Psychiatric Social Worker I - Behavioral Health Services

County of Santa Clara; California; On-site; USD 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team in Behavioral Health Services, where you will provide essential counseling and treatment services to individuals facing mental health challenges. This role offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community by supporting diverse populations, including children, families, and older adults. As a Psychiatric Social Worker I, you will engage in a variety of clinical programs, ensuring holistic care and promoting wellness. The department values diversity and inclusion, encouraging bilingual candidates to apply. Enjoy a rewarding career with a supportive work environment and the potential for a sign-on bonus.

Benefits

Sign-on Bonus up to $5,000

Salary Range Increases

Bilingual Encouragement

Qualifications

• Master's degree required for licensure as a clinical social worker.
• Knowledge of psychiatric social work principles and community resources.

Responsibilities

• Provide counseling, psychotherapy, and case management services.
• Develop treatment plans and evaluate client needs.
• Collaborate with community agencies for treatment.

Skills

Psychiatric Social Work

Counseling

Psychotherapy

Case Management

Crisis Intervention

Cultural Competence

Education

Master's Degree in Social Work

Tools

Common Computer Systems

Job description

Join us in Behavioral Health Services!

Under supervision, the Psychiatric Social Worker I (Pre-Licensed) provides counseling, psychotherapy, case management, and treatment services in a counseling center, clinic, or institutional setting.

The County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department (BHSD) strives to be a premier integrated behavioral health care provider, employer, and partner. We are a passionate team of caring, courageous staff and professionals dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals, children, families, and older adults impacted by mental health and substance use challenges. To support achievement of their hopes, dreams, and quality of life goals, our team provides high quality whole-person care and comprehensive community-based behavioral services through the lens of race, equity, diversity and inclusion. We are looking for stellar health care professionals like you to start a rewarding career with us and be a partner for health and wellness in the community.

Candidates can find numerous avenues to serve through various clinical program and services within the Behavioral Health Services Department:

1. Access and Unplanned Services System of Care: The Access and Unplanned Services System of Care provides Crisis and Non-Crisis telephone services. These services include screening and referral to appropriate level of behavioral health care and support of individuals in mental health crisis through de-escalation counseling or referral for additional support through the Crisis Response continuum. The system includes all prevention services for both suicide and crisis and substance abuse initiatives through the community and institutions. Service include work with the LGBTQ+ community through outreach, the Q-Corner drop-in center and a Transgender Mental Health Outpatient clinic that provides mental health and dual diagnosis clinical treatment services.
2. Children, Youth, and Family System of Care: The Children, Youth and Family System of Care (CFY) serves children, adolescents, young adults, and their families, ages birth through 25 years, who are experiencing social-emotional and behavioral health concerns. CYF provides outpatient care and programs specific to the unique needs of children and their families. Services provided are respectful of cultural values and the natural support systems of youth and families and address children and family behavioral health problems in the least restrictive, most family-like context possible.
3. Adult/Older Adult System of Care: The Adult/Older Adult System of Care (AOA) provides behavioral health services to adults (age 18-59 years) and older adults (age 60+ years) to enhance their basic self-care skills and functioning. Services are provided to support hope, wellness and recovery through addressing the special needs of the aging population, including the complex stressors older adults face, social isolation and behaviors unique to the aging population.

Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

CANDIDATES HIRED MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A SIGN-ON BONUS, UP TO $5,000.

A new hire or a regular coded full-time or part-time employee who is hired into, transfers, or promotes in the classifications of Marriage and Family Therapist or Psychiatric Social Worker assigned to any shift in Behavioral Health Services may be eligible to receive a sign-on bonus of up to $5,000 (subject to discontinuation at any time).

In addition to sign-on bonus, this classification is scheduled to receive salary range increases on the following dates:

Effective June 23, 2025 - 4.00% increase

This is a posting to fill vacant positions in BHSD that may be filled in the classifications of Marriage & Family Therapist I (associate), Marriage & Family Therapist II (licensed), Psychiatric Social Worker I (associate), or Psychiatric Social Worker II (licensed). Candidates need only to apply to one of these four postings for which they qualify in order to be considered. Additionally, this posting will create a list that will be used to fill vacancies for the following two months. Qualified applicants will remain on the list for two months and will be referred to available vacancies during that time. To be considered for future opportunities, applicants will need to reapply every 2 months in order to be placed on the eligible list for the following two months.

Learn more about the County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services at https://bhsd.sccgov.org/about-us/bhsd-careers and follow us on:

YouTube | Live Event - County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department - YouTube
Facebook | @cscbehavioralhealth
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/county-of-santa-clara/life/sccbhsd/
Instagram | @cscbehavioralhealth

The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Performs counseling, psychotherapy, case management, and treatment services with patients or clients and their families;
2. Participates in the evaluation of problems presented and in the development of treatment plans;
3. May participate in a group therapy program;
4. Prepares social case histories with particular emphasis upon psycho-social factors affecting the patient or client;
5. Cooperates with staff and other community agencies in carrying out treatment plans;
6. Participates in psychotherapy and case management programs with psychiatric treatment teams;
7. Interprets and explains social and emotional factors pertaining to illness to clients, relatives, and community groups, and may conduct educational sessions and training events, as appropriate;
8. Evaluates new techniques for dealing with emotional and environmental problems;
9. Refers patients or clients to appropriate community agencies;
10. May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required;
11. Performs other related duties, as required.

Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks, plus the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:

Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through possession of a Master's Degree that qualifies for licensure as described in the Special Requirements.

Special Requirements

1. Possess and maintain current registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Clinical Social Worker or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, for the duration of employment in this classification.
2. Incumbents in this class must comply with California licensure requirements as outlined by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
3. Some positions may require provider credentialing prior to appointment.
4. Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work. If driving, possession of a valid California driver’s license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.
5. *As a condition of employment, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 3100-3109 and Local Ordinance, all County of Santa Clara employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), including extra help. A DSW is required to complete all assigned DSW-related training, and in the event of an emergency, return to work as ordered.

Knowledge of:

1. Principles of psychiatric social work and psychotherapy;
2. Counseling, case management, and other techniques of psychiatric social work;
3. Social aspects of behavioral health and emotional disturbances;
4. Theory and practice of community behavioral health and substance use interventions;
5. Community agencies and community resources serving the mentally ill and those with substance use disorders;
6. Physical and mental illnesses and their impact on personality;
7. English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling;
8. Common computer systems and applications.

Ability to:

1. Effectively apply psychiatric social work theory and case management skills, and psychotherapeutic interventions;
2. Conduct differential diagnosis;
3. Secure and record accurate and pertinent social and personal data;
4. Effectively use psychiatric consultation;
5. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures;
6. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, at all levels, including colleagues, the public, and representatives of other agencies.