Entry Level Rape Crisis Counselor Jobs in California

** Work Schedule is Tuesday – Saturday 11:00pm – 7:00am. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Bi-Lingual Pay - One hundred twenty-five dollars per paycheck for threshold languages to serve our monolingual clients **

Pay rates for Union positions are set in the Collective Bargaining Agreement with SEIU Local 521. Each position has a total of six steps, Step 1 (entry level) through Step 6 (15 years of employment with the organization). Union staff are promoted from Step 1 to Step 2 upon their one-year anniversary. The current Step 1 rate for this position is $35.49/hr, and the current Step 6 rate for this position is $39.19/hr.

** In addition to our competitive salaries, we pay a shift differential for certain shifts in our 24-hour programs as follows: (Only 1 differential -whichever is highest will apply at a time).
• 6.25% additional pay for overnight (NOC) shift from 11 pm to 7 am
• 4.75% additional pay for evening shift from 5:30 pm to 10:59 pm
• 4.75% additional pay for weekend shifts from 12:01 am on Saturday thru 11:59pm on Sunday

We offer a competitive package of employee benefits for 30 to 40-hour week positions. You will receive a defined contribution amount of up to $15,433.08 per year (prorated for part-time employees working less than 40 hours per week) to purchase the benefits of your choice on a cafeteria plan basis. Any amount of this defined contribution not used towards your benefits will be paid to you as taxable earnings. We offer a retirement plan with a generous employer match starting at 4% after one year of employment.  Our paid time off is also more generous than many employers with vacation time accruing up to 25 days per year, 6 days of sick time per year and 12 paid holidays.

The benefits offered in our cafeteria plan are as follows: 

• Medical benefits –Kaiser--ranging from $0 Deductible Plan with $15 Copay to $,3400 Deductible Plan with Health Savings Account. Sutter Health plans are also available from $0 Deductible Plan to $2,500 Deductible Plan.
• Dental benefits –Guardian: 1 dental HMO and 2 PPOs
• Vision benefits – 2 options from Guardian VSP: a standard vision plan and an enhanced vision plan

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide integrated, recovery-oriented, rehabilitation and case management services to individuals in psychiatric crisis in a community based, residential setting.*
   1. Implement individual service and treatment plans.
   2. Facilitate psychiatric (“psych”) consultations and group sessions by attending psych meetings and taking notes and by scheduling clients for psychiatric consultations.
   3. Provide medical follow-up assistance to clients in obtaining a primary care physician, coordinating care with medical doctors, and assisting with medical issues, schedules, and transportation.
   4. Facilitate client insurance benefits to expedite treatment and payment to the Agency.
      1. Determine client coverage status and, if needed, eligibility for benefits; assist with the benefits application process or liaise with the appropriate existing insurance carrier, including government agencies and private carriers, to obtain the proper paperwork for re-determination; help clients keep track of and maintain eligibility for outpatient services;
      2. Provide benefits training to clients; help them choose prescription plans; provide benefits assistance to enable them to return to work;
      3. Field questions from other staff members on benefits.
   5. Develop and run groups aimed at strengthening individual’s behavioral health, i.e., symptom management and relapse prevention.
   6. Provide service to clients and clients’ families in linkage with professional and community resources.
      1. Coordinate care with other programs and contact case managers if clients show changes in behavior; refer clients to non-Momentum therapists, if appropriate;
      2. Inform clients’ probation agents, conservators, and case managers of their admission;
      3. Liaise/advocate for clients with outside agencies; help and educate clients with researching outside, independent living and making the most of community resources; liaise with representatives of those resources, such as property managers, on behalf of clients;
      4. Facilitate clients’ live and telephone interviews for housing placement;
      5. Work with clients’ families and educate them on behavioral health issues, facilitating the process toward successful transitions.
   7. Interface directly with clients and provide counseling, particularly during times of conflict and crisis intervention.
      1. Monitor clients’ independent living skills; assess their stability; approve their daily and weekend passes; help clients with learning problem-solving, socialization, and coping skills.
      2. Identify, assess and respond to crisis situations. Set clear limits and ensure that both residents and facility are safe. Notify appropriate case manager.
      3. Assist in budgeting and financial planning; address health and safety issues, how to respond to common emergencies, and provide information about medication;
      4. Encourage clients’ creativity, self-empowerment, and understanding of their diagnosis and/or illness.
   8. Provide client-centered counseling focusing on the present. Listen, respond empathically, and engage in problem solving. Identify symptoms and assist residents in self-management skills for behavioral illness and substance abuse.
   9. Participate in management of team/program discretionary resources available to meet client needs.
2. Complete the clinical records and other documentation, processes, and procedures that enable clients to receive these services in accordance with agency, payor and regulatory requirements, utilizing paper or computer technology.*
   1. Perform administrative admissions and/or discharge paperwork and procedures
      1. Assess clients for admission, benefit status, and clinical appropriateness for admittance; coordinate admittance details; communicate with referral sources to complete admittance papers; complete the Admission Summary;
      2. Work with clients to assess discharge options; arrange case conference for discharge; schedule appointments and interviews for discharge programs; complete the Discharge Summary.
   2. Enter and maintain up-to-date clinical documentation for each client.
      1. Update client files with case notes and treatment plans.
   3. Work with clients to assess discharge options; arrange case conference for discharge; schedule appointments and interviews for discharge programs
   4. Oversee the documentation and issuance of medications to clients.
      1. Check medications inventory on a regularly scheduled basis
      2. Fax prescriptions and follow up with the appropriate pharmacy
      3. Transcribe psychiatrist medication orders onto daily medication sheets
      4. Complete monthly medication sheets
      5. Assist with and/or monitor medication issuances.
   5. Perform general office work, including electronic and telephonic communications and processing of timecards.
3. Provide transportation in personal or agency vehicles, including, but not limited to, the transport of clients and or program supplies, for agency business.
4. Provide on-call and floor coverage; participate in after-hours rotation and shift exchange debriefings; provide appropriate consultation and back-up to support other staff in responding to client crises.*
5. Perform First Aid in emergency situations.*
6. Assist clients in complying with the directions in their Restricted Health Condition plan.*
7. Assist with housekeeping activities including, but not limited to: cleaning, cooking meals, and doing laundry.*
8. Complete hourly tracking.*
9. Any other tasks that may be assigned by program managers.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Collect reports and data; send out the daily census report to Central Intake.
2. Audit and review documents and complete monthly medical record reviews.
3. Attend and participate in staff, program, agency and community meetings and training; conduct trainings, as needed.
4. Ensure compliance with applicable health and safety or other regulatory requirements.*
5. Ensure program facilities are clean and well kept.
6. Shifts may be in the evening, over-night, and/or on holidays

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: (E = Essential; D = Desired)

1. High School diploma, GED, or equivalent education plus five years’ related experience; OR Associate’s degree plus three years’ related experience; OR a psych tech/LVN plus three years’ related experience; OR Bachelor’s degree/Master’s degree/PhD degree plus two years’ related experience. (E)
2. Additional full time work experience may include:
   1. Experience working in a behavioral health setting; (E)
   2. One year previous experience in a residential behavioral health setting for positions in Crisis Residential Programs; (E)
   3. Experience in a behavioral health setting or with high symptom acuity; (D)
   4. Bachelor’s degree, MHRS qualifications, and/or a greater number of years of experience, in some cases (noted on all postings); (E)
   5. Eligibility for MHRS certificate; (D)
   6. Appropriate volunteer and internship experience and personal experience in the behavioral health system. (D)
   7. Previous experience working with people who have abused substances. (D)
3. First Aid Certification or successful completion of First Aid Certification within 30 days of hire. (E)
4. Certification in writing 5150 holds or can obtain certification within six months of hire. (D)
5. Meet government and/or regulatory standards for continuing education credits and recertification, including a minimum of 20 hours of directly related professional training. (E)
6. Proven typing speed of 30 net wpm (E); 40 net wpm (D); computer literacy; ability to use MS Office applications—Word; Excel; Outlook—and Windows-based databases at a basic level; (E) familiarity with UNIX-based databases. (D)
7. Demonstrated ability to:
   1. Work independently and in a small team environment; (E)
   2. Engage and communicate effectively with others in both verbal and written English; (E)
   3. Use second language skills for interpretation and translation verbally and in written form; (D) in some cases, bilingual ability in English and a targeted language may be required and will be noted as such on all postings; (E)
   4. Monitor and support developmental growth and the recovery process; (E)
   5. Manage multiple tasks and demands; (E)
   6. Employ tact and diplomacy, exercise good judgment, and act calmly in emergency situations; (E)
   7. Work from a strengths-based, harm-reduction, social rehabilitation model; (E)
   8. Work effectively with persons differing in value systems, ethnicity, cultural backgrounds, language capabilities and disabilities; (E)
   9. Work collaboratively with individuals identified as those with serious mental illness who meet the following criteria: histories of hospitalization, institutionalization, including with the criminal justice system, substance abuse, low engagement in medication treatment, and difficulty in participating in structured activities and living independently; (E)
   10. Work with populations identified as high risk and/or considered under-represented in the County Behavioral Health system with multiple barriers; (E)
   11. Exhibit exemplary customer service, compassion, and care in the execution of all duties and interactions. (E)
8. Demonstrated ability to work with participants who:
   1. May also have histories of assaultive behavior; (E)
   2. May have resided in long term care facilities for extended periods; (E)
   3. May have patterns of service that relied almost exclusively on emergency and institutional care; (E)
   4. May have cognitive difficulties and medical co-morbidities, are considered medically fragile; may also be developmentally disabled; (E)
   5. May have long-term patterns of homelessness and criminal justice involvement. (E)
   6. May have a history abusing substances, history of being dependent on substances, or currently using substances (D)
9. Knowledge of:
   1. Clinical techniques for assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of people with mental illness; problem resolution and conflict resolution techniques; (E)
   2. Clinical techniques for working with individuals with a history of addiction and/or are currently using substances, motivational interviewing, and the stages of change; (D)
   3. Community resources, including those required to meet the non-behavioral health needs of the target population; (E)
   4. Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). (D)
   5. Psychiatric medications and how to assist clients with them (i.e., the ability to read and interpret doctor’s orders, read a Medication Administration Record, know how to assist with appropriate medication, at the appropriate dose, at the appropriate time, through the appropriate route, for the appropriate person.) (E)
10. Special Requirements: Must be able to meet and receive a criminal records clearance, as required by Title XXII, other licensing regulations and Momentum practices. (E)
11. A valid California Driver License, with access to a reliable vehicle or for driving a company vehicle, current proof of auto liability insurance, and a clean DMV record. (E)
12. Physical requirements needed to perform the essential functions of this job, with or without accommodation:
    1. Standing, walking, grasping, finger flexion, moving/lifting/carrying objects up to 40 lbs., bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, withstanding repetitive motion, and reaching repeatedly are required constantly (over 2/3 of the workday); (E)
    2. Hearing and talking on telephone and in person is required occasionally (under 1/3 of workday); (E)
    3. Balancing, climbing and crawling may be required occasionally; (E)
    4. Physically able to assist clients and/or staff in the evacuation of program facilities in emergency situations. (E)