Staff Therapist - Working Wellness/Calworks Program

POSITION TITLE:  Staff Therapist I or II

DEPARTMENT:  Adult Behavioral Health Services – CalWORKs Program

REPORTS TO: CalWORKs Program Supervisor

FLSA STATUS: 1.0 FTE, Exempt, Union Position

COMPENSATION: Licensed $80,142.70; Master’s Level $68,679.97; Non-Master’s (2nd Year) $60,094.32 (plus bilingual differential) 

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Staff Therapist will maintain an active client caseload in the Working Wellness program, which aims to support individuals who are CalWORKs recipients in overcoming their mental health challenges that create barriers to obtaining competitive employment. The Staff Therapist is expected to meet monthly productivity goals; attend weekly group and individual clinical supervision; participate in training as assigned by his/her clinical supervisor of LFCS Administration; and attend weekly Outpatient Mental Health staff meetings. The Staff Therapist will work within all compliance standards; complete documentation in a timely manner per LFCS policy; and maintain strict confidentiality protocols. The Staff Therapist is also tasked with the responsibility of case management work to help clients engage in available resources that overall support their mental wellbeing. It is possible to accrue supervised clinical hours required for license as a LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, or Psychologist. We take pride in the high-quality training our clinic provides and are looking for a clinician interested in developing their clinical skills.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide Individualized Placement and Support (IPS)-informed therapeutic and brokerage services to individuals on site, in client homes, and at various locations in the community, as needed.
• Conduct intakes and mental status examinations; interview clients to gather social and psychiatric data; develop initial and ongoing treatment plans; identify and pursue necessary resources to implement treatment plans; and provide psychotherapeutic intervention, treatment, and other related mental health services to participants.

• Assess barriers to sustained employment and coordinate with the team to identify and implement interventions to overcome barriers.
• Assist clients with case management needs, such as locating and accessing health care and dental care; assess and address transportation needs.
• Maintain quality and timely documentation for clinical services as required by funding sources/maintain all records in accordance with the Quality Assurance standards; regularly review files and monitor activities of clients with follow-up contact in-person or via phone.
• Participate in clinical case presentations and peer reviews.
• Coordinate with other staff members and collaborate with other departments and agencies in carrying out treatment.
• Learn about Alameda County social service resources, housing resources, community resources, and build relationships with resource providers.
• Advise clients on community resources and make referrals and other arrangements, as necessary.
• Provide crisis intervention as needed; assist with officer of the day crisis coverage as needed.
• Attend weekly staff meetings and participate in training/staff development programs.
• Comply with all agency’s policies and procedures.
• Other relevant duties as assigned or required.

COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent people Skills
• Problem Solving
• Excellent Oral/Written Communication Skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ethical
• Team/Collaboration
• Work Independently
• Strong organizational skills
• Filing Paper Management

• Staff Therapist I:  Candidate must be in the second year of their graduate mental health program (for ex. PhD, Psy.D, MSW, MFT, or Licensed Practical Counselor)
• Staff Therapist II:  Graduate degree in mental health (e.g. PhD, PSY.D., MSW and/or MFT).
• Bilingual Spanish/English required.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of modern clinical psychology, including abnormal psychology, personality theory, diagnostic interviewing. Psychotherapy including early childhood mental health specialty and early development, sensory integration, dysregulation and behavior change, casework, systems theory, family therapy, community psychology and community mental health.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and staff of all levels.
• Ability to determine the needs of individual situations regarding diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, taking an effective course of action, and follow through with effective treatment plans.
• Excellent speaking and writing abilities.
• Knowledge of use of computer systems such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and FileMaker Pro or similar database applications.
• Temporary remote work due to the pandemic, but required to be on site to take care of administrative tasks

• Valid CA Driver’s license
  • Auto insurance:  Personal vehicle may be used for business related purposes; it is recommended you inform your auto insurance carrier.  

• Current state-mandated guidelines requires employees in this position to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including booster shots. Accommodations may be available as required by law.  Applicants who are offered a position will be asked about their vaccination status and applications will be required to provide proof of vaccinations against COVID-19 including booster shots. The agency can provide accommodations as required by law in certain circumstances. 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, policies, standards and proscribed procedures. 
• Demonstrates an awareness of and sensitivity to clients including cultural and ethical beliefs; and implements care in a thorough, skillful, consistent and continuous manner.
• Knowledge of community resources for client referrals.
• Attends work regularly and adheres to policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness.  Provides adequate notice to supervisor and management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
• Demonstrates knowledge of legal issues including client confidentiality and risk management in all aspects of client care and department functioning.
• Performs other duties as necessary.
   

TEAM COMMITMENT:
 

• Viewed by others to be an effective team member who is flexible, cooperative, and willing to assist others; and acts as a resource to team members and clients where appropriate.
• Handles difficult or conflict situations constructively and seeks appropriate assistance.
• Takes accountability for own actions and accepts constructive criticism.
• Attends all mandatory meetings and staff meetings as required, and actively participates in other departmental professional development including providing training and consultation.
• Participates in the assessment of current and future department learning needs and assist in the development of learning plans.
• Observes and keeps self-informed of activities in the department and makes recommendations for change.
• Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with fellow employees, supervisor, managers in other departments, senior management and executive staff, and community stakeholders.
• Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the agency.  

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

• Ability to occasionally or frequently stand, walk, sit and reach with hands and arms above shoulders 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee routinely is required to sit; walk; talk and hear; use hands to keyboard, finger, handle, and feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, crawl, reach, and stretch
• The employee is occasionally required to move around the office
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth          perception, and ability to adjust focus
• May require travel dependent on agency needs
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
• Can work under deadlines
• Performing general physical activities such as picking up moving, and using objects, tools or controls
• The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate

BENEFITS:

• Excellent Health benefits package for you and your family including:

-  Medical/dental/vision benefits with 95% employee & 80% dependent employer premium contribution and employer paid life insurance

• Vacation, 15 paid holidays, 12 paid sick days upon accrual
• Employee Assistance Plan to support yours and your family’s wellbeing and finances
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Work-life wellbeing & excellent work hours
• Supportive/Collaborative work environment
• Opportunities for Growth and Professional Development
  • License and Certification renewals reimbursed