Mental Health Worker III Float

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.

Wage band range $23.50-$29.75 hourly. However, starting pay is ultimately determined by the scope of the position, the candidate's relevant experience, and internal equity. Wednesday – Saturday shift.

SUMMARY:

Under the direction and supervision of the Facility Manager Supervisor, the Mental Health Worker Float is responsible for the care and treatment of youth in residential programming. The Mental Health Worker Float is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the facility, including the safeguarding of the youth and staff. The Mental Health Worker Float provides in-the-moment coaching and skill training to staff and youth, and supports with crisis prevention and intervention. The Mental Health Worker Float is considered a critical floating position and supports other Mental Health Workers and the Facility Manager during shifts for breaks, call-outs, and other duties as assigned. Their services may be provided in an assigned program/ cottage or as needed based on the daily needs of the campus.

The Mental Health Worker III upholds Casa Pacifica's Standards of Behavior and embodies our core values of respect, integrity, compassion, and courage in the daily care and treatment of youth, ensuring the achievement of program and treatment objectives.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (illustrated by typical activities):

Youth Care & Supervision

• Provides trauma-informed care and supervision to youth, meeting daily physical, emotional, and safety needs.
• Supports group dynamics, models positive behavior, and encourages personal growth.
• Engages in daily activities such as recreation, chores, and outings; ensures safety through regular checks, especially overnight and for high-risk youth.

Behavioral & Therapeutic Support

• Delivers behavioral coaching to help youth manage emotions and replace maladaptive behaviors.
• Implements treatment and safety plans, using restorative justice and TCI-approved crisis intervention strategies.
• Monitors progress and adjusts interventions in coordination with the treatment team.

Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborates daily with Facility Manager, shift leads, clinicians, and staff to maintain a therapeutic milieu.
• Communicates youth progress and needs to treatment teams, families, and external partners.
• Participates in meetings, family sessions, and required trainings.

Planning & Documentation

• Assists in developing and implementing youth goals, treatment strategies, and behavior plans.
• Records progress notes, communication logs, incident reports, and billing documentation accurately and on time.
• Supports and monitors completion of crisis support plans and updates.
• Maintains confidentiality across all client, personnel, and operational matters.

Program Facilitation & Leadership

• Plans, organizes, and facilitates therapeutic and skill-based group sessions.
• Coaches and mentors cottage staff in real time, providing support with de-escalation and safety planning.
• Helps lead and develop group activities and youth-focused programs.

MHW III Additional Duties:

• Meets all MHW II and I job duties
• Delivers agency-wide training sessions on TCI, Person Centered Planning, CPR, LSCI, and others.
• Works to ensure that Casa Pacifica complies with regulations and requirements.
• Offer support to all cottage staff, including supervision as needed.
• Organizes, plans, and manages organizational events, including specialty group events for youth and cultural and team-building activities for staff.
• Aids in developing programming, structure, behavioral coaching, and support for the program.
• Assists with timecard approval.
• Supports cottage supervisors with 90-day introductions and FY performance reviews.

Mental Health Worker Staff Call Outs

1. If all staffing ratios are secure, Casa Pacifica reserves the right to call off a Mental Health Worker.  If a Mental Health Worker is called off while working their scheduled shift, they will be paid for their hours worked with a minimum of two hours pay or half of their scheduled shift (up to four hours), whichever is greater.
2. Mental Health Worker staff must call out with at least twelve (12) hours' notice before their scheduled shift unless it is a true emergency (e.g., hospitalization).  For absences, Mental Health Workers must notify their Supervisor or designee when calling out between the hours of 8am-5 pm Monday through Friday. Mental Health Worker staff will notify the Facility Manager and on-call administrator directly for call-outs between the hours of 6pm –8am or any weekend day/evening or holiday directly at 805 443-3972. Leaving a message, texting, or emailing is not an acceptable call-out notification. Excessive callouts (absenteeism) may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Qualifications

Position requires staff must be at least 21 years of age. Completed and cleared Live scan, criminal statement, health screening with TB test. Must undergo a one-hour training which reviews mandatory reporting requirements as per Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA).  This training takes place during pre-service orientation training and periodically thereafter.

Valid driver’s license is required for transporting youths. Any changes that occurs on your driving record must be reported immediately to your supervisor.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the education, experience and be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must meet at least one of the following requirements prior to employment:

1. Bachelor of Arts or Sciences Degree; (social work, sociology and psychology or related field);
2. Have a valid Child Development Training Permit
3. Completed 12 semester units of Early Childhood Education, Adolescent Development, or Foster and Kinship Care Education and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth.
4. A valid certificate as an Alcohol Counselor, Drug Counselor or Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth.
5. A valid vocational training certificate, credential, or documentation demonstrating that the individual is a trade journeyperson who instructs children in vocational skills and have at least 100 hours of experience working with youth as a mentor, athletic coach, teacher, vocational coach, tutor, counselor, or other relevant experience as determined by the department.
6. Previously been employed as a full-time staff or served as a volunteer at a group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, or substance abuse treatment program for at least one year.
7. Relevant life experience in the child welfare, mental health or juvenile justice system as a consumer, mentor, or caregiver or other relevant experience as determined by the department.

In addition, individual must meet one of the following billing requirements:

1. A minimum two (2) years of full-time experience providing direct care experience in a mental health setting and/or support services to mental health clients and their families

OR

1. Possesses a bachelor's degree in a mental health-related field (Social-Behavioral Sciences, including psychology, social work, or sociology) AND A minimum of one year of full-time experience providing direct care experience in a mental health setting and/or support services to mental health clients and their families.

CREDENTIALS:

• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention,
• First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills; ability to motivate.
• Must have good working understanding of child and adolescent development, behavior management and group process.
• Must have aptitude to deal with severely emotionally disturbed children and adolescents in a shelter care setting.
• Bilingual in Spanish, preferred.

Language Skills: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating, procedure manuals and maintenance instructions. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

Mathematical Skills:Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to define problems, solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

WHAT WE OFFER 
Casa Pacifica strongly believes in providing our employees with a comprehensive and competitive total benefits package that will support them across the many needs that arise in life. In addition to the salary information listed above, employees within this position will also be eligible for the following:

• Comprehensive Benefits package,
• 401k auto enrollment at 3% with up to 5% fully vested employer matching contributions made after first year of service
• 9 paid holidays
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance options
• Flexible Spending and Dependent care programs
• Excellent Training opportunities – including opportunities for CEUs
• Education/Tuition Assistance programs
• Group Discount Pet Insurance
• Aflac Hospital, Critical Illness, Accidental & Dental supplemental plan options
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Free Confidential Crisis Line 24/7, 365 days a year
  • 4 face-to-face or telephonic sessions per issue, i.e.,
    • Stress, Anxiety, Depression
    • Life transitions
    • Grief and Loss
    • Divorce
    • Conflict Resolution
    • Substance Abuse
    • Work-Life Counseling
    • Free Legal and Financial Consultations
    • Identity Theft Recovery Services

Casa Pacifica is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. All applicants will be given full consideration under state, local, and federal law.