Mental Health Jobs in Oakland, CA

POSITION SUMMARY

The Mental Health Clinician (Master’s-Level Clinician) provides direct, healing-centered behavioral health and clinical services to youth and young adults participating in Beats Rhymes and Life (BRL) programs.

Working as part of an interdisciplinary clinical and program team, the Mental Health Clinician provides individual and group clinical services, behavioral health assessment, treatment planning, care coordination, crisis intervention, clinical documentation, case consultation, and other services consistent with the clinician’s education, registration/licensure status, training, supervision, and authorized scope of practice.

The Mental Health Clinician operates under the clinical supervision and oversight required by applicable California law, professional licensing regulations, payer requirements, county contracts, and BRL policies. Pre-licensed or associate clinicians may not practice independently and must receive supervision from an appropriately licensed and qualified clinical supervisor.

This position is grounded in BRL’s culturally responsive, relationship-based, healing-centered approach to behavioral health and youth development. The clinician supports BRL’s integration of creativity, culture, community, and therapeutic engagement as pathways toward healing, growth, connection, and improved behavioral health outcomes.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

CLINICAL SERVICES AND DIRECT CLIENT CARE

Develop consistent, therapeutic, culturally responsive, and professional relationships with youth and young adults.

• Provide individual, family, and/or group behavioral health services consistent with education, training, registration/licensure status, and scope of practice.
• Conduct behavioral health assessments and contribute to clinical formulation as permitted by scope of practice.
• Develop, implement, monitor, and update individualized treatment plans and clinical goals.
• Provide therapeutic interventions consistent with participant needs, BRL’s clinical model, contractual requirements, and established standards of care.
• Facilitate BRL therapeutic, healing-centered, and creative arts-based groups and interventions.
• Support participants in developing emotional regulation, communication, coping, relationship, problem-solving, and wellness skills.
• Assess and respond appropriately to changes in participant functioning, symptoms, behavior, safety, and risk.
• Conduct or participate in risk and safety assessments within authorized scope and immediately escalate concerns requiring a higher level of clinical or medical intervention.
• Provide crisis intervention and stabilization within BRL protocols and the clinician’s authorized scope of practice.
• Coordinate emergency or higher-level behavioral health intervention when clinically indicated.
• Maintain appropriate professional and therapeutic boundaries with participants and families.

CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNING

• Complete behavioral health assessments in accordance with program, payer, county, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify participant strengths, needs, presenting concerns, functional impairments, protective factors, and potential risks.
• Develop measurable, participant-centered treatment goals.
• Review participant progress and adjust interventions in consultation with the participant, care team, and clinical supervisor as appropriate.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case consultation and clinical review.
• Recognize when participant needs exceed the clinician’s training, competence, or authorized scope and obtain appropriate consultation, supervision, referral, or escalation.
• Coordinate with medical, psychiatric, substance use, educational, social service, and other providers when appropriate and authorized.

CLINICAL TEAM PARTICIPATION

• Participate consistently in required individual and/or group clinical supervision.
• Attend required clinical, program, case conference, and interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Present cases for consultation and participate actively in collaborative clinical decision-making.
• Consult with supervisors regarding participant needs, safety concerns, professional boundaries, treatment planning, risk, and complex clinical situations.
• Implement clinical direction and corrective feedback provided through supervision.
• Collaborate with Mental Health Workers, peer staff, program staff, case managers, licensed clinicians, and other members of the care team.
• Provide appropriate clinical guidance to non-clinical team members while maintaining clearly defined professional roles and supervisory boundaries.

DOCUMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Complete assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, service documentation, discharge documentation, participant records, and other required clinical documentation accurately and within established timelines.
• Ensure documentation supports medical necessity and service requirements when applicable to the program or funding source.
• Maintain participant confidentiality and comply with BRL policies and applicable requirements regarding protected health information.
• Maintain accurate records of services, attendance, referrals, follow-up activities, and participant outcomes.
• Follow organizational procedures related to incident reporting, mandated reporting, safety, clinical risk, and escalation.
• Participate in chart reviews, quality assurance, utilization review, and documentation improvement activities as required.
• Demonstrate reliability in scheduling, attendance, communication, documentation, and completion of assigned responsibilities.

CARE COORDINATION

• Coordinate behavioral health services with participants, families, caregivers, providers, and community partners when appropriate.
• Facilitate referrals to psychiatric, medical, substance use, housing, educational, employment, and other community resources.
• Support continuity of care between BRL and external behavioral health or healthcare providers.
• Participate in interdisciplinary care planning when appropriate.
• Identify social, environmental, behavioral, and systemic barriers that may affect participant engagement, functioning, health, and continuity of care.
• Maintain appropriate releases of information and confidentiality when coordinating with outside providers.

MEDICAL & HEALTH-RELATED RESPONSIBILITIES

The Mental Health Clinician is a behavioral health clinician and does not independently provide medical care, prescribe medication, or perform functions outside their professional scope of practice.

Within the clinician’s authorized scope, responsibilities may include:

• Identify behavioral health concerns that may require medical, psychiatric, or substance use evaluation.
• Coordinate referrals to physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, emergency departments, crisis services, and other healthcare professionals when indicated.
• Obtain and document relevant health and medication information when clinically appropriate and authorized.
• Monitor participant-reported medication adherence, side effects, or concerns and communicate those concerns to the appropriate prescribing or medical professional.
• Collaborate with psychiatric and medical providers as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Recognize signs of possible medical or psychiatric emergencies and follow BRL emergency response and escalation protocols.
• Maintain current training in required health, safety, crisis, and emergency procedures.

SCOPE OF PRACTICE

The clinician does not prescribe, administer, recommend changes to, or independently manage medication unless separately licensed and legally authorized to do so.

The Mental Health Clinician must practice within the boundaries established by:

• California law and professional licensing regulations;
• The clinician’s license or associate registration;
• Education and professional training;
• Demonstrated clinical competence;
• Clinical supervision requirements;
• BRL policies and procedures;
• County and payer requirements; and
• Applicable contracts and standards of care.

Master’s-level clinicians who are registered associates or otherwise pre-licensed must work under an appropriately qualified clinical supervisor and may not represent themselves as independently licensed practitioners.

Clinical activities requiring independent licensure must be performed, approved, or supervised by an appropriately licensed professional as required by law and organizational policy.

When uncertainty exists regarding scope of practice, clinical risk, medical concerns, participant safety, or appropriate treatment, consultation with the designated clinical supervisor is required.

SUPERVISION

This position receives structured clinical and program supervision, including:

• Weekly clinical supervision with an appropriately licensed clinical supervisor;
• Weekly and/or regularly scheduled program supervision with Heads of Service;
• Case consultation and multidisciplinary clinical review;
• Supplemental supervision when clinical complexity or participant risk requires it; and
• Developmental supervision supporting professional growth and, when applicable, progress toward independent licensure.

Supervision supports clinical decision-making, participant safety, treatment planning, documentation quality, professional development, ethical practice, risk management, and quality of care.

For associate/pre-licensed clinicians, supervision must meet applicable California licensing-board requirements when BRL has agreed to provide qualifying supervision toward licensure.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or another behavioral health discipline that qualifies the individual to provide clinical services within the applicable program.
• Eligible for or currently holding an appropriate California professional license or associate registration relevant to the position, as required by the specific program or contract.
• Examples may include ASW, AMFT, APCC, LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, or another qualifying behavioral health credential.
• Experience providing behavioral health services to youth, young adults, families, and/or communities impacted by behavioral health challenges and systemic stressors.
• Experience conducting clinical assessments, treatment planning, individual or group interventions, and clinical documentation.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention, mandated reporting, professional ethics, confidentiality, and clinical boundaries.
• Ability to recognize clinical risk and appropriately seek consultation, supervision, or a higher level of care.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to receive and integrate clinical supervision and feedback.

Preferred Experience: 3–5+ years working with Transitional Age Youth (TAY), community behavioral health systems, school-based mental health, juvenile justice, child welfare, or related programs.

MEDICAL, HEALTH, & EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Employment is contingent upon meeting health, safety, and clearance requirements applicable to the position, program site, funding source, and BRL contracting partner.

Requirements may include:

• Successful completion of required pre-employment health screening or medical clearance.
• Tuberculosis (TB) clearance as required by program, site, or contract.
• Compliance with applicable immunization and communicable-disease requirements for the assigned work setting.
• Ability to meet health and safety requirements for work in community, school, behavioral health, healthcare, or other contracted service environments.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain certification within the timeframe established by BRL.
• Completion and maintenance of required crisis intervention, de-escalation, suicide prevention, and other safety training.
• Successful fingerprint/background clearance as required by law, contract, or program.
• Compliance with mandated reporter requirements.
• Valid driver’s license, automobile insurance, and reliable transportation when driving is an essential function of the assignment, or ability to reliably access required program sites.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Specific medical or health-clearance requirements may vary based on the clinician’s assigned program, population, worksite, and contracting partner.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position is not automatically a formal personnel supervisory position.

However, depending on experience, licensure status, and program assignment, the Mental Health Clinician may provide clinical guidance, case consultation, training, or day-to-day support to Mental Health Workers, interns, peers, or other program staff.

Formal clinical supervision toward professional licensure may only be provided when the clinician meets all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

REQUIRED SKILLS / VALUES

• Alignment with BRL Mission, Vision, and Values: Leadership, Collaboration, Innovation, Transformation, and Connection
• Strong clinical engagement and relationship-building skills.
• Clinical assessment and treatment-planning skills.
• Crisis identification, intervention, and escalation skills.
• Strong clinical documentation and administrative skills.
• Knowledge of behavioral health ethics, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and professional boundaries.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to exercise clinical judgment while effectively utilizing supervision.
• Proficiency with Google Suite and applicable electronic documentation/data systems.
• Experience with data tracking, outcomes, and reporting systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Cultural responsiveness and demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
• Experience working with Transitional Age Youth.
• Ability to work within structured clinical and program models.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as required by program operations.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Office-based, community-based, school-based, and/or field-based work may be required.
• Position may involve direct contact with participants experiencing significant behavioral health needs or emotional distress.
• May require response to behavioral health crises within established protocols.
• May require travel between program and community sites.
• Evening and weekend hours may be required.
• Special program events may occasionally require schedule adjustments or overtime.
• BRL operates in a growth and transition environment; flexibility, adaptability, communication, and collaboration are essential.
• Responsibilities may evolve based on program development, contractual requirements, and participant needs.

COMPENSATION PACKAGE

Position Type: Hourly Employee (Full-Time, 40 hours/week)Term: 1-Year Contract

Base Salary: $86,611 ($41.63)

Total Annual Compensation:

Includes:

• 5 weeks personal/vacation time (included in salary)
• 12 BRL observed holidays (included in salary)
• Healthcare reimbursement up to $5,400 annually

Total Annual Compensation: $92,011 ($86,611 salary/$5,400 benefits)

Pay: $41.63 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Health savings account

Education:

• Master's (Preferred)

Work Location: In person