Mental Health Clinician I Trainee

Job Description:

Mental Health Clinician I Trainee

Description

About the Opportunity

THE POSITION

BHRS is a mental health and substance use disorder services organization. Mental Health Clinician Trainee I/II responsibilities primarily involve providing para-professional counseling services to BHRS members. This includes but is not limited to, providing counseling, conducting clinical assessments, developing care plans, managing clinical cases, and offering rehabilitative services. Mental Health Clinician Trainee’s can be assigned, based on departmental needs, to one of the various BHRS programs. This job classification is part-time, and employees are considered extra-help. The schedule of these positions are dependent on the semester the internship takes place. For fall internships: scheduled Tuesdays and Thursdays, 16 hours of paid work per week. For Summer internships: up to 40 hours of paid work per week.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Application Deadline: August 5th, 2026
Oral Examination: August 12th, 2026

Selection Interview: August 14th, 2026

To learn more about Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, visit Behavioral Health and Recovery Services - Stanislaus County.

PROGRAMS WITHIN BHRS

Adult System of Care (ASOC)

• Service Teams are utilized to provide comprehensive outpatient services to adults with a serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder.
  

Children’s System of Care (CSOC)

• Services for children and youth are provided in various programs that work with children, youth and young adults age 0 to 21 years.
  

The CARE Program

• CARE is a multidisciplinary team of mental health, criminal justice, and other service providers who facilitate, provide, and share responsibilities of assessment coordination and treatment services to appropriately meet the complex mental, physical, and social needs of the targeted population. The target population includes individuals that may have severe and persistent mental illness, exhibit high-risk health and safety behaviors, engage in vagrancy-related criminal behavior, and experience severe SUDs; and for a variety of reasons, they are not accessing or accepting services. BHRS mental health services providers are embedded on the team to support clients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and facilitate direct access to treatment services. The CARE team includes Modesto Police, Probation, Community Services Agency, Telecare, and Public Health. The overarching goal is to see an increase in the target population transition from saying “no” to help to saying “yes” to help.
  

Substance Use Disorders (SUD)

• The Mental Health Clinician will be assigned to treatment programs and Residential Unit, which is designed to serve adults and older adults who suffer from a Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders.
  

Crisis Response Team (CRT)

• The Crisis Response Team (CRT) is a 24-hour, seven day a week program. CRT provides emergency behavioral health assessment and referral services for emergent and pre-emergent behavioral health situations in collaboration with families, consumers, law enforcement and emergency room personnel. CRT also embeds trained crisis behavioral health staff from Stanislaus County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services to ride along with Modesto Police Department (MPD) patrol officers and Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office (SO) patrol deputies from 1400 to 2200 hours Monday through Friday.
  

Adult Assessment Team (AAT)

• The Adult Assessment teams provides mental health assessments to children and adult members. The MAT Mental Health Clinician will perform initial assessments to individuals referred for or seeking mental health services.
  

Collaborative Court

• The Collaborative Court Team is a program with that was created to ensure improved coordinated entry into Behavioral Health care for Stanislaus County residents who are involved in the legal system.
  

Questions? We're Here to Help!

If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, the recruitment process, or need assistance with your application, please contact the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Recruitment Team at (209) 525-6112 or [email protected] .

Typical Tasks

• Meet with individuals and groups to assist them in identifying strengths and barriers and developing realistic plans to address them;
• Advise members on available community resources;
• Act in a liaison and advocate capacity between the client, people or agencies involved;
• Make referrals and other arrangements assigned;
• Secure the cooperation of relatives in treatment programs;
• Participate in training programs conducted for the benefit of the community;
• Act as a consultant for other community agencies;
• Prepare and present cases for review by other staff;
• Prepare and maintain complex treatment and progress reports on assigned cases;
• Participate in matters relating to diagnosis, treatment, discharge and follow-up planning;
• Work collaboratively with a wide range of disciplines in treatment planning; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education/Experience)

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS/ ABILITIES

• Principles, techniques and trends in counseling, psychotherapy, clinical case management, and various treatment modalities;
• Biological, behavioral and environmental aspects of emotional disturbances, mental disability, and substance abuse;
• Culturally proficient practices with diverse case load;
• Scope and activities of the public and private health and welfare agencies and other available resources;
• Principles and techniques of mental health education, prevention, and crisis intervention within the community. Perform psychiatric social work and psychotherapy of a complex nature with clients and groups;
• Prepare clear, concise case work records and make recommendations on the basis of such information; organize and manage a caseload; and work with a bureaucratic system;
• Retain personal objectivity while dealing with the problems of others;
• Perform the therapist's role in a manner consistent with professional standards and ethics;
• Determine functional impairments of clients and prioritize their needs;
• Decide appropriate treatment focus and methods without clinical supervision; Work with a team to integrate various clinical approaches into a treatment program; and
• Anticipate a potential crisis, manage and be able to apply appropriate clinical intervention when necessary.

We recognize your time is valuable, please only apply if you meet the following required qualifications.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

ABOUT THE TRAINEE DESIGNATION
Mental Health Clinician Trainees learn to perform the tasks of a Mental Health Clinician. This provides an opportunity to gain the experience needed to be considered for a Mental Health Clinician I Promotion.

• Trainees are part of the unclassified service of the County;
• All trainees will be appointed to the first step of the salary range for the appropriate position, and will be compensated 15% below the range established for the Mental Health Clinician I classification;
• Appointments under the 'Trainee' provision will be up to 12 months, or 24 months in cases where minimum qualifications are involved. For successful performance and meeting the minimum qualifications, the Trainee may be considered for regular appointment.; and
• Upon completion of the training period and the acquisition of minimum qualifications, the individual may be upgraded to a probationary appointment at step 1 of the Mental Health I Clinician salary range. (An approximate 15% increase in salary).

EDUCATION FOR ALL LEVELS

We recognize your time is valuable, please only apply if you meet the following required qualifications. Candidates who apply will be hired at the Trainee level.


MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN I TRAINEE

• The person applying for the 'Trainee position' is not required to meet the minimum qualifications but must be within two (2) years of acquiring the education and experience required for Mental Health Clinician I.

MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN I

PATTERN I

• Graduation from an accredited two (2) year Graduate School of Social Work with the receipt of a master’s degree of Social Work which can lead to licensure as a Clinical Social Worker.

PATTERN II

• Graduation from an accredited graduate program with receipt of a master’s degree which can lead to a License as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT); AND
• Meet qualifications to participate in a Short-Doyle program; AND
• Eligible to be licensed as either a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or a Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California. The Mental Health Clinician I classification is a Veterans' Preference Program eligible job classification.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

In addition to the minimum qualifications, applicant screening will focus on the following desirable qualifications. Please list any of these qualifications you may have within the "Duties" section of the online application.

• Currently enrolled in a Master of Social Work program with CSU Stanislaus for the Fall 2026 semester that can lead to licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of California.

This is a Veterans’ Preference Program eligible job classification. For more information, please click here .

Proof of education and certification is required for verification purposes at the time of application. Applicants who are unable to submit proof of education must call (209) 525-7339 to make other arrangements. Failure to submit proof of or make other arrangements before the final filing date will result in disqualification.

Application and Selection Procedures

APPLICATION PROCEDURES/FINAL FILING DATE

Applications cannot be submitted later than 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date. Make your online application as complete as possible so a full and realistic appraisal may be made of your qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Attaching your resume and cover letter are an optional feature for those who wish to do so in addition to completing the required application. Information on your resume and cover letter will not substitute for the education, work experience and required fields on the County application. The online County application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications.

EXAMINATION PROCESS
Most County recruitments consists of the steps detailed below and are governed by Merit Principles. The examination process ensures that all applicants are given the same opportunity to gain employment within Stanislaus County.

• Application Review and Screening. Applications are carefully screened based on information provided. Those who submit incomplete applications that lack relevant qualifications or do not submit all required documents will not be invited to move on.
• Written Examination. Applicants will be invited to participate in a written exam that tests knowledge for the position.
• Oral Examination. Applicants are invited to a panel interview in which they will be evaluated by County subject matter experts.
• Eligible Lists. Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification. Eligible lists are effective for six months but may be extended up to eighteen months.

GENERAL INFORMATION

CLASSIFICATION INFORMATION

The Job Task Analysis provides information detailing the physical and functional demands of the classification. For the complete job task analysis, visit the Risk Management website at http://www.stancounty.com/riskmgmt/ under the "Disability" tab.

Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, part-time and full-time vacancies throughout Stanislaus County.

Part-time extra-help is a provisional classification where permanent status may not be obtained. This position is subject to overtime, standby, shift, and callback assignments and will perform related duties as assigned. This position is non-benefited except for participation in a 401a program with Nationwide.

RECRUITMENT ACCOMMODATIONS

Arrangements may be made to accommodate disabilities and religious convictions. Applicants requiring testing accommodations are required to complete and submit the Testing Accommodations Request Form prior to the test administration date. Special arrangements for religious convictions should be included in the "Additional Information" section of the application form.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Pass County-paid pre-employment job-related background investigation.
• Perform job duties in a manner assuring a safe working environment for oneself and others.
• Maintain confidential information according to the legal standards and/or County regulations as required.
• Some positions may be required to possess and maintain a valid California Driver’s License and meet County insurability requirements.

APPLICATION AND/OR EXAMINATION APPEAL RIGHTS

Application and/or examination results may be appealed by applicants presenting facts alleging irregularity, fraud and/or error in application screening or in exam scoring. Appeals must be in writing and submitted to the Chief Executive Officer within seven (7) days after the examination results are emailed.

DISCLAIMER

Stanislaus County reserves the right to revise the examination plan described in this flyer to better meet the needs of County service. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice. The information contained in the bulletin is information which sets forth a general summary of benefits for this respective position. This information is not legally binding. The benefits and other information regarding this position may be found in the Stanislaus County Code, the Stanislaus County Personnel Policies manual, or in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding(s), and such information prevails over information contained in this flyer. Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office/Human Relations.

Benefits associated with this position can be found at Benefits Summary.

Closing Date/Time: 8/5/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$40.71 - $49.49 Hourly