Description
The Department
The Human Services Department (HSD) delivers and supports services by forging long-term community partnerships, engaging with and building the capacity of the community to do its own problem-solving, and leveraging financial and volunteer resources. The Department’s nationally and internationally recognized programs support thousands of residents throughout their life course, from infants to elders. The department offers a hybrid working environment which is friendly, supportive, collegial and, where staff of many disciplines come together to problem solve, compassionately assist those in need, learn together and share successes.
General Description
As a Mental Health Counselor in the Human Services Department, incumbents will provide a full range of culturally responsive intake assessments, individual, family and group counseling, and crisis intervention services to enhance the mental health of those in need.
The Counselor is part of a larger Human Services team that includes psychologists, nurses, social work case managers, a family partner (peer support specialist), substance use disorder intervention specialists, and interns. Counselors receive continuous clinical training, consultation and professional development opportunities and receive supervision from a Clinical Supervisor.
The current vacancies are for 2 full-time benefitted positions in the Aging and Family Services (AFS) Division, working primarily with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) older adults.
Examples of Duties
- Conduct intake assessment which includes, psycho-social functioning, family and peer relationships, cultural/language needs and family strengths; develop care plans that respond to the individual’s or families’ values and strengths.
- Establish clinical diagnoses and identify list of problems and needs.
- Provide individual, family and group counseling to enhance clients’ mental and emotional health, social functioning and independent living skills, using a variety of therapeutic and counseling techniques.
- Provide therapy and supportive services to individuals /children and families from varying cultural backgrounds.
- Coordinate care plan.
- Link clients to available social services, educational and medical resources as appropriate.
- Comply with City, state, county, funders and agency’s policies and procedures, legal and ethical standards, quality assurance goals and audit requirements.
- Prepare correspondence and reports on treatment histories, progress and other matters related to the client’s treatment.
- Write and maintain clinical records following City and Funders’ guidelines. Attend quality chart review, case consultation meetings.
- Meet and maintain billing goals on a monthly basis.
- Attend required agency meetings and professional training.
- Attend community meetings, participate in task forces and committees as assigned.
- Conduct classes and give presentations to community organizations as assigned.
- Conduct services where client is most comfortable and are most appropriate including office-based sessions, field based, hospital, telehealth, school and home-based sessions.
- May provide clinical supervision to entry level interns or trainees, training and assistance to other staff or volunteers.
- Utilize departmental electronic health record and billing system MyEvolv.
- May be required to work other than business office hours.
Ideal Candidate
Education and Experience
Any combination of education and experience which has provided the knowledge and clinical skills necessary for satisfactory job performance would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and skills would be: Master’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work or comparable field and two years of progressively responsible experience providing counseling services.
Possession of the following are highly desirable:
- Familiarity with Medi-Cal documentation and billing requirements
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have two years of experience working directly with required population and possess the following:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience with crisis intervention, individual, family and group therapy.
- Ability to work independently and offsite without direct support from supervisor.
- Excellent organization, multi-tasking, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to maintain effective, respectful working relationships and teamwork with other division personnel, clients, caregivers, and community partners.
- Experience working in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a positive customer service attitude
- Experience working with diverse communities.
Licenses/Certificates/Special Requirements
Possession of the following licenses:
- LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, or Licensed Psychologist, or
- Registration as an Associate with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences working towards licensure.
Counselors maintaining State licensure may receive a stipend of up to $3,600 annually prorated based on an employee’s schedule (hours worked). Based on languages needed by the department to serve the public, a bilingual stipend of up to $1,800 annually is available to those that qualify, which is prorated based on an employee’s schedule (hours worked)
This position requires the ability to travel independently within and outside City limits. Therefore, a valid Class C California Driver’s License is required by time of appointment.
Benefits
The City of Fremont's Benefits Summary can be viewed at: https://www.fremont.gov/government/departments/human-resources/salaries-benefits
Special Instructions
Application Process
Candidates may apply for this position by submitting a completed City application, resume and supplemental questionnaire through the online application system (Government Jobs) at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/fremontca