Mental Health Worker II - NPS

Casa Pacifica; Camarillo (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

9 paid holidays

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Tuition assistance

CEUs / Training

Pet insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Casa Pacifica in Camarillo, CA seeks a Mental Health Worker/Para Educator to help implement the educational program with emphasis on behavior management and tutoring. The role supports adolescents across classroom and residential settings under supervision.

You will assist instructional teams, tutor students, maintain confidentiality, and collaborate with teachers and parents while documenting progress and attending trainings.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Clear Live Scan, criminal statement and health screening.
• Cleared TB test.
• CANRA reporting training during pre-service orientation and periodically thereafter.
• Valid California driver’s license – required for transportation youth.
• Bachelor’s degree in a mental health/education related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and care for adolescents individually and in groups.
• Maintain discipline, set behavioral limits, and implement approved interventions.
• Escort students to activities and assure safety at all times.
• Support instructional teams by presenting subject matter and assisting with student engagement.
• Tutor individuals, assist with group work, and address learning needs.
• Maintain confidentiality and all records; review treatment plans.
• Coordinate with teachers and attend relevant meetings; communicate with parents.
• Perform other duties to support educational and behavioral programs.

Skills

Behavior management

Student supervision

Instructional support

Communication with parents

Confidentiality

Education

BA/BS in social work or related

Job description

About Casa Pacifica

For 30 years, Casa Pacifica has been helping at-risk children, their families, and young adults thrive. As the largest non-profit provider of children’s and adolescent mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, Casa Pacifica specializes in treating children and young adults who struggle with complex mental health challenges such as emotional dysregulation, self-harm, anxiety, and depression. Our multi-disciplinary staff of highly trained clinicians, psychologists, educators, therapists and mental health workers provide exceptional, evidence-based care to help our youth overcome a wide array of mental health challenges. Casa Pacifica’s Camarillo, Goleta, and Santa Maria offices work with more than 2,000 at-risk children, families, and young adults annually in outpatient, residential, home, and community-based settings. Our main Camarillo campus, located on 25 acres of beautiful park-like grounds, provides a nurturing and therapeutic environment for youth to overcome challenges, to find hope, and to heal. We are a diverse and inclusive team providing excellent services to all our surrounding communities. Our team members are empowered to share their identities, ideas, and perspectives. A culture built on diversity, equity and inclusivity is essential to creating a safe and healing environment at Casa Pacifica. Starting pay is typically between $22.00 and $32.00 Hourly; however, starting pay is ultimately determined by the scope of the position, the candidate's relevant experience, and internal equity. The Para Educator schedule is Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm.

Summary

Under the direction of the Classroom Teacher and the Dean of Students works with and is responsible for assisting in the implementation of the educational program with emphasis on behavior management/intervention and tutorial instruction. The Mental Health Worker II carries out the mission of Casa Pacifica by performing a combination of instructional tasks, behavioral interventions in and out of the classroom and supervising assignments in the cottages to assist residents.

Student Support & Supervision

• Supervise and care for adolescents individually and in groups, including during non-classroom times and off-campus activities.
• Maintain discipline, set behavioral limits, and implement approved interventions when necessary.
• Escort students to activities and assure safety at all times.

Instructional Assistance

• Support instructional teams by presenting subject matter through varied methods and assisting with student engagement.
• Tutor individuals, assist with group work, and address individual learning needs.
• Help students with sensory-motor, cognitive, emotional, and social development.
• Encourage motivation, reinforce learning, and provide ongoing feedback.

Collaboration & Communication

• Coordinate efforts with classroom teachers and attend relevant meetings (e.g., goal-setting, problem-solving).
• Communicate with parents regarding student progress, under teacher guidance.
• Work with supervisors on program and client development.

Record Keeping, Documentation & Confidentiality

• Maintain and prepare records, classroom notes, reports, and incident documentation.
• Review and understand individualized educational treatment plans.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding students, staff, and organizational matters.
• Record progress notes, communication logs, incident reports, and billing documentation accurately and on time.

Classroom & Facility Support

• Assist with the care and maintenance of educational materials and classroom equipment.
• Teach students respect for personal and organizational property.

Professional Development & Additional Duties

• Participate in staff training programs.
• Perform other assigned duties as needed to support educational and behavioral programs.

Mental Health Worker Staff Call Outs

• If all staffing ratios are secure, Casa Pacifica reserves the right to call off a Mental Health Worker. Should a Mental Health Worker be called off while working their scheduled shift, they will be paid for their hours worked with a minimum of two hours pay or half of their scheduled shift (up to four hours), whichever is greater.
• Mental Health Workers must provide 12 hours’ notice before their scheduled shift if they intend to call out, unless it is a true emergency (e.g., hospitalization). For any absence, Mental Health Workers must notify their supervisor or designee when calling out between the hours of 8am-5 pm Monday through Friday. Mental Health Workers will notify the Facility Manager and on-call administrator directly for callouts between the hours of 6pm –8am or any weekend day/evening or holiday directly at 805 443-3972. Leaving a message, texting, or emailing is not an acceptable call-out notification. Excessive callouts (absenteeism) may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Completed and cleared Live Scan, criminal statement, health screening.
• Cleared TB test.
• Complete mandatory reporting requirements for Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) during pre-service orientation and periodically thereafter
• Valid driver’s license – required for transportation youth.
• You must immediately report to supervisor and Human Resources any changes that occur on your driving record.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts or Sciences Degree; (social work, sociology and psychology)
• Previously been employed as a staff or volunteer at a group home or short-term residential therapeutic center for 1 year, and/or prior experience working with severely emotionally disabled children and adolescents.
• Training in Cognitive Behavioral Interventions and Relational Repair models will be helpful.
• Relevant life experience in the child welfare, mental health or juvenile justice system as a consumer, mentor, or caregiver or other relevant experience as determined by the department.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the education, experience and be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Billing Requirements

• A minimum of two (2) years of full-time experience providing direct care experience in a mental health setting and/or support services to mental health clients and their families
• Possesses a bachelor’s degree in a mental health related field (Social-Behavioral Sciences including psychology, social work, or sociology) AND A minimum of six (6) months of full-time experience providing direct care experience in a mental health setting and/or support services to mental health clients and their families.

Credentials

• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI).
• First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.

Other Skills And Abilities

Bilingual, helpful. Candidate must have strong documentation skills, familiar with Avatar and Microsoft Word programs; Good understanding of child and adolescent development, behavior management, group process and basic understanding of applied behavior analysis (ABA).

Must have aptitude to work with Emotionally Disabled children and adolescents in a school and residential setting.

Valid California Driver's License with excellent driving record. Any changes that occur on your driving record must be reported immediately to your supervisor and Human Resources.

Language Skills

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports, mental health progress notes.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to identify, gather data, and use problem solving skills with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Organizational Skills

Ability to utilize strong time management strategies to ensure organization and manage time with paperwork, client interaction, and meeting/trainings.

Computer Skills

Basic Word Processing skills to write progress notes and reports.

Competencies

• Analytical and Critical Thinking
• Communication
• Ethics and Integrity
• Initiative and Productivity
• Judgement and Problem Solving
• Teamwork and Relationships

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to do physical activities such as walking, running, and participating in structured activities. The employee frequently is required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and talk, hear and smell. While engaged using TCI principles, staff may be required to participate in a physical restraint of the youth. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment includes office areas, school classrooms, cottages, and outside areas. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will likely work in outside weather conditions, in addition to indoor spaces. Physically moves intermittently throughout the day. Staff are subject to frequent interruptions. The noise level in the work environment can be moderate to loud.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive Benefits package,
• 401k auto enrollment at 3% with up to 5% fully vested employer matching contributions made after first year of service
• 9 paid holidays
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance options
• Flexible Spending and Dependent care programs
• Excellent Training opportunities – including opportunities for CEUs
• Education/Tuition Assistance programs
• Group Discount Pet Insurance
• Aflac Hospital, Critical Illness, Accidental & Dental supplemental plan options
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Free Confidential Crisis Line 24/7, 365 days a year
  • 4 face-to-face or telephonic sessions per issue, i.e.,
    • Stress, Anxiety, Depression
    • Life transitions
    • Grief and Loss
    • Divorce
    • Conflict Resolution
    • Substance Abuse
    • Work-Life Counseling
    • Free Legal and Financial Consultations
    • Identity Theft Recovery Services

Casa Pacifica is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. All applicants will be given full consideration under state, local, and federal law.