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 $19.00 to $28.00 per hour; however, it is ultimately determined by contract obligations, the scope of the position, the candidate's relevant experience, and internal equity. Full time night shift roles are eligible for a night shift pay differential. This position does offer future growth opportunities. Full-time shift: Thursday through Saturday
SUMMARY:
Under the direction and guidance of the Cottage Supervisor, is responsible for the care and treatment of children/ adolescents housed in the cottage(s). The NOC shift Mental Health Worker works closely with the NOC Facility Manager, and the NOC Mental Health Worker relief staff during their evening shifts.
The Mental Health Worker 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):
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Supervises, protects and cares for the youth individually and in groups.
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Aids each youth working within a group and handling individual problems.
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Administers discipline and sets limits for behavior.
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Facilitate post-incident debriefing and transfer of learning to cottage staff and the youth’s treatment team. Is responsible for ensuring that all debriefings and incident reports are completed by staff involved in the incident.
- Supports with searches upon admission and return from the community (i.e., school, outings, overnight passes, elopement) and records and disposes of contraband found per policy and procedures.
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Notates youth progress; identifies possible need for professional services and communicates such findings to professional staff.
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Communicates critical information about each youth assigned to him/her to cottage and activity staff. Communicate daily with members of the treatment team about the youth’s progress.
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Assists in developing daily and weekly goals for the assigned youth.
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Assures the implementation of intervention plans developed by the treatment team. Inform all parties that need to know (school, cottages, activities, medical clinic, clinical staff, etc.) about special interventions that have been developed.
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Assure safety plans are in place and that they are understood by cottage staff.
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Regularly conduct 15-minute bed checks to ensure proper safety of youth.
- Assist in monitoring the success of daily intervention/ safety plans.
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Orients youth and his/ her parents to unit life and programs as necessary.
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Assists in teaching parents’ youth behavioral management skills.
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Provides required childcare and treatment in accordance with the unit programs and individual treatment plans. Teaches youth social skills, personal competence, individual responsibility, and self-esteem; provides positive experiences approximating those of a nurturing home.
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Participates in individual youth therapy, family meetings, and planning conferences.
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Provides transportation to off-campus activities as required; assures adequate supervision and control of off-campus activities.
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Develops and assists in leading group activities and events; communicates positively with other counselors about planned activities and events.
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Coordinates a variety of activities for residents including recreation, meal preparation, chores, hobbies, etc.
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Oversee and assist in tutorial program.
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Records observations in the unit log as required; completes incident reports as necessary; monitors in writing residents' activities and progress.
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Maintains assigned unit vehicles, staff radios and or Casa Pacifica assigned equipment; teaches clients respect for Casa Pacifica property.
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Provides additional youth services and assistance as necessary and appropriate.
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Attends and participates in unit and general staff training programs; attends out side training events and conferences as requested.
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Cares for clothing, shelter, and other basic needs of assigned residents in a manner that contributes to achievement of treatment goals.
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Participates in recreational activities or instructs youth with games.
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Disciplines youth and recommends or initiates other measures to control behavior.
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Escorts youth to designated activities.
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Performs general housekeeping duties in resident's living area.
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Secures services of medical personnel as needed.
- Assists in the preparation and maintenance of assigned records, files and reports.
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May participate in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention-approved de-escalation of youth, as necessary.
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Maintains confidentiality in all matters within the organization with respect to personnel, operations and clients.
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May perform other duties as assigned from time to time.
NOC Mental Health Worker Callouts
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NOC Mental Health Workers 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, NOC Mental Health Workers must notify their Cottage Supervisor or designee when calling out between the hours of 8am-5 pm Monday through Friday. NOC Mental Health Workers staff will notify the Facility Manager and on-call administrator directly for callouts 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 REQUIRED:
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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.
- A valid driver’s license is required for transporting youths. Any changes that occur to your driving record must be reported immediately to Human Resources and your supervisor.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
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 accommodation 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:
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A Bachelor of Arts or Sciences Degree.
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A valid Child Development Teaching Permit.
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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.
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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.
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A valid vocational training certificate, credential, or documentation demonstrating that the individual is a trade journeyperson who instructs children in vocational skills and has at least 100 hours of experience working with youth as a mentor, athletic coach, teacher, vocational coach, tutor, counselor, or other relevant experience as
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determined by the department.
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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.
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Relevant life experience in the child welfare, mental health or juvenile justice systems as a consumer, mentor, or caregiver or other relevant experience as determined by the department.
At a minimum, a direct care staff shall demonstrate all of the following
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Knowledge and understanding of the needs of children served in a children’s residential setting.
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Skills and ability to engage and develop a rapport with children who have various backgrounds.
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Skills and ability to provide consistency and behavioral limits through relationship-based interventions.
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Skills to communicate effectively with the ability to solve problems in a collaborative manner.
CREDENTIALS: First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
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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 and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. 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
COMPETENCIES:
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Teamwork and Relationships
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Judgement and Problem Solving
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Communication
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Initiative and Integrity
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Ethics and Integrity
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Analytical and Critical Thinking
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arm (i.e., restraining); stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk and hear; and taste and smell.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment includes office areas as well as cottages, and outside areas. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will likely work in outside weather conditions, in addition to indoor spaces. Physically moves intermittently throughout the day. Is subject to frequent interruptions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud
