ADMHS Practitioner I
Salary: $23.89-$29.17 hourly / $4,156-$5,074 monthly /
Range: 5696
DEFINITION: Under direction, assesses, diagnoses,
counsels, and provides psychotherapeutic treatment, rehabilitation,
and care coordination for seriously emotionally disturbed children
and adolescents, and seriously and persistently mentally ill adults;
and performs related duties as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: This class is the
entry-level class for Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) and
Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT). Incumbents provide
professional mental health services. This class is distinguished
from Mental Health Practitioner II in that the latter is assigned
more complex and/or difficult cases. ADMHS assigns staff in this
classification based on employee licensure and clients’ needs for
services.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
- Interviews potential clients to assess needs for mental health
services or referral elsewhere; counsels or provides
psychotherapeutic and rehabilitation services for individuals,
couples, or members of a family to assist them in achieving
productive social adjustments, reducing the impact of disabling
disorders, and facilitating their achievement of living,
vocational, recreational, and interpersonal goals.
- Documents clinical activity presenting diagnostic and
interview findings, clinical evaluations, and recommendations; as
a member of an interdisciplinary team, reviews diagnosis and
treatment plans of clinic staff; may act as a case manager by
coordinating services for clients to assure continuity of care and
to assure that clients receive appropriate types of service.
- Provides crisis counseling in the field and in the office for
individuals experiencing acute episodes; evaluates patients and
arranges for voluntary or involuntary admission to facilities for
observation and treatment.
- Confers with and advises clients’ relatives to secure their
understanding of and cooperation in treatment and rehabilitation
programs.
- Cooperates and works with other agencies and practitioners
regarding mutual clientele.
- Educates clients and their families regarding their diagnosis,
prognosis, treatment, and rehabilitation process.
- Manages the care of clients by assessing and referring them to
public and private providers and monitoring their progress.
- Assists clients to obtain stable housing, physical health
care, benefits and entitlements, and to learn basic living skills.
- Participates in quality assurance and program evaluation
studies.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS: Possession of a valid license as a
Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT).
Initial appointment may be based on licensure as a Clinical
Social Worker (LCSW), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), or
equivalent in another state; California licensure is required within
2 years of appointment, as a condition of continued employment.
Additional Qualifications: Possession of a valid
California Class C Driver’s License may be required for some
positions.
Working knowledge of: assessment, diagnosis, prognosis,
counseling, and psychotherapeutic treatment of marriage, family, and
child relationship dysfunctions; methods of developing and
implementing a treatment plan; human service delivery system;
current trends in the field of mental health; laws and regulations
applicable to mental health; and basic math.
Ability to: perform effective counseling and psychotherapy
with individuals, families, and groups; develop and maintain
cooperative relationships with clients’ families, members of other
professional disciplines, social service agencies, and co-workers;
relate professionally with persons with serious mental disorders;
identify and utilize community resources; prepare and present clear
and concise oral and written reports. |
