PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER I / EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT HOMELESSNESS

Job Description

Position/Program Information

EXAM NUMBER:
PH9034A-EA

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:
OPEN COMPETITIVE - EMERGENCY

FIRST DAY OF FILING:
The application filing period will begin on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. , (PT) - Continuous.
We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness , and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Psychiatric Social Worker I vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.
Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Psychiatric Social Worker I .

DEFINITION:
Performs professional social work services in connection with the treatment of clients in need of mental health services.

For information about the specific classification standards for this position, please visit the following link: Psychiatric Social Worker I

Essential Job Functions

• Interviews individuals, their familiesand/or significant others to obtain a family, social, employment, medical, substance abuse, and mental health treatment history.
• Assesses client's functioning in his/her environmental setting.
  
• Develops a tentative CCCPdesigned to resolve or cope with the mental or emotional problem, which may include individual, group, family or marital counseling, case management, and/or referral to another treatment source such as a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a vocational or rehabilitation counselor, or another agency.
  
• Plans and conducts the client's therapy program under the guidance of supervisory staff by considering the client'streatment goal and by determining the priorities of the programs to be dealt with and the length and modality of therapy.
  
• Provides psychotherapy to individuals, groups, families, and significant others.
  
• Provides case management services to secure resources for clients, families, and significant others in order to achieve treatment goals.
  
• Serves as a member of a mental health emergency intervention team and/or joint law enforcement/mental health emergency intervention team by evaluatingthe behavior of persons to determine if they are, as a result of a mental disorder, dangerous to themselves, others, or gravely disabled.
  
• Requests LPS-authorized persons to complete an application forimmediate 72-hour detention at a hospital facility.
  
• Interviews persons seeking psychiatric assistance on an emergency basis and utilizes crisis intervention techniques to prevent hospitalization and to aid the person in dealing with the emotional crisis.
  
• Assists clients, families, and significant others by discussing their reactions and attitudes concerning mental health problems and co-occurring substance abuse disorders; explains need for treatment; and encourages all concerned parties to work together cooperatively to resolve the problem and minimize the stresses that impact social functioning.
  
• Works with families and significant others toward gaining their acceptance of and participation in treatment recommendations.
  
• Participates in multi-disciplinary team conferences to discuss and evaluate the nature of the client's problem, to evaluate the client's progress, and to develop a CCCP.
  
• Participates in research to increase knowledge of mental health problems and to improve therapeutic treatment methods, as needed.
  

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:
A Master's degree* from an accredited school of social work.

REQUIRED LICENSES:
A valid and active Associate Clinical Social Worker registration**issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences.

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
*To receive credit for your education, include a legible copy of all relevant official documents, including your diploma, transcript, or letter/certificate from an accredited institution or email it to hrexams@ph.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days of filing your application. The document should show the date the degree was conferred and be in English. If not in English, then translation is required. International degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards if not listed in the International Handbook of Universities or World Higher Education Database. Documents marked as unofficial will not be accepted. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf .

• Official Transcript is a transcript that bears the college seal and states "official and/or copy" issued by the school's registrar office. A printout of the transcript from the school's website is NOT considered official and may result in your application being incomplete and rejected.
  
• We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.
  

**Master of Social Work graduates must become registered as an Associate Clinical Social Worker with the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences within sixty (60) days from commencement of employment with the County of Los Angeles. Active and valid Associate Clinical Social Worker registration must be maintained continuously until successful completion of the examination process for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Registered Associate Clinical Social Workers must obtain licensure within six (6) years from the original date of registration with the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences. Failure to obtain licensure within the aforementioned timeframes may result in termination.

PHYSICAL CLASS:

Physical Class II - Light - This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:
During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

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Application and Filing Information

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications must be filed ONLINE ONLY and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.

Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov as well as noreply@governmentjobs.com and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.



SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number, so include yours when applying.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Check the website for updated information at https://lacountylibrary.org .


DO NOT SHARE USER ID AND PASSWORD:

All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the in equalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.



Department Contact Name: DPH Examinations and Recruitment Unit

Department Contact Phone: (213) 684-8726

Department Contact E-mail: HRExams@ph.lacounty.gov

Exam Number: PH9034A-EA



California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922

ADA Coordinator Phone: (844) 914-1006

Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099

Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077

For detailed information, please click here

Closing Date/Time: Continuous