Mental Health Worker

ABOUT CASA PACIFICA

For 30 years, Casa Pacifica has been helping at-risk children, their families, and young adults thrive.

As the largest non-profit provider of children’s and adolescent mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, Casa Pacifica specializes in treating children and young adults who struggle with complex mental health challenges such as emotional dysregulation, self-harm, anxiety, and depression. Our multi-disciplinary staff of highly trained clinicians, psychologists, educators, therapists and mental health workers provide exceptional, evidence-based care to help our youth overcome a wide array of mental health challenges.

Casa Pacifica’s Camarillo, Goleta, and Santa Maria offices work with more than 2,000 at-risk children, families, and young adults annually in outpatient, residential, home, and community-based settings. Our main Camarillo campus, located on 25 acres of beautiful park-like grounds, provides a nurturing and therapeutic environment for youth to overcome challenges, to find hope, and to heal.

We are a diverse and inclusive team providing excellent services to all our surrounding communities. Our team members are empowered to share their identities, ideas, and perspectives. A culture built on diversity, equity and inclusivity is essential to creating a safe and healing environment at Casa Pacifica.

ABOUT OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS

• Camino A Casa: this private insurance-based residential treatment program serving youth ages 12-17 overcome a wide range of mental health concerns through individual and group therapy, family therapy, and medication management. Camino a Casa also offers both a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
• Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP): this publicly funded residential program aims to provide a trauma-informed mental health treatment to address mental health symptoms that interfere with youth’s functioning, as well as develop social, emotional, and self-regulatory skills that will increase safe behaviors and enhance emotional stability and resilience.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The hiring range for this position is $19.00 to $23.00 hourly. Starting pay is ultimately determined by the scope of the position, the candidate's relevant experience, and internal equity. Full-time night shift roles are eligible for a night shift pay differential. This position does offer future growth opportunities.

Mental Health Worker is currently hiring Wednesday through Saturday and Sunday through Wednesday.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Communicates critical information about each youth assigned to the treatment team. Communicates daily with members of the treatment team about the youth’s progress.
• Assists in developing daily and weekly goals for the assigned youth.
• Provide behavioral coaching to the youth; individually and in group sessions, to assist in identifying/dealing with difficult feelings, and thoughts that result in maladaptive behaviors as well as teaching appropriate replacement behaviors.
• Ensure effective crisis prevention and intervention through input and promoting awareness of safety plans and de-escalation strategies.
• Communicate changes in or achievement of behavioral goals. Integrate the youth's treatment plan and clinician's recommendations when working with the youth.
• Assures that safety plans are in place and that they are understood by cottage staff.
• Provides required trauma-informed care, supervision, and treatment in accordance with milieu program and individual treatment plans. Facilitates youth in development of social skills, personal competence, individual responsibility, and self-esteem; provides positive reimbursement experiences.
• Participates in individual youth therapy, family meetings and planning conferences.
• Provides transportation as needed
• Engages and participates in group recreation activities and events. Develops and assists in leading group activities, experiential outings, and activities of daily living.
• Attends and participates in cottage/program and general staff training programs; attends out­ side training events and conferences as requested.
• Cares for clothing, shelter, and other basic needs of assigned youth in a manner that contributes to achievement of treatment goals.
• Provide crisis management and intervention and participates in Therapeutic Crises Intervention (TCI)-approved de-escalation of youth, as necessary.
• Maintains confidentiality in all matters within the organization with respect to personnel, operations and clients.
• Plans, organizes and facilitates MHW ran groups and on a variety of topics.
• May perform other duties as assigned from time to time.
• Regularly conducts 15-minute checks to ensure proper safety of youth when working overnight shift and as needed for youth on High Risk “HR” Status.
• Participates in weekly group and/or individual supervision meetings with supervisor.