MENTAL HEALTH SUPERVISING CLIENT SPECIALIST

Job Specifications

Class Code:	SK8
Analyst:	JS/SC

Date Originated:	10/90
Date Revised:	4/95, 8/21

COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ

DEFINITION

Under direction, supervise, coordinate, and participate in the work of a mental health program unit and assist in the development, implementation, and administration of assigned programs/projects; and do other work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the supervisory level in the professional Mental Health series. Incumbents in this classification supervise and evaluate the work of professional employees and assist in managing and directing a program area while also providing advanced journey level professional services to clients. This classification requires an advanced level of professional knowledge and skills in a specialized area of mental health care. The Mental Health Supervising Client Specialist class is differentiated from the lower-level classification of Senior Mental Health Client Specialist in that the former supervises and directs other licensed professionals. This classification differs from the Mental Health Program Manager in that the latter has a broader scope of responsibility, which includes multiple program areas, budgeting and contracts.

TYPICAL TASKS

Supervise, train and evaluate professional and support staff in an assigned program area; assist in the management and administration of an assigned program area such as case management, children's or adult services, geriatrics, or crisis intervention; participate in providing professional services of assigned program area in the case of high demand work load and/or providing necessary back up to staff to ensure maximum client support in a variety of settings including office and field; conduct individual, group and family psychotherapy or other rehabilitation methods using accepted diagnostic and assessment procedures and long term therapy or rehabilitation as deemed necessary; diffuse situations involving combative clients; facilitate and participate in case conferences and team meetings to review individual needs and service plans; act as liaison between assigned program area and other Agency programs, community resources and State and Federal programs; work with other agencies to identify, promote and develop needed health care services, including providing information and education, coordinating programs and services, serving as resource person; assist in the development and implementation of programs and/or special projects; provide skilled professional input and review of annual plans for quality case management; research, analyze, coordinate, implement and evaluate professional services needs; develop procedures for administrative and professional services for assigned unit in accordance with established policies, Agency priorities and client needs; identify potential or actual programmatic/operation problems and assist in developing solutions; serve as liaison between assigned staff and administration in coordinating needs, priorities and information; prepare a variety of reports and records both for administrative and professional purposes; monitor program budget and contracts for program assignment; represent Program Manager at meetings, conferences and committees as necessary and as assigned; and may provide vacation or temporary relief for other classes.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge of:

Thorough knowledge of:

• Psychological and social aspects and characteristics of emotional disturbances and mental illness.
• Principles and methods of counseling and the accepted techniques for assessing psycho-social behavior.
• Human behavior and development.

Working knowledge of:

• Appropriate community resources.
• Problems and needs of mentally ill and socially disturbed individuals.
• Pertinent laws and regulations regarding health and social service programs laws and regulations as they pertain to clients' legal rights.
• Pharmacology of medications and psychotropic drug treatment.
• Some knowledge of:
• Principles and techniques of supervision including staffing, employee motivation and development, planning and organizing workload.
• Principles and development of case management and rehabilitative services.
• Principles of care system design and service delivery.

Ability to:

• Assess and diagnose all types of client behavioral and emotional actions/problems, and develop and implement effective and appropriate treatment plans.
• Conduct effective and appropriate individual and group psychotherapy on an on-going basis.
• Supervise, train, evaluate and motivate assigned professional and support staff.
• Implement Agency policies and procedures as they relate to proper management and administration of programs and client services.
• Learn Agency's policies and procedures as they relate to employee supervision, training and evaluation.
• Establish and maintain a variety of personnel and administrative records, case notes, client records, and other required documentation.
• Prepare and present a variety of periodic and special reports of both a professional and administrative nature.
• Communicate effectively in both oral and written form, including expressing complex and technical terminology and concepts in an understandable and non-threatening manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.
• Monitor budgets and contracts.
• Perform Short-Doyle MediCal and MediCare utilization review and quality improvement functions.
• Distinguish speech and non-speech sounds in noisy environments.
• Lift objects such as boxes of belongings and move furniture weighing up to fifty pounds.
• Restrain combative clients who may require physical strength and stamina.
• Stand and walk for extended periods of time may be required for some positions.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and abilities, is qualifying, unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Possession of a Master's Degree with a major in Social Work, Psychology, Psychiatric Nursing, Marriage, Family and Child Counseling, Registered Nursing, Certificate of Occupational Therapy, or closely related behavioral science field which has included completion of a university approved internship, preferably a clinical internship, in a mental health agency. AND

The equivalent to one year of experience at the level of Senior Mental Health Client Specialist providing treatment, counseling, or case management services to clients in a mental health setting, including some supervisory or lead experience. OR

Qualification as a Certified Occupational Therapist or a Licensed Registered Nurse and five years of experience in mental health service delivery including some supervisory or lead experience.

Special Requirements, Conditions:

License Requirements: Possession of a valid California classes C driver license or the ability to obtain suitable transportation, which is approved by the appointing authority. Possession of one of the following licenses issued by the State of California: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW); Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT); Registered Nurse (RN); Clinical Psychologist; or Occupational Therapist (OT). If licensed in another state, incumbent must obtain the appropriate license issued by the State of California within twenty-four months from the date of employment.

Background Investigation: Fingerprinting is required.

Special Working Conditions: All assignments: Exposure to offensive odors such as unwashed people and clothes, human and animal feces; the possibility of infections which may cause chronic disease or death may occur in the course of physical interventions to control client behavior; hostile or violent individuals. Juvenile Hall and Acute/Emergency Services assignments: Exposure to noise, such as people yelling. Children's Service assignment: Exposure to disturbing material, such as photos of abused children; allergens such as poison oak, insect stings or bites, and pollens. Note: Persons in this classification may be assigned to positions with any of the above working conditions on an emergency, as needed basis.

Other Special Requirements: Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays and on an emergency, as needed basis, which may include 24 hour "on-call" availability.

Bargaining Unit: 41

EEOC Job Category: 02

Occupational Grouping: 50

Workers' Comp Code: 0290