Description

Under clinical supervision, provide services to mental health clients and their families; provide liaison with other community agencies serving mental health clients; and perform related work as required.

Distinguishing Characteristics: The Mental Health Associate differs from the Psychiatric Social Worker series by requiring less independent judgment, and by providing counseling as opposed to therapy services to assigned clients.

EDUCATION/BILINGUAL INCENTIVE: Incumbents may be eligible for an educational incentive of 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% based on completion of an Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree that is not required for the classification. Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Health Care Agency – Behavioral Health

Mental Health Associate (unlicensed) is represented by the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, and Extra-Help vacancies within the Health Care Agency. There are currently eight (8) Regular vacancies.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE: April 15, 2022
CLOSING DATE: December 30, 2022 at 5PM
(Previously: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs).

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Teaches relevant social and daily living skills, provides supportive counseling;
• Participates as a team member in client evaluation, treatment planning and implementation of approved treatment plans;
• Serves as a client advocate and assists clients in using community resources;
• All the above activities will be supervised by a Psychiatric Social Worker, Mental Health Nurse, Clinical Psychologist or a Psychiatrist; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE

• Two (2) years of experience providing patient care in a mental health setting and/or support services to mental health clients and their families

• 
  A Bachelor's degree in Social-Behavioral Sciences including psychology, social work, or sociology, AND one of the following:

• Successful completion of the formal internship in the Behavioral Health Department's Mental Health Associate Intern Program with the County of Ventura

• 
  A minimum of six (6) months of experience performing work on a full-time basis providing patient care in a mental health setting and/or support services to mental health clients and their families.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Some positions may require specific specialized experience.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
This position may be subject to State Health Officer Orders regarding vaccine verification and/or testing. These requirements are a condition of employment. Depending on assignment and work location(s), successful candidates for this position will be required to submit proof of vaccination and/or booster against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of the following:

• Methods and techniques of group and individual counseling;
• Basic knowledge of psychopathology and treatment procedures for the mentally ill;
• Knowledge of community resources, (public and private agencies and services available);
• Nursing care techniques; and
• Medication and potential side effects.

Ability to do the following:

• Establish and maintain cooperative relations with public and private agencies;
• Prepare clear and concise narrative descriptions of client's behavior, care, field activities, and research studies;
• Make maximum use of community resources for the advantage of the client;
• Develop patient care plans; and
• Provide individual and group counseling.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 30, 2022.

(Previously: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date).

To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

LATERAL TRANSFER OPTION: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here (Download PDF reader) for additional information.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination AT THE TIME OF FILING. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION – qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION - 100%: A job-related written examination will be administered to test candidates' knowledge of psychiatric treatment, counseling, case management, effective work relations, and language usage. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

Applicants successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Erin Niemi by e-mail at erin.niemi@ventura.org or by telephone at (805) 654-2568.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.