Join us in Behavioral Health Services!
Under general supervision, the licensed Psychiatric Social Worker II provides counseling, psychotherapy, case management, and treatment services in a counseling center, clinic, or institutional setting.
This is a specialized recruitment for the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT).
This recruitment is to fill County-funded positions working in conjunction with various law enforcement agencies in Santa Clara County. Each clinician will work with a dedicated law enforcement officer and together, you and your partner will be highly trained and lead a mental health-focused co-response team. The teams respond to calls that are dispatched via 911 with the highest acuity of need. PERT responds to calls for service where mental health crisis is suspected or apparent, working to de-escalate situations to seek peaceful resolutions and promote the safety of those in crisis and the safety of the community. PERT services incorporate culturally competent and best practice approaches for safety assessments and crisis intervention to ensure clients receive needed services, divert individuals to community-based treatment and reduce emergency psychiatric services, jail admissions, and future contact with law enforcement.
In addition to meeting the employment standards for Psychiatric Social Worker II, a qualified candidate must possess:
- Prior clinical work experience in crisis assessment and/or crisis intervention.
The ideal candidate will also possess:
- Current certification to write 5150 holds
- Experience collaborating with law enforcement and understanding the dynamics of a co-response model of care.
- Ability to manage dynamic, high acuity calls that are dispatched by 911 and are critical and acute in nature.
- Experience with completing mandated/reporting such as APS, CPS, and Tarasoff reports.
- Knowledge of community resources and diversion from high end services such as EPS and custody services.
Shift days and hours will be centered around a (4) 10-hour, 40-hour per week, weekday schedule. Days and hours are to be determined, and will include input from the appointed clinician, Behavioral Health, and the assigned law enforcement agency. Some shifts may include an evening differential.
** An offer of employment is contingent upon the prior passing of a background clearance and Live Scan.
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.
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
Learn more about the County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services at https://bhsd.sccgov.org/about-us/bhsd-careers.
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.
- Performs intensive case management, counseling, psychotherapy, and treatment services with patients or clients and their families;
- Participates in the evaluation of problems presented and in the development of treatment plans;
- Prepares social case histories with particular emphasis upon psycho-social factors affecting the patient or client;
- Cooperates with staff and other community agencies in carrying out treatment plans;
- Participates in psychotherapy programs with psychiatric staff treatment teams;
- 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;
- Evaluates new techniques for dealing with emotional and environmental problems;
- Refers patients or clients to appropriate community agencies;
- May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required;
- 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 licensure as described in the Special Requirements.
Special Requirements
- Possess and maintain a registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), for the duration of employment in this classification.
- Incumbents in this class must comply with California licensure requirements as outlined by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
- Some positions may require provider credentialing prior to appointment.
- 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.
- *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:
- Principles of psychiatric social work and psychotherapy;
- Counseling, case management, and other techniques of psychiatric social work;
- Social aspects of behavioral health and emotional disturbances;
- Theory and practice of community behavioral health and substance use interventions;
- Community agencies and community resources serving the mentally ill, alcohol and drug abusers, and alcoholism;
- Physical and mental illnesses and their impact on personality.
- English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling;
- Common computer systems and applications.
Ability to:
- Effectively apply psychiatric social work theory and case management skills and psychotherapeutic interventions;
- Conduct differential diagnosis;
- Develop and implement a treatment program;
- Secure and record accurate and pertinent social and personal data;
- Effectively use psychiatric consultation;
- Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures;
- 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.
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