Mental Health Clinician

Job Details: Job Location: SM Regional 1410 Marshall St - Redwood City, CA, Education Level: 4 Year Degree, Salary Range: $73000.00 - $90000.00Salary, Job Shift: Day, Position Title: Mental Health Clinician

Program/Dept: FSP/REACH
Reports to: Program Director/ Assistant Program Director
Classification: Regular, fulltime, exempt

Shift: Mon to Fri 8:30 AM to 5 PM

About Us: Caminar is a leading behavioral health organization that supported over 48,000 youth and adults across six counties in Northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area last year. ​
​
Caminar's mission is to build strength and stability through comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment and wrap-around services delivered through evidence-based, whole-person care. The organization was founded in 1964, and our vision is to be a BEACON of SAFETY, COMPASSION, and FULFILLMENT, supporting all those in our communities who need it most. ​

Caminar values diversity. People of all races, ethnicities, countries of origin, faiths, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities are welcome here. To learn more, please visit www.caminar.org.

Position Summary: Under the supervision of the Clinical Director, the Clinician will provide support and assistance to psychiatrically disabled individuals who receive services at Willow MHRC, to affect both the client’s successful transition into the program and to the next appropriate level of care after leaving Willow MHRC. This position will further promote continuity for an integrated service system.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Develop and maintain respectful, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, ethical, and recovery-oriented therapeutic relationships with individuals served.
Provide individual, family, and group psychotherapy utilizing evidence-based and clinically appropriate interventions based on each client’s diagnosis, presenting needs, functional impairments, treatment goals, and stage of change.
Complete comprehensive behavioral health assessments, psychosocial assessments, clinical formulations, and other required clinical evaluations to identify mental health needs, functional impairments, strengths, risks, and appropriate levels of care.
Develop, implement, monitor, and update individualized treatment plans in collaboration with clients, families or natural supports when appropriate, case managers, psychiatric providers, and other members of the multidisciplinary treatment team.
Conduct ongoing assessment of psychiatric symptoms, behavioral functioning, substance use, psychosocial stressors, treatment response, and changes in clinical presentation.
Conduct suicide, self-harm, violence, grave disability, and other clinically indicated risk assessments and develop appropriate safety and crisis response plans.
Provide crisis assessment, de-escalation, stabilization, and clinical intervention for clients experiencing acute psychiatric or psychosocial distress. Coordinate with crisis services, hospitals, law enforcement, and other emergency resources when clinically indicated.
Provide support to case managers regarding complex cases, symptom presentation, behavioral interventions, treatment engagement, risk factors, boundaries, and appropriate clinical responses.
Collaborate closely with psychiatric providers regarding psychiatric symptoms, medication adherence concerns, reported side effects, changes in functioning, and other clinically relevant observations.
Utilize evidence-based and recovery-oriented approaches, including motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral interventions, solution-focused interventions, trauma-informed care, psychoeducation, harm reduction, and other modalities appropriate to the population served.
Support clients experiencing serious mental illness in developing emotional regulation, coping, interpersonal, problem-solving, independent living, and community integration skills.
Provide clinical interventions in office, community, residential, telehealth, and other appropriate settings consistent with the FSP model and client needs.
Coordinate care with San Mateo County BHRS, hospitals, crisis programs, residential facilities, conservators, probation/parole, primary care providers, substance use treatment programs, housing providers, and other community partners.
Participate in discharge and transition planning for clients returning from psychiatric hospitalization, incarceration, residential treatment, crisis stabilization, or other higher levels of care.
Facilitate continuity of behavioral health services and assist clients in successfully transitioning between levels of care.
Provide clinical input regarding housing stability, employment, education, social supports, benefits, legal involvement, and other psychosocial factors affecting psychiatric stability and recovery.
Advocate for client preferences and treatment needs while maintaining appropriate communication with treatment teams, conservators, family members, and other authorized supports.
Complete timely, accurate, clinically appropriate documentation in accordance with Caminar policies, San Mateo County BHRS requirements, Medi-Cal documentation standards, and applicable state and federal regulations.
Complete progress notes, assessments, treatment plans, treatment plan reviews, discharge summaries, clinical consultations, risk assessments, and other required documentation within established timelines.
Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences, utilization reviews, clinical staffing, supervision, team meetings, and other care-coordination activities.
Monitor client progress toward treatment goals and modify clinical interventions based on treatment response, changes in functioning, emerging needs, and client preferences.
Support engagement and re-engagement efforts for clients who demonstrate difficulty maintaining consistent participation in behavioral health treatment.
Maintain professional boundaries and comply with confidentiality, informed consent, mandated reporting, HIPAA, and applicable legal and ethical requirements.
Maintain active BBS registration or licensure appropriate to the position and practice within the clinician’s authorized scope of practice.
Participate in individual and/or group clinical supervision as required by BBS regulations, agency policy, and professional development needs.
Complete required agency and county trainings and maintain competency in areas relevant to FSP services, serious mental illness, co-occurring disorders, crisis intervention, cultural responsiveness, trauma-informed care, and community-based behavioral health.
Contribute to a multidisciplinary, collaborative, and respectful team environment that promotes dignity, recovery, client autonomy, and social rehabilitation.
Assist program leadership with clinical quality improvement, documentation compliance, treatment effectiveness, and adherence to contractual, regulatory, licensing, and agency requirements.
Perform other clinical and program-related duties consistent with the clinician’s scope of practice and FSP program needs.

Qualifications & Skills:
Master’s degree in social sciences, psychology or related behavioral health field is required.  Must be BBS license eligible or registered.
Must have a minimum of two (2) years of full-time experience, or its part-time equivalent, working in a mental health program serving persons with severe mental illness.
Experience working in a County System of Care and knowledge of San Mateo local resources is preferred, not required.
Must have excellent computer skills, including extensive work with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Publisher, et cetera).
Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality, a professional demeanor and to always represent the organization in a positive manner.
Must demonstrate acceptable level of maturity, good judgment, and emotional stability.
Problem solving—identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
Customer Service—manages difficult customer situations, responds promptly to customer needs, and solicits customer feedback to improve service.
Oral and written communication—speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, demonstrates group presentation skills, and conducts meetings.  Completes written progress notes and other formal communications skillfully and professionally.
Quality management—looks for ways to improve and promote quality and demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
Planning/organizing—prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently and develops realistic action plans.
Adaptability—adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands, and can deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
Dependability—is consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction, and solicits feedback to improve performance.
Safety and security—actively promotes and personally observes safety and security procedures and uses equipment and materials properly.
Must be a dynamic self-starter with demonstrated ability to work independently on special projects.

Position Requirements:

Physical: Occasionally required to push/pull objects up to 50 lbs., and to lift/carry objects up to 25 lbs. Frequently required to perform moderately difficult manipulative tasks such as typing, writing, etc. Must be able to walk, stand, and sit for extended periods.
Sensory: Frequently required to read documents, written reports, and plans. Must be able to distinguish normal sounds with some background noise, as in answering the phone, interacting with residents and staff, etc. Must be able to speak clearly and understand/be understood using the English language.
Cognitive: Frequently required to concentrate on moderate detail with constant interruption. Must be able to attend a task/function for 20-45 minutes at a time. Frequently required to understand and relate to specific ideas, several at a time. Must be able to remember multiple tasks/assignments given to self and others over a period of several days.
Environmental Conditions: Frequent exposure to varied office and mixed (residential/office) environments. Occasional exposure to toxins and poisonous substances, dust, and loud noises.
Equipment: Frequently required to use a computer, phone, and fax machine.

Essential Requirements:

Must be able to meet and receive a criminal records clearance, as required by Title XXII, other licensing regulations, and Caminar practices.
This position may require limited, occasional, or frequent driving.  If required, a valid California driver's license, a reliable personal vehicle, and current personal auto insurance is required by law.  In addition, an MVR sufficient to obtain and maintain insurability under agency auto liability policies are all essential job requirements.
Must be able to pass post offer, pre-employment medical and drug tests as required under State Community Care Licensing regulations and/or agency policies.
If applicable, a personal cell phone with reliable service and a data plan to use for business purposes.

We've Got You Covered

Medical, Dental, and Vision
Health coverage choices to fit you and your family’s needs. A zero-cost option for employee only and generous contributions to employee and dependent premiums.

Flexible Spending Account
Receive tax savings on out-of-pocket health care costs.

Employee Wellness Program
We’ll reimburse you for a portion of your gym/fitness dues.

Life, Long-term Disability, and AD&D Insurance
Provided at no cost to our full-time employees. Includes an option to purchase additional life coverage for both employees and dependents.

Paid Time Off
We offer thirteen paid holidays and a generous sick and vacation benefit.

401(K) Retirement Savings Plan
We offer options for both pre-tax and post-tax (Roth) contributions. 
 The plan also offers an employer match on eligible employee deferrals at one year of service.

Commuter Benefits
Commuting to work each day can be expensive. Receive tax savings on your commuting costs!

 Employee Assistance Program
 For whatever issue you might face, our Life Assistance Program offers free, confidential assistance at no cost to you.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time based on business need.  This job description is subject to change at any time. 

Caminar is a leader in providing innovative client-oriented mental health services.  We are an equal opportunity employer.  Please visit our web site at www.caminar.org