Senior Client Support Specialist - Time-Limited
as a Full-Time Senior Client Support Specialist!
- Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
- An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
- County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
About the Position
This Senior Client Support Specialist will work closely with clerical staff to schedule and facilitate daily Child & Family Team Meetings, where the SCSS will work with various county programs, outside agencies, and families to gather information in order to: develop and/or modify treatment plans that will be submitted to clinical staff for review and approval; provide placement recommendations; and assist in navigating paperwork for placement. This position is considered critical in the County’s Specialty Mental Health system of care, specifically the ability for the division to properly assess the needs of those (primarily Medi-Cal beneficiaries) attempting to access the services offered by, or on behalf of, the Sonoma County Behavioral Health Division.
The main responsibility for this position will be leading four meetings per client, per year. We The Department will need to conduct approximately 1,200 Child & Family Team Meetings per year between three programs. This position will work closely with the Behavioral Health Clinicians assigned to each client to coordinate services, and will work closely with the Health Program Manager for any questions or concerns. The treatment teams collaborate regularly on treatment services in order to best support clients. This position will take on the lead role in facilitating Child and Family Teams. This role does not involve making decisions about treatment, but is responsible for ensuring everyone involved has the opportunity to express themselves in the meeting. This position will require further training in facilitating Child and Family Teams, and this training will be provided to the employee.
This position works Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Some early evening hours may be required. This position does not work weekends or holidays. Work is typically performed in an office setting, or may be performed in other settings in the community such as at schools or in the client’s home.
This time-limited position is currently funded through 2/2/26.
The ideal candidates will possess:
- Experience working with children and families
- Experience working in the mental health field
- Excellent customer service and interpersonal communication skills
- Comfort speaking in groups and facilitating groups
- The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary environment
- Strong communication skills and the ability to interact with a diverse customer base
- The ability to be a team player and work independently
- Empathy, positivity, and patience
- Basic Microsoft Office skills, and the ability to use electronic health records
- Spanish/English bilingual skills are desirable
This recruitment is being conducted to fill one full-time, time-limited position in the Department of Health Services. This employment list may also be used to fill full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Engineers and Scientists of California Union Local 20 Memorandum of Understanding (ESC MOU) and our Employee Benefits directory.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
Possession of a Bachelor Degree with significant coursework in community mental health, psychology, sociology, mental health or other closely related field of study. Experience as a Client Support Specialist, or the equivalent, may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
OR
Four years of paid experience working with adults diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental illness or children diagnosed with serious emotional disturbances that included independent interviewing, client plan development, and interventions in potentially destabilizing situations.
OR
Possession of current licensure in the State of California as a Licensed Psychiatric Technician and 2 years experience working with adults diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental or emotional condition, or with children diagnosed with serious emotional disturbances that included independent interviewing, client plan development, and interventions in potentially destabilizing situations.
Driver’s License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Special Qualifications: Some positions may require the ability to speak and write fluently a language other than English.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Working Knowledge of: Community resources and services available to program clients; principles and techniques of case management and rehabilitative interventions; client legal rights; interviewing techniques, clinical and case management documentation; basic principles of individual and group behavior; principles and techniques of intervention in potentially destabilizing situations; counseling and basic interaction techniques related to the treatment of mentally or emotionally disturbed individuals; techniques and methods for overseeing and directing the daily activities of mentally and emotionally disturbed individuals; and the use of electronic information equipment and specific systems as used within the department.
Ability to: Develop and maintain the trust and cooperation of clients, their families and other significant care providers; interpret and apply County mental health program policies and procedures; analyze a client’s situation accurately and adopt an effective course of action; work with clients to resolve conflicts with other staff, care providers or family members; work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team; understand the legal mandates governing the storage of client records and information and the rights of the client to confidentiality; understand and apply the principles and techniques of case management and rehabilitative interventions with clients; effectively coordinate the delivery of mental health services; conduct basic interviews and counseling sessions and facilitate groups; communicate effectively with persons from a variety of social, cultural and economic backgrounds; evaluate situations and adopt effective course of action to prevent a crisis; identify and mobilize resources to meet client needs; speak and write in a manner necessary to fulfill job requirements; read, interpret, and apply complex regulations and reports.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all your employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application and should be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.