Mental Health Therapist 2 (Underfill) - Adult Outpatient

This recruitment has been reopened for additional applicants and will remain open until filled. If you have already applied for recruitment #554-2025-21, you do not need to reapply. New applicants are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible as this recruitment may close at any time without further notice.

Looking for a role that offers variety in your day and the chance to make a meaningful impact? Marion County Health and Human Services is seeking a passionate and skilled Mental Health Specialist to serve in a dynamic position spanning two impactful programs: the Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) and Enhanced Care Services (ECS). This unique role offers the best of both worlds-diversity, depth, and the opportunity to support individuals with complex needs in meaningful ways.

On the PSRB team, you'll work with adults experiencing serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders who are under legal jurisdiction. In the ECS program, you'll provide behavioral health services to individuals in a skilled nursing facility living with mental health and neurocognitive disorders, helping them reach recovery goals and transition to less acute settings. You'll collaborate with two experienced and supportive teams, building strong relationships and contributing your expertise in environments that value coordination, creativity, and clinical excellence.

The ideal candidate is compassionate, clinically skilled, an excellent communicator, and committed to person-centered care. Apply today and make a real difference in the lives of others!

We offer the following recruitment bonus, prorated based on FTE:

• $2,000 bonus for employees new to Marion County starting on January 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Bonus will be included in employee's first paycheck.

For those relocating from outside of Oregon, we provide the following relocation package:

• Up to $3,000 reimbursement of moving expenses
• Relocation bonus in the amount of $3,000 (prorated based on FTE) as a one-time payment upon proof of Oregon residency.

Wages:

Mental Health Therapist 1: $28.67 - $38.42 hr

Mental Health Therapist 2: $34.78 - $46.60 hr

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

Mental Health Therapist 2:

Provide assessments and treatment of individuals and families, including groups; provides crisis assessment and intervention services and related duties as required. Primary responsibility of this class is to provide assessment and treatment services; crisis intervention, and treatment services, including intensive services, to individuals and their families with complex needs and diagnoses and/or to develop and implement specific services in the community.

Mental Health Therapist 1:

Plans and carries out recreational, social and skills training activities; performs case management and counseling functions with Adults in Custody (AIC); facilitates counseling and/or skills training groups; performs related duties as required. Primary responsibility of this class is case management and counseling, without responsibility for developing and implementing specific programs in the community.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Mental Health Therapist 2 and 1:

Works under the supervision of a supervisor who assigns work, establishes goals, and reviews the results obtained for overall effectiveness.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Mental Health Therapist 2 and 1:

Supervision of others is not a responsibility of positions in this classification. Crisis Clinician 2 may act as Clinical Supervisor designee when needed. May assist in the supervision of practicum students and/or volunteers.Provide behavioral health services to individuals with serious and persistent mental health conditions for the Enhanced Care Services (ECS) and Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) teams. Services are delivered according to County standards and OARs. Duties include:

PSRB Supervision & Monitoring

• Conduct community risk assessments to determine individuals' risk, eligibility, and appropriateness for services; develop conditional release plans to mitigate risk for individuals in the Oregon State Hospital, jail, etc.
• Prepare risk assessments and other documentation necessary for community release and placement.
• Provide PSRB supervision and monitoring, per the PSRB's policies and procedures, to ensure individuals are in compliance with conditional release orders & are safety managed in the community.
• Conduct home visits and have regular in person case monitor meetings as indicated by individuals' community release agreements and as clinically necessary in order to assess for warning signs, symptom increased, and other signs of psychiatric decompensation.
• Assess risk and create and implement safety plans to mitigate risk.
• Provide timely communication to the PSRB regarding changes to individuals' psychiatric status, medications, living environment, adherence to medication regimen, etc., and provide immediate communication to the PSRB regarding serious incidents.
• Prepare and submit monthly progress reports to the PSRB.
• Complete and submit other PSRB related paperwork, as necessary.
• Testify at PSRB hearings.

Enhanced Care Services (ECS)

• Review referrals and screen for program acceptance, in collaboration with OHA/DHS, nursing staff at Mt. Angel Health and Rehabilitation, and ECS treatment team.
• Coordinate daily functioning and activity programs for residents, including outings, with QMHAs and Mt. Angel staff.
• Facilitate and participate in meetings, such as the daily huddle; weekly interdisciplinary team (IDT) meetings to review treatment progress of residents, ensuring each individual is reviewed a minimum of monthly; Learning Circles; focus meetings, etc.
• Complete Transition Tool quarterly for each resident.
• Submit monthly census report to OHA/DHS.

Therapy

• Provide individual and group therapy to individuals using a variety of evidence-based practices as clinically indicated, which may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), Collaborative Problem-Solving (CPI), and Motivational Interviewing.
• Works independently to provide crisis assessment and specific intervention services, including development of safety/crisis plans and suicide and self-harm risk assessments.

Case Management & Consultation

• Coordinate admission to Mt. Angel Health & Rehabilitation and discharge from the facility.
• Determine individual service needs and appropriateness of services.
• Provide case management, including community-based services, making referrals, and coordinating with other agencies to obtain services and resources, benefits, and entitlements.
• Maintain communication and positive and collaborative relationships with community partners, including the PSRB, I/DD Services, PTCN, Mt. Angel Health & Rehabilitation, OHA/DHS, licensed care providers, and other entities that provide services to individuals served by this team.
• Provide individual case specific consultation to family members, guardians, providers, and community partners, which may include recommendations for risk reduction, placements, services, etc.

Mental Health Assessments & Treatment Planning

• Provide intake and annual comprehensive mental health assessments, including assessing mental health and/or behavioral symptoms using a variety of standard assessment tools, individual functional skills, determining treatment needs, developing individualized treatment plans, developing crisis prevention plans, and directing provision of treatment services.
• Create behavioral support plans for individuals served by ECS program.
• Conduct Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) for individuals placed at Mt. Angel Health & Rehabilitation and other nursing facilities in Marion County.

Documentation

• Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with Federal, State, County, and treatment program requirements under the direction of the clinical supervisor.
• Meet performance expectations for time and billing standards.

Miscellaneous

• Participate fully as a member of the Marion County PSRB and ECS teams as a supportive, reliable, positive, collaborative, and professional team member during the development of individual treatment planning, clinical team meetings, and client crisis intervention.
• Work with a team of clinicians and supervisor for clinical supervision, treatment planning, staff and departmental and team meetings, and trainings.
• May serve as a team leader.
• May represent the agency on internal or external committees as requested by the supervisor.
• May provide mental health and/or substance use disorders education and training to other staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

NOTE: A Mental Health Specialist 2 may have a higher caseload and/or more complex cases than a Mental Health Specialist 1.

Response Level 2: In the event of an emergency, employee makes a reasonable effort to report to work. Employee may be required to perform duties outside of their regularly assigned duties. Employee may be requested to work an extended or flexible schedule. Staff at this response level must complete Incident Command System 100 and 700 on-line or in-person training.EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

• Possession of a Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Recreational Therapy, Music Therapy, Art Therapy or a behavioral science field, or possession of a bachelor's degree in Nursing and licensed by the State of Oregon, or possession of a bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy and licensed by the State of Oregon; OR second year graduate students waivered as QMHP's by the Oregon Health Authority.
• Mental Health Therapist 2 Only: In addition to the educational requirements above, the Mental Health Therapist 2 must have at least one year of full-time, post-Master's degree experience in the behavioral health field.

PREFERENCES

Preference will be awarded to candidates who are LCSW, CSWA or eligible for LCSW. Qualified candidates will be eligible for licensure supervision if hired.

AUTO-PROMOTE AND SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF CLASSIFICATION

Individuals hired as a Mental Health Specialist 1 will auto-promote, as noted in Article 4 in the Marion County personnel rules, to the classification of Mental Health Specialist 2 upon satisfactorily completing one-year, post master's degree, of service as a Mental Health Specialist 1. (One-year of work experience is equal to 2080 hours)

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be either 1) licensed by the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, 2) licensed by the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers or 3) credentialed or registered through the Mental Health and Addiction Counseling Board of Oregon (MHACBO) as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) within the first 30 days of employment. Applicants may be required to pass a practical knowledge and skills assessment as part of the interview process.
• This position may be subject to the following: Must not be excluded from participation in the federal health care programs (Medicaid, Medicare and other federally funded programs that provide health benefits); AND must not be excluded from participating in federal procurement (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and non-procurement activities (Executive Order No. 12549).
• Must possess a current driver's license in the applicant's state of residence and an acceptable driving history. Marion County will obtain a copy of the driving record for all qualified applicants from Driver and Motor Vehicle Services and review the driving record according to the Marion County policy and procedure for Driving on County Business. The policy can be found at: .
• The finalist for this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check; however, conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual for this position.
• This is a safety sensitive/special needs position. Final candidates selected for this position will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen, including testing for marijuana. The Marion County Drug and Alcohol Use and Testing Policy can be found at: .
• This assignment is represented by a union.
• This is a full-time position, which is eligible for overtime.
• Typical Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with flexibility depending upon the needs of the department and program.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Working knowledge of community mental health concepts and/or chemical dependency case management and treatment services; individual assessment, treatment planning and treatment protocols; mental health disorders and diagnostic classifications.

Ability to establish positive working relationships with other employees, individuals and their families, other agencies, and the public; prepare concise and complete clinical documentation related to individual treatment and progress in services in a timely and professional manner; work within a team and collaborate with team members; knowledge of and ability to act professionally with regard to a code of ethics and confidentiality.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Operates a motor vehicle; sees using depth perception; sits; stands; moves about the work area; climbs 1 floor of stairs; operates a keyboard; lifts, pushes, pulls, and carries up to 15 lbs.; speaks with a clear and audible voice; reads a 12 pt. font; hears a normal speech level; works in areas that may be exposed to heat, cold, humidity, dust, second-hand smoke, noise, or household cleaning chemicals such as bleach or cleansers; may work in areas that are uneven or wet.

We offer tuition assistance for employees interested in professional development towards a profession in behavioral health.

• Up to $20,000 to reimburse for tuition, licensure and/or other educational expenditures. According to the Marion County Administrative policies regarding tuition payments. The policy can be found at: Marion County Tuition Payment Policy 303(Download PDF reader)