MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN I

  COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY  
 Bulletin No. 75-2007Posting Date: April 22, 2008JOB TITLEMENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN I EXAM NUMBER29029A
 FILING DATESApril 23, 2008 until needs are metSALARY$4,086.00 - $5,076.00 MONTHLY
$4,208.45 - $5,229.00 (Effective 01/01/2009) POSITION
INFORMATIONUnder the supervision of a licensed clinician, conducts professional mental health assessments; provides counseling, case management and psychotherapeutic services; and performs related activities for clients and their family members in a range of mental health care settings including outpatient clinics, mental health centers, and specialized mental health treatment programs.



Positions allocable to this class work under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional to provide mental health services to clients and/or clients' families suffering from serious and persistent emotional, mental and/or substance abuse problems. Incumbents formulate differential diagnoses concerning the nature, severity, and scope of clients' mental or emotional problems; determine the intervention methods required; and collaborate with clients in the development of effective treatment and recovery plans. Incumbents use established clinical methods and procedures for client assessment, planning and implementation of treatment plans, and non-medical psychotherapy. Mental Health Clinician I is distinguished from Mental Health Clinician II in that the Mental Health Clinician I is the pre-licensure, entry-level class that may receive technical direction from the licensed, journey-level Mental Health Clinician II.





These positions require knowledge of principles and practices of marriage and family therapy, including current methods of clinical interviewing and assessment; conduct of individual, family, and group counseling; general psychiatric emergency intervention, diagnosis, and therapeutic methods; principles and theories of adult and child psychology; and laws and regulations as applied to patients' rights including treatment and commitment criteria. Also required is the ability to accurately assess client mental status using established diagnostic criteria; formulate appropriate and effective treatment plans and monitor client progress toward treatment objectives; quickly and concisely analyze crisis situations in order to facilitate an appropriate treatment or referral; evaluate patients for medication referrals; maintain the confidentiality of client information; write and interpret written information accurately and effectively; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, the public, and representatives of public and private agencies.


ESSENTIAL JOB
FUNCTIONS


Interviews and conducts diagnostic assessments of clients in order to develop treatment and recovery plans for clients and/or their family members.





Participates in the intake process by interviewing clients and/or their family members to obtain family, social, employment, medical, and mental health treatment history; provides crisis intervention, treatment, case management, referrals, and other related mental health care services to clients and their family members.


Participates in multi-disciplinary team to review client cases, treatment approaches, psychosocial issues, client progress, and treatment recommendations; and to prepare and present progress reports.


Participates in the development of individual and group treatment plans designed to address mental, emotional, and family disorders and dysfunction.


Provides ongoing psychosocial clinical assessment, treatment planning and psychosocial treatment for clients and families.


Performs intensive casework services with children and adult clients and their relatives through individual and group sessions.


Prepares and maintains psychosocial case histories for use in diagnostic evaluations and to record client treatment progress.


Coordinates continuity of care and other treatment related services with caseworkers, probation officers, and community and healthcare workers.


Coordinates mental health support services to clients and families by linking them to other community resources to maximize client self-sufficiency and independence significant to client's continuum of care.


Interviews clients seeking mental health intervention services on an emergency basis and utilizes crisis intervention and community outreach techniques supportive of client recovery in the community.


Engages in psycho-educational activities with consumers, families, and caregivers.


Under supervision of a licensed clinician, evaluates clients and makes arrangements for voluntary or involuntary admissions to psychiatric facilities for treatment.


Serves as liaison and consultant to schools, organizations, parents, children, etc. on issues concerning clients and may serve on committees, boards, etc.


Provides mental health treatment services in schools and other community settings to emotionally- and behaviorally-disturbed children with the goal of helping them to achieve higher functioning in interpersonal relations and academic performance.


Maintains cooperative professional relationships with local community agencies significant to the continuum of care for clients. Conducts outreach and community-based service provision.


MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS


LICENSE: Valid registration number as a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern issued by the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences. Work is performed in accordance with the requirements as a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern within the limits of agency guidelines, licensing, and professional standards with certain decisions and actions requiring the approval of licensed staff. Incumbents in the class are required to progress to obtain licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist within six years of initial registration.

Employment shall not exceed six years from commencement of initial Marriage and Family Therapist Intern registration.Physical Class: 2 - Light:
Light physical effort which may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit, and some bending, stooping or squatting. Considerable walking may be involved.

Licenses: A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize and alternative method of transportation to carry out job-related essential functions.

Special Requirement Information: A photocopy of the required license must be attached to your application at the time of filing. SPECIAL
INFORMATIONShift: Any Shift
Appointees may be required to work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. VACANCY
INFORMATION The resulting eligible register for this examination will be used to fill the current vacancies in the Department of Mental Health.EXAMINATION
CONTENTThie examination will consist of an evaluation of education, training, and experience based on application information weighted 100%. Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher in order to be placed on the eligible register.ELIGIBILITY
INFORMATION The names of candidates receiving a passing grade on this examination will be placed on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of promulgation. No person may compete for the examination more than once in a twelve (12) month period.* * * * IMPORTANT INFORMATION * * * *APPLICATION INFORMATIONAll applicants are required to submit a Standard Los Angeles County Employment Application. You have the option of filing your application either Hard Copy submission OR Online (via electronic submission). Please select only ONE method to file your application.

Instructions for Filing Online: The Standard County of Los Angeles Employment Application for this examination can be completed Online and submitted electronically. TO APPLY ONLINE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW THE FILING ADDRESS.

Applicants who apply Online, must either upload required documents as attachments during application submission or fax a photocopy of the required documents to (213) 637-4585 within five (5) business days of filing Online. Please include your Name, the Exam Number and the Exam Title on faxed documents. Applications electronically received after 5:00 p.m on the last day of filing will not be accepted.

Instructions for Hard Copy Submission: A Standard County Employment Application for this position will be accepted on business days only between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Applications received after 5:00 p.m. on the last day of filing will not be accepted. A Standard County Employment Application can be found at: http://easier.co.la.ca.us/JobsInfo/empapp.pdf

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice. Application filing may be suspended at any time without advance notice.

The acceptance of your application will depend on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Minimum Requirements. Please be sure your application indicates complete information including dates of jobs held which relate to this position. If your application is incomplete, it may be rejected at any stage of the selection process. In the space provided for education, include the names and addresses of schools, colleges attended, title of courses completed, dates completed and number of credits/units earned. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, description of work performed, total number of hours worked (full or part-time) and salary earned. Attach an additional page to your application if necessary, to describe fully your education and experience.

Resumes showing training and experience may be attached to the County of Los Angeles Employment Application. All information and records are subject to verification. Falsification of records will result in disqualification from the examination.

Submit completed application and any required supplemental (if any) in person or by U.S. Mail to the following address:
Department of Mental Health
Human Resources Bureau, Recruitment Unit
550 South Vermont Avenue, Room 901
Los Angeles,CA 90020
(213) 738-2823

On-Line Filing: To file On-Line, https://easier.co.la.ca.us/easier/Applicant/applicant_logon.cfm?exid=1064. DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONSAmericans with Disabilities Act of 1990: All positions are open to qualified men and women. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons with disabilities who believe they need reasonable accommodation, or help in order to apply for a position, may contact the ADA coordinator at (213) 738-2850.

Contact the Coordinator of Personnel Services for Disabled Persons by calling (213) 738-2850. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling (800) 899-4099 . The County will attempt to meet reasonable accommodation requests whenever possible. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYEREqual Employment Opportunity: It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability. CHILD SUPPORT COMPLIANCELos Angeles County Child Support Compliance Program: In an effort to improve compliance with court-ordered child, family and spousal support obligations, certain employment and identification information (i.e., name, address, Social Security number and date of hire) is regularly reported to the State Directory of New Hires which may assist in locating persons who owe these obligations. Family Code Section 17512 permits under certain circumstances for additional employment and identifying information to be requested. Applicants will not be disqualified from employment based on this information. VETERAN'S
CREDITVETERANS' PREFERENCE CREDIT of 10 points will be added to the final passing grade in any open competitive examination if you are an honorably discharged veteran who served in the Armed Forces of the United States: During a declared war; or During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; or For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; or In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal or expeditionary medal has been authorized and awarded. This also applies to the spouse of such person who, while engaged in such service was wounded, disabled or crippled and thereby permanently prevented from engaging in any remunerative occupation, and also to the widow or widower of any such person who died or was killed while in such service. A DD214, Certificate of Discharge or Separation from Active Duty, or other official documents issued by the branch of service are required as verification of eligibility for Veterans' preference. If you are unable to provide any documentation at the time of filing, the 10 points will be withheld until such time as it is provided. EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY INFORMATIONEmployment Eligibility Information: Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States. Immigration law provides that all persons hired after November 6, 1986, are required to present original documents to the County, within three (3) business days of hiring, which show satisfactory proof of: 1) identity and 2) U.S. employment eligibility. RECORD OF CONVICTIONSA full disclosure of all convictions is required. Failure to disclose convictions will result in disqualification. Not all convictions constitute an automatic bar to employment. Factors such as your age at the time of the offense(s), and the recency of offense(s) will be taken into account, as well as the relationship between the offense(s) and the job(s) for which you apply. However, any applicant for County employment who has been convicted of workers' compensation fraud is automatically barred from employment with the County of Los Angeles (County Code Section 5.12.110). ANY CONVICTIONS OR COURT RECORDS WHICH ARE EXEMPTED BY A VALID COURT ORDER DO NOT HAVE TO BE INCLUDED. SOCIAL SECURITY ACT OF 2004Section 419 (c) of Public Law 108-203, the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, requires State and local government employers to disclose the effect of the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset Provision to employees hired on or after January 1, 2005, in jobs not covered by Social Security. The County of Los Angeles does not participate in the Social Security System. All newly hired County of Los Angeles employees must sign a statement (Form SSA-1945) prior to the start of employment indicating that they are aware of a possible reduction in their future Social Security benefit entitlement. For more information on Social Security and about each provision, you may visit the website www.socialsecurity.gov, or call toll free 1-800-772-1213. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the TTY number 1-800-325-0778 or contact a local Social Security office.