Mental Health Counselor I/II – Correctional Health (Open & Promotional)

San Mateo County Health's Correctional Health Services Division is seeking experienced individuals for the position of Mental Health Counselor I/II-Correctional Health.    There are currently two regular vacancies in Correctional Health Services (CHS) that work in both the Maguire Correctional Facility and Maple Street Correctional Center, both located in Redwood City, CA.   The Mental Health Counselor will work under the guidance of the Program Supervisor and is part of a multi-disciplinary team. The Mental Health Counselor will provide trauma informed and culturally responsive direct clinical care to adults diagnosed with a serious mental illness and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder or complex medical condition.    

Primary duties include:  

• Conduct substance use disorder assessment of newly incarcerated adults.
• Provide individual and group therapeutic counseling services to incarcerated adult clients having co-occurring issues of basic and/or severe mental illness and substance use disorder.
• Develop treatment plans.
• CalAIM documentation for Medi-Cal billing functions.
• Document accurate progress notes regarding client’s status.
• Develop re-entry/discharge plans for an incarcerated adult population. 
• Perform work independently and part of a team; work with minimal supervision.
• Attend daily huddle meetings.

 

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Alcohol and Other Drug certification such as CADC and CCAPP are highly desirable.
• Knowledge and experience with CalAim services and Medi-Cal documentation.
• Experience performing American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) assessments.
• Experience working in a correctional setting or locked facility.
• Experience providing services for incarcerated adult clients having co-occurring issues of basic and/or severe mental illness and substance use disorder.
• Ability to develop treatment and re-entry/discharge plans for an incarcerated adult population.
• Demonstrated ability to provide individual and group therapeutic counseling services for an adult population.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations and providing culturally responsive services.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those encountered on the job.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

SALARY:   Mental Health Counselor I - $6,099.60 - $7,626.67/month Mental Health Counselor II $6,891.73 - $8,616.40/month  

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Perform initial diagnostic evaluation noting behavioral symptoms which may indicate organic and/or mental disorders.
• Confirm or revise initial diagnosis in conference with licensed professional staff.
• Determine and develop appropriate treatment plans for all clients in the caseload.
• Participate in developing individual and group treatment plans utilizing a variety of psychotherapeutic modalities.  
• Make client referrals and plan discharge procedures.
• Establish and utilize knowledge of community resources for clients diagnosed with a serious mental illness.
• Assess progress of clients on a selected basis and propose modifications to rehabilitation plans in order to meet goals agreed upon by the clients/patients.
• Interview patient in order to gather case history data.
• Prepare and maintain psychosocial case histories for use in diagnostic evaluations and evaluations of patient progress.
• Consult frequently with professional team members.
• Provide outreach counseling and refer clients to appropriate mental health program service resources.
• Counsel individuals or groups regarding resources or services available for treatment and to help combat relapses.
• Maintain a system of follow up for previously discharged persons.
• Participate with program staff in individual client and program conferences, in staff development and professional growth activities.
• Plan and present informational services to community target groups and organizations to explain Mental Health programs and services.
• Confer with lay and professional members of the community to identify community mental health counseling needs and develop community counseling plans for staff approval.
• Serve as lead or co-lead in group treatment.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Security Clearance: 
This position requires that the applicant obtain and maintain a security clearance as a condition of employment.

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 I: One year of experience in a community mental health setting, performing crisis intervention or related counseling services or completion of 60 semester units from an accredited college or university with emphasis in one of the behavioral sciences.  
• 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.

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply.  Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). 

Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

 

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.  

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

Final Filing Date:  February 13, 2025, by 11:59 PM PST

Application Screening: Week of February 18, 2025

Combined Civil Service Panel/Departmental Interviews:  March 5 and 6, 2025

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.

Talent Acquisition Contact: Yvonne Alvidrez (013125) (Mental Health Counselor I/II – G119/G118)

Salary : $6,100 - $8,616