Job Id: 264432

Mental Health Clinician

Job Summary

We are seeking a dedicated Mental Health Clinician to provide clinical care coordination counseling assessment and reentry support for adults preparing to transition from detention settings back into the community. This role supports individuals with serious mental health needs co-occurring substance use concerns and complex social service needs before and after release.

The Mental Health Clinician will work closely with clients correctional partners community providers and multidisciplinary team members to support successful reentry stabilization treatment engagement and connection to essential resources such as housing employment benefits behavioral health care substance use treatment and basic needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clinical care coordination individual counseling group support and case management services for adults transitioning from custody to the community.
• Complete intake assessments mental health and substance use screenings service plans progress updates discharge planning and related documentation.
• Support clients before and after release by identifying needs barriers goals and appropriate treatment or community-based supports.
• Facilitate psychoeducational and skill-building groups related to wellness relapse prevention coping skills job readiness and reentry preparation.
• Assist clients with employment readiness activities including resumes applications interview preparation and linkage to workforce resources.
• Provide crisis intervention de-escalation support and safety planning as needed.
• Connect clients to community resources including mental health treatment substance use services housing employment food assistance benefits medical care and other supportive services.
• Coordinate referrals and follow up with providers to support service engagement and continuity of care.
• Collaborate with correctional staff clinical providers case managers community organizations and internal team members regarding client progress and concerns.
• Maintain accurate and timely client documentation including progress notes daily service logs service plan updates and client communication.
• Prepare written correspondence reports referrals and other program-related documentation as needed.
• Provide outreach presentations and resource information to community partners when appropriate.
• Support program safety practices and follow all applicable policies and procedures.
• Transport clients to linkage appointments or community resources when required.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling Social Work Psychology Marriage and Family Therapy or a related behavioral health field.
• Current California registration or licensure through the Board of Behavioral Sciences or another applicable California licensing board such as:
  • AMFT
  • ACSW
  • APCC
  • LMFT
  • LCSW
  • LPCC
• Experience providing services to adults with serious mental illness co-occurring disorders substance use concerns justice-system involvement or housing instability.
• Knowledge of clinical assessment treatment planning counseling techniques case management crisis intervention and reentry support.
• Familiarity with DSM-5 diagnostic categories and behavioral health documentation standards.
• Understanding of ethical legal and confidentiality requirements related to clinical services.
• Ability to work effectively with correctional staff community providers clients families and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain organized detailed and timely documentation.
• Proficiency with electronic records Microsoft Office databases and standard office equipment.
• Ability to work in a field-based setting and exercise sound judgment in complex situations.

Preferred Experience

• Two or more years of experience in a mental health substance use reentry forensic or community-based behavioral health setting.
• Experience using motivational interviewing cognitive behavioral approaches trauma-informed care harm reduction and recovery-oriented practices.
• Experience facilitating psychoeducation relapse prevention life skills or reentry groups.
• Experience working with culturally diverse populations including Latino African American Transition Age Youth LGBTQIA+ and other underserved communities.
• Knowledge of local housing behavioral health substance use employment benefits and social service resources.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills preferred.

Required Licenses Certifications & Clearances

• Valid California driver’s license.
• Current California auto insurance.
• CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain upon hire.
• TB clearance required upon hire and maintained as required.
• Ability to obtain required correctional facility/security clearance within the required timeframe.
• Bilingual candidates may be required to complete a bilingual proficiency assessment.

Skills & Abilities

The successful candidate will be able to:

• Build rapport with clients experiencing mental health substance use housing reentry or justice-related barriers.
• Assess client needs and develop individualized service plans.
• Facilitate individual and group interventions.
• Work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Communicate clearly respectfully and professionally.
• Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Prioritize tasks manage documentation deadlines and respond appropriately to urgent client needs.
• Apply sound clinical judgment while following program guidelines and regulatory requirements.
• Navigate community systems and advocate for client access to needed services.

Work Environment

This role may include services provided in detention settings office environments community locations and field-based settings. The position may require travel within the community and occasional transportation of clients to approved appointments or resources.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is compassionate clinically grounded organized and comfortable supporting individuals with complex behavioral health and reentry needs. They are skilled at building trust coordinating care managing documentation and helping clients successfully connect to community-based supports.

Pay

• $32-38/hour