PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER II
Apply NowCompany: County of Los Angeles, CA
Location: Los Angeles, CA 90011
Description:
Salary : $87,954.72 - $112,272.00 Annually
Location : Los Angeles County, CA
Job Type: Full time
Job Number: b9035G
Department: MENTAL HEALTH
Opening Date: 06/04/2015
Position/Program Information
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS A REPOSTING TO ADD SPECIAL INFORMATION
DEFINITION:
Performs a wide variety of professional social work services in connection with the treatment of clients in need of mental health services.
CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this journey-levelclass are assigned to community mental health facilities, psychiatric hospital wards, outpatientmental health clinics, and specialized mental health treatment programs and work under the generalsupervision of a higher level psychiatric social worker position, supervisory mental health position, or a psychiatrist. Within agency guidelines and professional standards, incumbents function independently to formulate differential diagnoses concerning the nature of the mental illness, in order to develop an effective intervention and to determine the appropriate psychotherapeutic methods to be utilized. Positions at this level are characterized primarily by assignments thatrequire that the incumbents be able to consistently and effectively apply a wide variety of psychotherapeutictechniques and methods in the treatment of clients witha wide range of mental illnesses. Such psychotherapeutic methods include group, family, individual and conjoint therapy, clinical case management, and crisis intervention. Positions allocable to this class also provide mental health consultation services to other health disciplines and to community agencies, and participate in social work student affiliate programs for training professional social work students. Duties and responsibilities of this position require the application of professional skills and possession of extensive knowledge pertaining to the principles, practices, and theory of psychiatric social work. Training-related duties and responsibilities require the application of basic leadership and training principles to provide program direction for both graduate students and unlicensed clinical staff.
Essential Job Functions
Interviews individuals, their familiesand/or significant others to obtain a family, social, employment, medical, substance abuse and mental health treatment history.
Assesses client'sfunctioning in his/her environmental setting.
Develops a Client Care Coordination Plan (CCCP) designed to resolve or cope with the mental or emotional problem, which may include individual, group, family or marital counseling, case management, and/or referral to another treatment source such as a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a vocational or rehabilitation counselor, or another agency.
Determines the duration of therapy, priorities of the problems to be dealt with, therapy methods to be used, and necessity of modifying treatment goals at successive intervals during the treatment process.
Provides psychotherapy to individuals, groups, families, and significant others.
Provides case management services to secure resources for clients, families and significant others to achieve treatment goals.
Assists clients, families, and significant others by discussing their reactions and attitudes concerning mental health problems and co-occurring substance abuse disorders; explains need for treatment; and encourages all concerned parties to work together cooperatively to resolve the problem and minimize the stresses that impact social functioning.
Works with families and significant others toward gaining their acceptance of and participation in treatment recommendations.
Interviews persons seeking psychiatric assistance on an emergency basis and utilizes crisis intervention techniques to prevent hospitalization and to aid the person in dealing with the emotional crisis.
Serves as a member of a mental health emergency intervention team and/or a joint law enforcement/mental health emergency intervention team by evaluatingthe behavior of persons to determine if they are, as a result of a mental disorder, dangerous to themselves, others, or gravely disabled.
Initiates procedure on application for immediate 72-hour detention at a hospital facilityand, depending upon the apparent seriousness of the situation,schedules an appointment for evaluation and treatment at a Mental Health Clinic or makes referral to another community treatment agency.
Participates in multi-disciplinary team conferences to discuss and evaluate the nature of the client's problem and to evaluate the client's progress.
Participates in social work student affiliate programs for training professional social work students through case assignments and technical instruction; assesses and evaluates students' progress and professional development.
Providesin-service training to social work staff and participates in mental health training programs for medical students and students in the allied health fields.
Instructscommunity agencies regardingthe utilization of mental health principles to identify and to treat mental health problems encountered by the agency.
Participates in or conducts research to increase knowledge of mental health problems and to improve therapeutic treatment methods.
May review 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.
Requirements
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
LICENSE:
A valid and active license as a LicensedClinical Social Worker issued by the 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.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Post-licensed experience in individual, group, or family psychotherapy.
PHYSICAL CLASS:
2 - Light.
Additional Information
TRANSCRIPTS: In order to receive credit for any college coursework, or any type of college degree, such as a master 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.
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).
SPECIAL INFORMATION:
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.
Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, holidays or weekends.
Past and present mental health clients and family members are encouraged to apply.
EXAMINATION INFORMATION: This examination will consist of an evaluation of training, experience and desirable qualifications based upon application information weighted 100%. Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher in order to be placed in the eligible register.
VACANCY INFORMATION: The resulting eligible register for this examination will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Mental Health.
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The names of candidates receiving a passing grade on the examination will be added to the eligible register and will appear in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of eligibility.
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.
You MUST complete the filing process ONLINE (via electronic submission) ONLY.
Instructions for Filing: A standard County of Los Angeles Employment Application for this examination must be completed online and submitted electronically. Applications electronically received after 5:00 pm, PST on the last day of filing will not be accepted.
APPLICANTS MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THEIR JOB APPLICATIONS AND UPLOAD REQUIRED OR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS (e.g.,diploma/official transcripts, license) AS ATTACHMENT(S) AT THE TIME OF FILING.
Additional documents may be sent by emailed to , 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.
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: Heleodora "Lola" Sacks
Department Contact Phone: (213) 972-7034
Department Contact Email: exams@dmh.lacounty.gov
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922
Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
Employment Information
Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.
This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Statement:
The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit:
Testing Accommodations for Applicants:
The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit:
Fair Chance:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).
Employment Eligibility:
Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.
Career PathFinder:
Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at
Revised January 2025
For detailed information, please click
01
Do you have a valid and active license as Clinical Social Worker issued by California Board of Behavioral Sciences?
02
If yes, please indicate your license number and original issuance date. If none, please indicate N/A.
03
I understand that I must submit verification of valid and active Licensure as a Clinical Social Worker issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences with my online application, or within 15 days of my application directly to the Department of Mental Health, Human Resource Bureau, Examinations and Recruitment Unit.
04
Are you willing to work in the Palmdale/Lancaster area of Los Angeles County?
05
Are you willing to work in the North County i.e. Sylmar/Santa Clarita area?
06
Would you be interested in accepting a temporary assignment as an "F" item?
07
Are you proficient in American Sign Language (ASL)?
08
Do you have American Sign Language (ASL) certification?Please attach a legible copy of your certificate to your application at the time of filing. If you are unable to attach your certificate, please email your certificate to exams@dmh.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days from application submission.
09
Do you have a County American Sign Language Certification?Please attach a legible copy of your certificate to your application at the time of filing. If you are unable to attach your certificate, please email your certificate to exams@dmh.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days from application.
Required Question
Location : Los Angeles County, CA
Job Type: Full time
Job Number: b9035G
Department: MENTAL HEALTH
Opening Date: 06/04/2015
Position/Program Information
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS A REPOSTING TO ADD SPECIAL INFORMATION
DEFINITION:
Performs a wide variety of professional social work services in connection with the treatment of clients in need of mental health services.
CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this journey-levelclass are assigned to community mental health facilities, psychiatric hospital wards, outpatientmental health clinics, and specialized mental health treatment programs and work under the generalsupervision of a higher level psychiatric social worker position, supervisory mental health position, or a psychiatrist. Within agency guidelines and professional standards, incumbents function independently to formulate differential diagnoses concerning the nature of the mental illness, in order to develop an effective intervention and to determine the appropriate psychotherapeutic methods to be utilized. Positions at this level are characterized primarily by assignments thatrequire that the incumbents be able to consistently and effectively apply a wide variety of psychotherapeutictechniques and methods in the treatment of clients witha wide range of mental illnesses. Such psychotherapeutic methods include group, family, individual and conjoint therapy, clinical case management, and crisis intervention. Positions allocable to this class also provide mental health consultation services to other health disciplines and to community agencies, and participate in social work student affiliate programs for training professional social work students. Duties and responsibilities of this position require the application of professional skills and possession of extensive knowledge pertaining to the principles, practices, and theory of psychiatric social work. Training-related duties and responsibilities require the application of basic leadership and training principles to provide program direction for both graduate students and unlicensed clinical staff.
Essential Job Functions
Interviews individuals, their familiesand/or significant others to obtain a family, social, employment, medical, substance abuse and mental health treatment history.
Assesses client'sfunctioning in his/her environmental setting.
Develops a Client Care Coordination Plan (CCCP) designed to resolve or cope with the mental or emotional problem, which may include individual, group, family or marital counseling, case management, and/or referral to another treatment source such as a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a vocational or rehabilitation counselor, or another agency.
Determines the duration of therapy, priorities of the problems to be dealt with, therapy methods to be used, and necessity of modifying treatment goals at successive intervals during the treatment process.
Provides psychotherapy to individuals, groups, families, and significant others.
Provides case management services to secure resources for clients, families and significant others to achieve treatment goals.
Assists clients, families, and significant others by discussing their reactions and attitudes concerning mental health problems and co-occurring substance abuse disorders; explains need for treatment; and encourages all concerned parties to work together cooperatively to resolve the problem and minimize the stresses that impact social functioning.
Works with families and significant others toward gaining their acceptance of and participation in treatment recommendations.
Interviews persons seeking psychiatric assistance on an emergency basis and utilizes crisis intervention techniques to prevent hospitalization and to aid the person in dealing with the emotional crisis.
Serves as a member of a mental health emergency intervention team and/or a joint law enforcement/mental health emergency intervention team by evaluatingthe behavior of persons to determine if they are, as a result of a mental disorder, dangerous to themselves, others, or gravely disabled.
Initiates procedure on application for immediate 72-hour detention at a hospital facilityand, depending upon the apparent seriousness of the situation,schedules an appointment for evaluation and treatment at a Mental Health Clinic or makes referral to another community treatment agency.
Participates in multi-disciplinary team conferences to discuss and evaluate the nature of the client's problem and to evaluate the client's progress.
Participates in social work student affiliate programs for training professional social work students through case assignments and technical instruction; assesses and evaluates students' progress and professional development.
Providesin-service training to social work staff and participates in mental health training programs for medical students and students in the allied health fields.
Instructscommunity agencies regardingthe utilization of mental health principles to identify and to treat mental health problems encountered by the agency.
Participates in or conducts research to increase knowledge of mental health problems and to improve therapeutic treatment methods.
May review 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.
Requirements
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
LICENSE:
A valid and active license as a LicensedClinical Social Worker issued by the 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.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Post-licensed experience in individual, group, or family psychotherapy.
PHYSICAL CLASS:
2 - Light.
Additional Information
TRANSCRIPTS: In order to receive credit for any college coursework, or any type of college degree, such as a master 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.
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).
SPECIAL INFORMATION:
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.
Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, holidays or weekends.
Past and present mental health clients and family members are encouraged to apply.
EXAMINATION INFORMATION: This examination will consist of an evaluation of training, experience and desirable qualifications based upon application information weighted 100%. Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher in order to be placed in the eligible register.
VACANCY INFORMATION: The resulting eligible register for this examination will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Mental Health.
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: The names of candidates receiving a passing grade on the examination will be added to the eligible register and will appear in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of eligibility.
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.
You MUST complete the filing process ONLINE (via electronic submission) ONLY.
Instructions for Filing: A standard County of Los Angeles Employment Application for this examination must be completed online and submitted electronically. Applications electronically received after 5:00 pm, PST on the last day of filing will not be accepted.
APPLICANTS MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THEIR JOB APPLICATIONS AND UPLOAD REQUIRED OR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS (e.g.,diploma/official transcripts, license) AS ATTACHMENT(S) AT THE TIME OF FILING.
Additional documents may be sent by emailed to , 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.
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: Heleodora "Lola" Sacks
Department Contact Phone: (213) 972-7034
Department Contact Email: exams@dmh.lacounty.gov
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922
Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
Employment Information
Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.
This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Statement:
The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit:
Testing Accommodations for Applicants:
The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit:
Fair Chance:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).
Employment Eligibility:
Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.
Career PathFinder:
Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at
Revised January 2025
For detailed information, please click
01
Do you have a valid and active license as Clinical Social Worker issued by California Board of Behavioral Sciences?
- Yes
- No
02
If yes, please indicate your license number and original issuance date. If none, please indicate N/A.
03
I understand that I must submit verification of valid and active Licensure as a Clinical Social Worker issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences with my online application, or within 15 days of my application directly to the Department of Mental Health, Human Resource Bureau, Examinations and Recruitment Unit.
- Yes
- No
04
Are you willing to work in the Palmdale/Lancaster area of Los Angeles County?
- Yes
- No
05
Are you willing to work in the North County i.e. Sylmar/Santa Clarita area?
- Yes
- No
06
Would you be interested in accepting a temporary assignment as an "F" item?
- Yes
- No
07
Are you proficient in American Sign Language (ASL)?
- YES
- NO
08
Do you have American Sign Language (ASL) certification?Please attach a legible copy of your certificate to your application at the time of filing. If you are unable to attach your certificate, please email your certificate to exams@dmh.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days from application submission.
- Yes, I have attached ASL certification to my online application.
- Yes, I will email ASL certification to exams@dmh.lacounty.gov within (7) calendar days.
- No, I do not have ASL certification.
09
Do you have a County American Sign Language Certification?Please attach a legible copy of your certificate to your application at the time of filing. If you are unable to attach your certificate, please email your certificate to exams@dmh.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days from application.
- Yes, I have attached a County American Sign Language Certification to my online application.
- Yes, I will email a County American Sign Language Certification to exams@dmh.lacounty.gov within (7) calendar days.
- No, I do not have a County American Sign Language Certification.
Required Question