Mental Health Practitioner

Basic Function

To provide clinical assessment, diagnostic, crisis intervention and treatment services to clients and families; to participate with other mental health care professionals in the development, implementation and evaluation of client treatment plans; to provide training and guidance to other mental health care providers in the psychosocial aspects of client mental health care; and to perform related duties as assigned. (This is the entry-level class in the Mental Health Professional series. It differs from Mental Health Professional in that the work is performed under the supervision of a qualified mental health professional. Work assignments provide the opportunity to refine the knowledges and skills developed through education and prior experience in order to function effectively at the full performance level, and to satisfy the experience requirement to be eligible to become a Licensed Mental Health Professional). This position will be working with our Adult Crisis Stabilization Team.

Examples of Work Performed

• Conduct intake interviews with seriously and persistently mentally ill clients or their families; confer with other mental health professionals in order to assess client needs and to make appropriate referrals.
• As a member of the crisis outreach team, provide crisis intervention, assess dangerousness of client to self or others in a crisis situation, coordinate with police and other community service providers, recommend transportation holds and authorize placement into crisis facilities.
• Provide direct individual, group, couple and family psychotherapy along with other therapeutic techniques in order to provide the most appropriate and effective treatment response for clients, based on diagnosis and treatment plan.
• Develop and conduct short and long term mental health group therapy for specific populations in order to assist clients in coping more successfully with mental health problems and to reduce symptomology.
• Assist in the preparation of court ordered clinical evaluations of families and individuals in order to assist the courts in case disposition. May testify in legal proceedings in the capacity of expert witness if so designated by the court.
• Document case activities by charting care activities, maintaining statistics and corresponding through memorandum and letter to other service providers.
• Comply with state regulations by participating on an interdisciplinary team in order to evaluate the quality of mental health staff performance.
• Provide input into the development of needed services by serving on planning teams or various community groups.

(The work assigned to a position in this classification may not include all possible tasks in this description and does not limit the assignment of any additional tasks in this classification. Regular attendance according to the position’s management approved work schedule is required.)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

SUPERVISOR/MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITY:

None.

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS:

Daily contact with clients during assessment and direct treatment; with psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses and other professionals to assist them and to facilitate treatment and evaluation of clients. Consults with other parties such as domestic relations employees, child protection staff, medical staff, attorneys, other psychotherapists, judges, police, clergy, school personnel, probation officers and residential treatment facilities to assist and facilitate the treatment and evaluation of patients.

IMPACT ON SERVICES/OPERATIONS:

Impacts on the quality of mental health assessment, diagnosis and treatment of clients. Proper performance can improve the general health, well-being and employability of clients; contribute to the reduction and prevention of child abuse, suicide, alcoholism and domestic abuse; ensure that crisis situations are handled quickly and efficiently with minimal disruption to the client; and ensure that clients receive information on all relevant services within the community and that continuity of care is established. Appropriate mental health intervention can reduce the number of inappropriate hospital admissions and resultant cost to the patient or community. Improper performance could jeopardize a patient's life and health if faulty judgment was used in a crisis or general treatment situation; and could result in vulnerability to legal action against the County.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Most work performed in an office environment or an outreach program. Some outreach work performed in clients' homes, in hospitals, or in outside settings. May bend, stoop or crawl up to 50 minutes daily during play therapy sessions. May deal with threatening clients. Depressing conditions, including constant dealings with chronic patients who may be experiencing severe stress and depression.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED AT ENTRY:

• Knowledge of psychotherapeutic techniques used in individual, couple group and family therapy.
• Knowledge of the principles and methodology of social case work and group work as it applies in a mental health setting.
• Knowledge of personality development and human behavior.
• Ability to integrate social, psychological and medical data in order to make professional judgments regarding client treatment plans.
• Ability to participate effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Ability to provide therapy and crisis intervention services on a one-to-one or in a group setting.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients' families, co-workers and community organizations.
• Ability to deal with cross-cultural issues.
• Skill in oral and written communication.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR FULL PERFORMANCE:

• Knowledge of community resources.
• Knowledge of rules and laws related to documentation of social work activities.
• Knowledge of psychiatric terminology and diagnostic classifications.
• Knowledge of confidentiality laws.
• Knowledge of laws affecting reporting and treating of protected populations.
• Knowledge of agency policy and procedure.
• Knowledge of family and criminal court procedures.
• Skill in providing court-ordered evaluations.
• Skill in identifying symptoms of emotional, sexual and physical abuse.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy, Counseling, or other field that qualifies for designation as a Licensed Mental Health Professional under State law.

Experience: None.

Substitution: Bachelor's Degree in a behavioral science or related field and completion of a practicum or internship that requires direct interaction with adults or children served and is focused on behavioral sciences or related fields.

Certifications/Licensure: None.

Exam/Screening Process Information

• Training and Experience Rating = 100%

The examination for Mental Health Practitioner will consist of a training and experience rating, comprised of the questions in the attached supplemental questionnaire. Not all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will pass the training and experience rating. The rating on this supplemental questionnaire will depend on your answers to the questions - do not mark "see resume" or "see work history" do not cut and paste resume as a response. Please answer all your questions clearly and completely. Failure to respond could affect your score and final rank on this examination.

Eligible List: The names of all applicants who filed a properly completed application and passed the examination/screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for an employment opportunity as a Mental Health Practitioner The list will be certified to the appointing authority which may use this list to conduct interviews to fill a vacancy. Candidates will remain on the list for three months or until hired, whichever occurs first. A notice will be sent to applicants at the time the eligible list is posted, informing them that the list has been posted and their rank on the list. The names of all applicants who pass the examination with a score of 35 or higher will be forwarded to the department for further consideration.

Criminal Background Checks: All employment offers are conditioned upon the applicant passing a criminal background check. Convictions are not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered on its individual merits and the type of work sought. However, making false statements or withholding information will cause you to be barred from employment, or removed from employment.

E-Verify Participation: Ramsey County participates in the federal E-Verify program. This means that Ramsey County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ramsey County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I-9.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Ramsey County provides equal access to employment, programs and services without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex (except when sex is a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification), disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, public assistance or national origin.

Ramsey County is deeply committed to advancing racial equity and promoting diversity and inclusion within all areas of its workforce. The county strives being equitable, inclusive, transparent, respectful, and impactful in how we serve and engage with residents, as well as Ramsey County employees. Advancing racial equity ensures all people who need access to opportunities and services we provide, will receive them. Racial equity is achieved when race can no longer be used to predict life outcomes, and outcomes for all are improved.

. You will need to print this posting and answer the supplemental questions associated with this exam and submit them with your completed paper application.

For further information regarding this posting, please contact Corrin.FaggeTt@co.ramsey.mn.us

Ramsey County provides a wide range of employee benefits to support health, well-being, and work/life balance. Benefits eligibility can vary depending on union status/contract language. A summary of benefits is provided below. Detailed information is available for review at https://www.ramseycounty.us/employees/employee-open-enrollment-2025-benefits

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
  • The County contributes a bargained percentage to the medical and dental monthly premium
  • Employees choose from four enrollment tiers: Single, Employee legally married spouse, Employee Child(ren), Family
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical insurance – three plan options including a High Deductible Plan with a Health Saving Account offered. Earn up to $20/month in electronic gift cards for each enrolled employee or spouse for wellness activity
  • MetLife Dental Insurance – two plan options offered
  • VSP Vision Insurance – Advantage Plan offered

• Pre-tax Benefit Program
  • Pre-tax medical, dental, vision monthly premium deduction option
  • Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • County monthly contribution to a Health Savings Account for employees who elect the High Deductible medical plan

• Paid time off
  • Vacation hours, accrued based on years of service, ranging from 12 to 25 days per year (pro-rated for part-time employees)
  • 11 scheduled holidays and two floating holidays
  • Up to eight weeks of 100% paid parental leave, plus additional use of sick time as noted below
  • Sick hours accrued at a rate of three weeks per year, which can be used for medical and dental care; injury or illness for you, your spouse or children; the birth or adoption of a child (up to 80 hours) or the death of a family member (up to 40 hours)
  • Wellness incentive allows conversion of unused sick time to vacation or pay

• Retirement benefits
  • Pension - The county contributes at least 7.5% of your salary to your pension, depending on bargaining unit. Unlike other retirement investments, pension payments are a lifetime benefit once you start collecting payments
  • New employees become vested after three years. For the Police and Fire union, employees are vested after 10 years
  • Deferred compensation - 457(b) account with employer match
  • Health Care Savings Plan - all benefits-eligible employees contribute 1% of gross regular salary to a Health Care Savings Plan account for eligible health care expenses after retirement. Interest accrues tax free. County provides a scheduled contribution after five years of participation

• Transit and parking
  • Fully funded Metropass.
  • Transportation/parking expenses reimbursement account

• Employee well-being
  • Employee assistance program, including telephone counseling, financial counseling, rideshare benefits, etc.
  • Wellness programming
  • Flexible work policy with hybrid work options for eligible positions

• Life Insurance and Disability leave
  • County provided Basic Life coverage - 1x annual salary, minimum $10,000 up to a maximum of $50,000. Optional supplemental coverage available
  • Long-term Disability – County provided coverage replaces 40% of the employee’s lost income after six months of disability, subject to a $5,000 monthly maximum. Option to purchase an additional 20% income replacement up to $7,500 monthly maximum
  • Short-term Disability – option to purchase 60% income replacement coverage with 30, 60 or 90-day waiting period

• Career development
  • Tuition reimbursement, up to $4,000 per year
  • Online professional development opportunities through the Learning & Development Center
  • County employment qualifies as a public service organization for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
  • Employee resource groups – help employees build connections through common bonds with colleagues