DEFINITION:
At the full professional level and under the general direction of a licensed clinical program manager, supervises and coordinates multidisciplinary and ancillary support staff in the provision of mental health services to clients. Provides daily administrative oversight to the team, with technical supervision of licensed clinical staff exercised in accordance with scope-of-practice guidelines.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this class report to a higher-level licensed clinical program manager and are assigned to community mental health facilities, psychiatric hospitals, outpatient mental health clinics, and specialized mental health treatment programs. Incumbents supervise multidisciplinary and ancillary support staff to plan and organize a mental health services program for mentally or emotionally disturbed adults, children, youth, or elderly clients; and assist in coordinating social work and treatment activities with medical, psychological, and other professional services. Incumbents in this class oversee a staff of three or more licensed clinicians as well as professional, paraprofessional and/or general service staff; administer and interpret policies and procedures; supervise teaching programs; and present orientation lectures.

Trains, instructs, and evaluates workers and makes work assignments.

Effectively communicates program, administrative, and clinical direction to subordinate staff.

Discusses problem cases with workers and makes suggestions and recommendations.

Reviews case records for completeness, consistency, and quality of mental health services provided including application of proper techniques; ensures compliance with state and federal mandates.

Consults with individual workers to promote staff development and to suggest solutions to problem cases.

Studies and makes suggestions and recommendations on special, complicated, or problem cases.

Confers with program manager concerning human resources and work problems.

Assists in planning, developing, and implementing mandatory and discretionary mental health programs in accordance with applicable laws, ordinances, and regulations by determining type and level of services to be provided; measures of quality-assurance to be employed; and formulating and carrying out policies and procedures.

Keeps informed of new developments in the field of psychiatric social work or marriage and family therapy.

Identifies staff training and development requirements and provides training and guidance to administrative and clinical staff to ensure mental health services delivery effectiveness.

May carry a caseload that includes the more complicated or emergency casework assignments as required.

May review and/or approve treatment authorization requests from hospitals, contracted network and/or legal entity community-based providers/programs and recommend approval or denial of requests per specified state and Department of Mental Health contract compliance requirements.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:
Option I: Two years of post-licensure social work experience in a recognized social services or mental health care setting involving problems of mental or emotional adjustment and the use of psychiatric consultation. 
Option II:  Two years of post-licensure marriage and family therapy experience in a recognized social services or mental health care setting involving problems of mental or emotional adjustment and the use of techniques of family systems therapy. 
LICENSE:
A valid, active license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker issued by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences.

OR

A valid, active license as a Marriage and Family Therapist or Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor issued by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences.

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions may be required.
PHYSICAL CLASS:
Physical Class II – Light: Light physical effort which may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit, and some bending, stooping or squatting. Considerable walking may be involved.

EXAMINATION CONTENT: This examination will consist of an evaluation of training and experience based upon application information weighted 100%. Candidate must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher in order to be placed on the eligible register.
VACANCY INFORMATION: The resulting eligible register for this examination will be used to fill vacancies within the Department of Mental Health.
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The name of the candidates receiving a passing score on the examination will appear on the eligible register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of eligibility.
Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the eligible register accordingly.
No person may compete for this examination more than once in a twelve (12) month period.
APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION: All applicants are required to submit a Standard County of Los Angeles Employment Application online only. Resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of applications, although resumes may be uploaded as attachments to the applications. This examination will remain open until the need of the services are met, and is subject to closure without prior notice.
We must receive your application by 5:00 pm, PST, on the last day of filing.
TRANSCRIPTS:  In order to receive credit for any college coursework, or any type of college degree, such as a Master's degree or higher, you must provide a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts or official letter from the accredited* institution which shows the area of specialization, at the time of filing or within 15 calendar days from the application filing date.
ACCREDITATION INFORMATION:
*Accreditation: Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies which are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or The Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).
Additional documents may be sent to exams@dmh.lacounty.gov, please include exam number and exam title in the subject line.
The acceptance of your application will depend on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Minimum Requirements. Please be sure your application indicates complete information, including dates for education and jobs held which relate to this position. For each job held, give the name and addresses of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, description of work performed, total number of hours worked (full or part-time) and salary earned. Resumes showing training and experience may be attached to the Los Angeles County Application. All information and records are subject to verification.
 
Falsification of records can result in disqualification from the examination or termination of employment.
SPECIAL INFORMATION: Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, holidays or weekends.
All County workforce members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Successful candidates for this position will be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department. 
Past and present mental health clients and family members are encouraged to apply.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER LANGUAGE
All applicants must enter a valid social security number at the time of filing. Entering anything other than a valid social security number (i.e. 000-00-0000, 111-11-1111, etc.) will result in an automatic rejection of your application.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT LIBRARIES
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.
NO SHARING USER ID AND PASSWORD
All applicants must file their applications online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.
Department Contact Name: Nicholas Jordan
Department Contact Phone: (323) 705-3925
Department Contact Email: exams@dmh.lacounty.govCalifornia Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922
Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099
ADA Coordinator Phone: (323) 705-4113