Mental Health Worker - Discharge Planner

The Position

Examples of Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of

• Community resources such as public assistance programs, drug rehabilitation programs, and housing shelters
• Techniques for dealing with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and other specialized applications related to area of assignment
• Basic social and psychological needs, problems, attitudes, and behavior patterns of individuals with acute or persistent mental disorders or co-occurring disorders
• Basic interviewing techniques and psychiatric terminology
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Basic arithmetic skills including percentages and decimals

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients and their families, and with professional, paraprofessional, and support staff in the department, in outside agencies, and with the general public
• Recognize changes in patient's condition or behavior and take action, as indicated in treatment plan
• Work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary mental health treatment team
• Communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing
• Understand and follow written and verbal instructions
• React effectively in crisis situations
• Work effectively in stressful, emotional, and confrontational situations requiring good judgment, self-control, persuading and motivating people
• Document medical records accurately and thoroughly
• Use community resources to assist patients with services such as outpatient treatment options or applying for public assistance programs
• Identify available financial resources and prepare calculations for recommended placement
• Read, write and speak English at a level necessary for satisfactory job performance
• Ability to protect patient privacy, confidentiality, and adhere to security guidelines

Employment Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Either: 1. One year of full time, paid experience in the class of Mental Health Worker in Sacramento County Service.

Or: 2a. Possession of an Associate's Degree, or higher from an accredited college or university in a mental health related field such as Social Work, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology or Counseling; or 60 semester units (90 quarter units), from an accredited college or university, of which 24 semester units (36 quarter units) must have been in Social Work, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology or Counseling.

• Participate in the annual routine air purifying mask fit-testing and training as required by CAL OSHA.
• Participate in annual tuberculosis screening and testing.
• Receive annual mandatory influenza vaccination or wear approved protective mask.

• Restrain and assist in restraining patients.
• Lift a patient with assistance from other staff.

• Work irregular hours, holidays, and weekends.
• Work with persons infected with communicable diseases.
• Work in a locked psychiatric facility around patients with a persistent mental illness.
• Work with patients that exhibit aggressive behaviors.

Application and Testing Information

• Employment applications and all documentation requested in this announcement must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.
• Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.
• Your application should highlight all relevant education, training, and experience, and clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position as of the cut-off date.
• Application information must be current, concise and related to the requirements in this job announcement. You may only apply for this recruitment once. Duplicate and incomplete applications will be disqualified.
• A resume may be included with your application, however it will not substitute for the information requested on the application.

• Supplemental Questionnaires must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date. Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.
• The supplemental questions are designed to elicit specific information regarding a candidate's experience, education, and training. Responses should be consistent with the information on your application and are subject to verification.
• Please provide place of employment, pertinent dates, and concise, descriptive and detailed information for each question.
• If a job included responsibilities applicable to several questions, separate the different functions of the job to answer all the questions completely.
• Resumes or referral to the application or other questionnaire responses will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question.
• If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.
• For many individuals, it is more efficient to develop responses to the supplemental questions in a word processing document and then paste them into the final document to be submitted. Changes or corrections to your Supplemental Questionnaire cannot be made once your application packet has been submitted.
• If the Supplemental Questionnaire is used in the Formula Rate exam, failure to complete all of the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score. While scoring the Supplemental Questionnaire, the candidate's application and/or attachments will not be reviewed, therefore, a candidate's responses to the questions should be accurate, thorough, detailed, and complete.