Lead Mental Health Clinician - ReTurn Project

Job Details: Job Location: 380 North Campus - Santa Cruz, CA, Salary Range: $30.00 - $34.00Hourly, Job Summary:

The ReTurn Project Mental Health Lead Clinician will be on the licensure track with the BBS and will provide in-office, telehealth, jail-site, and community-based re-entry focused mental health services in North and South Santa Cruz County to adults 18 and over involved in the criminal justice system. The Mental Health Lead Clinician will provide a safe and welcoming environment as an advocate and therapeutic provider, using trauma-informed practices, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other evidence-based practices, endorsing positive development in social and emotional recovery. The Mental Health Lead Clinician will coordinate with internal case management, legal affiliates including probation, and external resources to ensure whole-person care and individualized mental health treatment. The Mental Health Lead Clinician will also work directly with management, leadership, and contracting partners at Santa Cruz Probation to endorse contract compliance, agency standard compliance, chart accuracy throughout the team, and updated workflows according to program needs. The Mental Health Lead Clinician will help with outreach efforts, in both internal and external programs and resources. Services will be delivered with dignity and respect for each individual client and a commitment to their right of choice, and will include BioPsychoSocial and other assessments, individualized Treatment Planning, and a strong commitment to timely and accurate documentation.

Mental Health Lead Clinician will engage in trainings relevant to behavioral health, personal reflection, and regular supervisor dialogues to ensure confidence, stability, ethical care, and personal boundaries.

This clinical track position supports an active pathway towards BBS licensure (LCSW, LMFT or LPCC).  Clinical supervision is provided by the agency to gain hours towards licensure.

Position is scheduled to work 32-40 hours per week.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Clinical provision

Manage and maintain individual caseload of clients; capacity determined by acuity and demand
Provide individual sessions and collaborative relationship sessions to enrolled clients
Coordinate funding source authorizations and seek extensions when appropriate with support from Program Manager
Conduct regular assessments using the BioPsychoSocial, WHOQOL-BREF, and other behavioral health and feedback-informed-treatment assessments
Develop and maintain individualized treatment plans that are dictated by assessments
Provide focused mental health treatment based on assessments, treatment plans, and client identified goals and needs
Develop and provide discharge planning sessions with clients as treatment comes to closure
Other duties as assigned

2. Coordination with local corrections

Maintain background clearance eligibility for jail site and probation site provision
Attend corrections trainings as assigned to maintain access to jail sites
Provide both in person and telehealth sessions to incarcerated individuals
Coordinate regularly with Jail program staff and Program Manager
Other duties as assigned

3. Team Collaboration

Work alongside licensed medical providers, SUD counselors, internal case manager, and behavioral health professionals within and outside the outpatient program to complement traditional treatment approaches.
Attend and contribute to team meetings, uplifting the clients’ voice in decision-making.
Participate in team trainings, supervision, and reflective practice.
Endorse structural wellbeing of the program by committing to safety, workflows, and collaborative team decision-making with respect and professionalism

4. Professionalism and Documentation

Maintain accurate and timely documentation in various systems as required and achieve productivity requirements.
Demonstrate organization, clear task completion, and strong communication across cultures and identities with supervisor support on strategies for adherence.
Model positive relationships, respectful boundaries, and maintain a safe and supportive environment.
Use trauma-informed methodology to throughout all colleague, client, and partner engagements

Qualifications:

Bilingual – English/Spanish preferred (will receive bilingual stipend of $1.00 per hour on top of hour pay rate).
Clinician II Requirements: Licensure track status (with registered Associates status within the BBS preferred).
Strong commitment to equity, diversity, and reducing recidivism.
Passion for working with clients in the community facing complex challenges.
Strong communication and active listening skills and adherence to professional boundaries.
Ability to pass background clearance (Department of Justice and FBI)   
Ability to maintain licensure track status
Possession of reliable vehicle, valid CA driver’s license, vehicle insurance, and good driving record 
Excellent interpersonal, written/oral communication and basic computer skills.  
Willingness to engage in ongoing training and personal development, including provider training and administrative training

This job requires use of various software platforms and ability to maintain clear, accurate, timely documentation in Microsoft programs and electronic health records

Wages & Benefits: 

We prioritize the well-being of our team as much as the community we serve. Our comprehensive health benefits reflect this commitment. We offer full-time employees medical and dental insurance plan that ensures peace of mind for themselves and their families. We go beyond traditional care by also offering our employees acupuncture and chiropractic, embracing a holistic approach to health that aligns with our values of care and compassion.     

Our team’s future matters just as much as the present. That’s why we offer a 403(b) retirement plan, providing a foundation for a secure retirement. We also recognize the need for work-life balance, so Encompass offers a competitive package of 11 vacation days, 15 paid holidays, and 12 sick days. These benefits are thoughtfully pro-rated for part-time positions, affirming our commitment to fairness and flexibility. 

Compensation 

$30-$34/hr depending on experience
Employee Assistance Program  
Ongoing training opportunities - including individual and group supervision for Registered Associate’s - to support professional development 
Vacation, Sick, and Holiday PTO

About Us: 

At Encompass Community Services we provide our community with a wide range of services related to family & social well-being, behavioral health, housing and more. Every day through these services we work to make health, education and housing more equitable for all people in Santa Cruz County. For more than 50 years our work has touched generations by helping people have access to education, rebuild relationships, restore their health and regain dignity. 
Qualifications: