Mental Health Worker *Revised

The Position

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This is a continuous filing exam. The filing cut-offs are at 5 : 00 pm on :

4 / 19 / 24, 5 / 20 / 24, *6 / 14 / 2024 6 / 20 / 24, *6 / 24 / 24, *7 / 5 / 24, 7 / 19 / 24, 8 / 19 / 24, 9 / 19 / 24, 10 / 18 / 24, 11 / 19 / 24, 12 / 19 / 24

Currently seeking to fill both on-call / intermittent positions as well as full time positions.*

Under general supervision, the Mental Health Worker performs a wide variety of duties to assist professional mental health services staff in coordinating and providing mental health services for individuals with an acute or persistent mental disorder or co-occurring disorders.

Examples of Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of

• Basic social and psychological needs, problems, attitudes and behavior patterns of individuals with acute or persistent mental disorders or co-occurring disorders
• Community resources such as public assistance programs, drug rehabilitation programs, and housing shelters
• Basic interviewing techniques and psychiatric terminology

Ability to

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients and their families, and with professional, paraprofessional and support staff in the department, in outside agencies, and with the general public
• Recognize changes in patient's condition or behavior and take action, as appropriate
• Work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary mental health or alcohol and drug treatment team
• Communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing
• Understand and follow written and verbal instructions
• React effectively in crisis situations
• Work effectively in stressful, emotional and / or confrontational situations requiring good judgment, self-control, and persuading and motivating people
• Document medical records and other relevant documents accurately and thoroughly
• Use community resources to assist clients
• Protect patient privacy, confidentiality, and adhere to security guidelines
• Read, write and speak English at a level necessary for satisfactory job performance

Employment Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Either : 1. Two years of full time paid experience in a private or governmental agency providing direct mental health related services to patients, which included identifying patients' mental health needs, using community resources, and client advocacy.

Or : 2. Possession of an Associate's Degree, or higher, from an accredited college or university in a mental health related field such as Social Work, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology, or Counseling;

or 60 semester units (90 quarter units), from an accredited college or university, of which 24 semester units (36 quarter units) must have been in Social Work, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology, or Counseling.

Or : 3. Two years of full time paid experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant working with patients with physical disabilities, mental confusion, and / or behavioral disturbances.

Note : If the minimum qualifications include an educational or certificate / license requirement, applicants must submit proof of requirements with the application.

Failure to submit proof of requirements may result in disqualification from the examination. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

For guidelines on submitting acceptable proof of educational requirements, please click here (Download PDF reader) or speak to someone in our office before the cut-off date listed in this notice.

General Qualifications

Criminal History and Background Checks : The County may access criminal history information on candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of appointment for this class consistent with the provisions of Board of Supervisors Resolution No.

82-602, Personnel Policies and Procedures, and applicable federal and state laws. The County shall not consider for employment any candidate who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that relates to or impacts the candidate's ability to perform the job duties of this class unless it is determined that mitigating circumstances exist.

For purposes of accessing criminal history information, the candidate will be fingerprinted. A subsequent arrest notification may be obtained.

The County may also conduct a background check on the candidate prior to appointment to a position within this class. The background check may include personal and professional reference checks, credit history checks where authorized by Labor Code section 1024.

5, Social Security Number verification, professional license / registration verification, military service information and driving history.

Information obtained in the course of this background check will be considered by the appointing authority in the selection process.

In obtaining such information, the County will comply with applicable consent and disclosure practices in the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act.

License Requirement : A valid California Driver License, Class C or higher, is required at the time of appointment. Failure to obtain or maintain the appropriate California Driver License may constitute cause for personnel action in accordance with Civil Service Rules or applicable bargaining agreement.

Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Certificate Requirement : All incumbents in this class will be required to obtain and maintain a valid CPR certificate within three months of appointment to the class.

Failure to obtain or maintain the required certificate may constitute cause for personnel action in accordance with Civil Service Rules or applicable bargaining agreement.

Child and Elder Abuse Reporting : Persons selected for employment must, as a condition of employment, sign a statement agreeing to comply with Section 11166 and 11160 of the California Penal Code relating to child and elder abuse reporting.

Physical Requirements : Positions in this class require the incumbent to be able to :

• Restrain and assist in restraining patients.
• Lift a patient with assistance from other staff.

Individuals who do not meet these requirements due to disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Working Conditions : Positions in this class require the incumbent to :

• Work irregular hours, holidays, and weekends.
• Work with persons infected with communicable diseases.
• Work in a locked psychiatric facility around patients with a persistent mental illness that may also exhibit aggressive behaviors.
• Special Skills : Special skills classes require sufficient knowledge to speak, read and write fluently a language other than Standard English;
• and / or knowledge of a multi-cultural group encompassing but not limited to : family member roles and living environments;
• the various characteristics or problems unique to the group in employment, education, health, economics and social customs;

and current social movements involving the group. Incumbents use the specific language and multi-cultural knowledge in the performance of typical duties, incorporating this knowledge to appropriately serve clients and families in a manner that is culturally competent and affirming.

In addition, incumbents translate and interpret using Standard English and a language other than Standard English, and act as a consultant to others regarding the specific multi-cultural group.

Probationary Period :

The probationary period for this classification is six (6) months.