Website San Mateo County Health
Description
The Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Division of the San Mateo County Health is seeking an experienced individual for the position of Office of Consumer & Family Affairs-Mental Health Counselor II–Spanish Speaking Required-Extra Help, to carryout family advocacy and support activities. The position reports to the Director of the Office of Consumer and Family Affairs. The Mental Health Counselor will have the opportunity and challenge of insuring the active and effective participation of consumers and family members in the design, monitoring and evaluation of public mental health services in San Mateo County; carrying out programs with consumer and family involvement that promote a recovery approach at all levels of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services; providing outreach and information, problem resolution, human resources development, training for consumers/family members and providers, and other initiatives.
There is currently one extra help vacancy in the Behavioral Health & Recovery Services Division located in San Mateo, CA. The Mental Health Counselor will travel/drive throughout the County to conduct home-visits with family members of clients; conduct support groups; provide trainings; and to meet with providers, staff, or non-profit organizations. The schedule is flexible as the incumbent will conduct training after hours at least one time per week, and occasionally on weekends.
Primary duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Coordinating the ongoing involvements of consumers and family members in the Division planning and program development activities.
- Developing and administering programs for the improvement of consumer and family relations, consumer and family satisfaction, and understanding of “consumer and family culture” in culturally diverse communities and responding to external requirements.
- Tracking, monitoring and responding to complaints, concerns, and issues regarding access to, and satisfaction with services; providing peer assistance in resolving problems.
- Developing and maintaining communications/materials for consumers and family members such as brochures and handbooks.
- Providing education and outreach to consumers and their family members and the community regarding mental health services.
- Developing partnerships with diverse community and consumer groups, including advocacy, support, self-help, family alliances, and parent groups; conducting home visits.
- Conducting support groups for family members; and establishing and utilizing knowledge of community resources for family members and clients.
Ideal candidate will have experience:
- As a parent or caregiver of a youth or adult client who uses mental health services.
- Providing navigation of the mental health systems and support for family members and consumers.
- Providing direct services or collaborating with service providers and family members/consumers in a mental health agency/organization for at least two years.
- Demonstrating ability to work independently.
- Providing services using English and Spanish bilingual skills is required.
- Utilizing excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstrating ability to establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
NOTE: This is an extra-help, at-will assignment, paid on an hourly basis. Some extra help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra-help workers are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the extra-help assignment.
Qualifications
Funding Requirement:
- Must be a parent or caregiver of a consumer of mental health services to meet the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funding requirement.
Language Requirement:
- Position requires the ability to speak, read and write fluently in both English and Spanish.
Knowledge of:
- Mental health needs and problems of the general population.
- Rehabilitative counseling techniques including role playing, behavioral modification and recreational therapy.
- Social aspects of mental and emotional disturbances.
- Basic techniques and dynamics of individual and group therapy.
- Community resources available for treatment of clients.
- Problems, needs, attitudes and behavior patterns of clients having basic emotional and/or social adjustment problems.
- Individual, couple, family and group counseling principles.
Skill/Ability to:
- Apply the techniques used in individual and group therapy.
- Develop and evaluate creative approaches to the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of mental disorders.
- Obtain and record social, physical, educational and work histories.
- Write clear, accurate and concise reports.
- Interpret data.
- Conduct group and individual counseling.
- Establish and maintain the confidence and cooperation of clients including those of varied ethnic and social backgrounds.
- Speak effectively before groups.
- Exercise tact.
- Function as a team member.
Education and Experience:
- Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:
- Mental Health Counselor II: Two years of experience in a community mental health setting, performing individual or group therapeutic counseling services to clients and developing therapeutic assessment and treatment plans.
Application/Examination
If you are interested in being considered for this extra help position the following items must be submitted via e-mail:
- Cover letter with responses to Supplemental Questions (maximum of 2 pages)
- Resume
Supplemental Questions:
- Being a family member/caregiver of a consumer of mental health services is required to be eligible for this position. Are you a family member/caregiver of a consumer of mental health services? Please respond Yes or No. (A “No” answer to this question indicates you do not meet the requirement for this position and cannot be considered further.)
- Fluency in both Spanish and English is required for this position. Are you fluent in both English and Spanish? Please respond Yes or No. (A “No” answer to this question indicates you do not meet the requirement for this position and cannot be considered further.)
- Describe in detail your work experience, using your knowledge gained as a parent or caregiver of a consumer of mental health services, to provide support and guidance to family members of adult consumers receiving mental health and/or substance use services. Include your role, responsibilities, and length of time in the position.
- Describe in detail your work experience using your bilingual Spanish speaking skills to assist family members or clients on the job. Include your role, responsibilities, and length of time in the position.
Please include the words “Office of Consumer & Family Affairs-Mental Health Counselor II–Spanish Speaking Required–Extra Help” in the subject line of email submission. All submitted materials must be in a Word or PDF format.
Please submit the above listed materials via email to:
Jana Spalding, Director, Office of Consumer and Family Affairs
jspalding@smcgov.org.
Application materials will be reviewed as they are received, and well-qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Apply immediately. Application materials will be accepted until position is filled. This posting is open on a continuous basis and selection may be made at any time within the process.
NOTE: Application materials are only accepted via e-mail. Materials sent via regular mail and/or fax will not be accepted. Submittals that do not include all required elements (cover letter with responses to supplemental questions and a resume) will not be considered.
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.
To apply for this job please visit www.governmentjobs.com.