.e. 5150, 5250, T-con)
• Discharge planning and linking mentally ill clients to community resources
• Providing care to client in relation to their level of functioning (i.e. acute psychiatric housing)
• Discharge planning and linking mentally ill clients to community resources
• Understanding of relapse prevention
• Using Subjective-Objective-Assessment-Plan (SOAP) format in preparing progress notes and reports
• Proficiency with Electronic Health Records (EHR), Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification by date of appointment

Critical Thinking l Problem Solving

• Analyzing factors that contribute to overall health problems and/or recidivism (i.e. poor medication compliance, drug and alcohol problems, homelessness)
• Assessing and evaluating client's presenting symptoms and behaviors rapidly and accurately, including establishing appropriate clinical boundaries with clients
• Recognizing factors that are outside of mental health that could be impacting the client's overall functioning and refer appropriately (i.e. drug or alcohol withdrawal, medical issues) skillfully
• Ability to make quick and effective decisions to prevent any injury/loss of life, financial loss for the County, personal and/or public relations issues
• Being alert and aware of personal safety and security while providing care and/or treatment to unstable or unpredictable mentally ill clients

Communication

• Preparing written materials and presenting information in ways that are professional and will represent HCA positively
• Ability to de-escalate hostile or confrontational clients/customers
• Communicating effectively both in person and in writing

Collaboration

• Engaging clients in discharge planning and developing a viable plan of self-care by formulating short and long term goal and objectives according to client's level of psychological functioning
• Participating as a member of a mental health multidisciplinary clinical team by engaging and taking part in meetings, committees or training's providing education, knowledge and insight into clinical cases
• Collaborating and communicating relevant critical information with other stakeholders, including the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD), Orange County Probation, Orange County Public Defender, Social Services Agency, Regional Center of Orange County, Orange County Housing Authority and other ancillary agencies, to identify gaps in service delivery and solidify linkages with external stakeholders for a smooth transition from jail to community

Interpersonal Skills

• Eliminating the influence of personal biases in working with diverse clients
• Being flexible to work in numerous clinical areas, including handling difficult and complex mental health cases
• Having the compassion to provide care without judgment to a segment of clients that have been charged with criminal conduct
• Maintaining a positive attitude and effectively handle stress in dealing with difficult clients, family members and law enforcement personnel

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

• Incumbents must NOT have felony convictions or be on any form of probation
• Must be able to pass and maintain background investigation to the satisfaction of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner. Background screening includes; completing a Personal History Form, interview with a background investigator, fingerprinting and may include a polygraph test. Some of the areas considered in the background screening include prior convictions, traffic violations, drug use and credit problems, employment history, professional references and education verification (i.e. degree, license, or official transcripts. Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (N.A.C.E.S.).
• The Correctional facilities are a 24 hour, 7 days a week facilities, incumbents must be able to work weekends, evenings or night shifts and holidays.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click here for a complete classification description and minimum qualifications including Physical, Mental and Environmental Conditions for Behavioral Health Clinician I.

To meet minimum qualifications with an APCC number, applicants must have completed six (6) semester or nine (9) quarter units focused on marital/couple/family therapy, possess 500 hours of documented supervised experience working with couples/families/children and have six (6) hours of continuing education during each license renewal cycle. Proof of education and documented hours required at time of hire.

Applicants who are applying with an out of state license should refer to the minimum qualifications link above.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all applications to identify qualified candidates. After screening, only those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications will be referred to the next step in the selection procedures. Candidates will receive notification via e-mail of further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

Based on the Agency/Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. Candidates will be notified via e-mail of any changes in the selection procedures.

Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please see below for important information regarding COVID-19 related requirements.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, and laws, regulations, and policies regarding COVID-19 are subject to change. The County of Orange is required to comply with all applicable State or County Public Health Orders, some of which require vaccination or testing as follows:

• Workers, who provide services in certain Health Care Facilities or in a correctional facility or detention center where health care is provided, will be required to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated and boosted in accordance with applicable state orders . (Workers may be exempt from this requirement based on religious beliefs or a qualifying medical reason)
• In addition, depending on assignment and COVID-19 Community Level, workers in certain high-risk settings may be required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status.

The position for which you are applying may be required to adhere to any applicable State or County Public Health Orders. You will receive notification of any requirement as it applies to a position.

E-MAIL NOTIFICATION
E-mail is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct e-mail address is included in our application and use only one e-mail account. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via e-mail through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your e-mail folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept e-mails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your e-mail address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com .

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

For detailed information on how to apply, click here .

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Gazala Yerunkar at (714) 834-3205 or GYerunkar@ochca.com .

EEO INFORMATION


Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer,
encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Non-Management Benefits
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Salary:

$77,355.20 - $96,096.00 Annually