Mental Health Associate
County of Ventura Ventura, California, United States
- Location: Ventura, California, United States
- Categories: Public Health
- Job Type: Full Time
- Posted: Nov 11, 2025
Job Description:
Mental Health Associate
Description
DescriptionJoin a team that makes a difference every day.
At County Behavioral Health (VCBH), a vital department of the Ventura County Health Care Agency, you'll be part of a compassionate team dedicated to improving lives across our community. VCBH provides comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment services, offering support from mobile crisis response to outpatient care. Here you'll play a key role in helping individuals access the right level of care at the right time, empowering them on their path to wellness and recovery.
We are currently seeking some passionate candidates to join our Behavioral Health department as Mental Health Associates. Under clinical supervision of a Clinic Administrator and/or program manager, the Mental Health Associate will provide services to mental health clients and their families; provide liaison with other community agencies serving mental health clients; and perform related work as required.
Join VCBH and be part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing integrated, coordinated, whole-person, and culturally competent behavioral health services
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: The Mental Health Associate differs from the Psychiatric Social Worker series by requiring less independent judgment, and by providing counseling as opposed to therapy services to assigned clients.
WHAT WE OFFER:
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. Aside from our base salary range, an employee in this position may also be eligible for the following:
- Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, or 5% for completion of a graduate's degree.
- Bilingual Incentive -Incumbents may be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill. Proficiency levels by exam are $0.69/hour (Level I), $1.00/hour (Level II), or $1.32/hour (Level III).
- Merit Increases - New employees serving their initial County service probationary period in a Professional classification are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase upon completion of at least 2,080 hours (approximately 1 year) assuming work meets satisfactory standards. Subsequent merit increases will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase.
- Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(K) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. If you participate in the County sponsored 401(K) plan, the County will match a part of your contribution up to 3% of your salary, on a per pay period basis.
- Health Plans - You are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance.
- Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses.
- Pension Plan - Participate in the County's defined benefit pension plan that provides lifetime payments to retirees. Members are "vested" after attaining five years of retirement service credit. If eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems such as CalPERS.
- Holidays - 12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
- Additional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.
- To learn more about the benefits, please follow the link below: https://vcportal.ventura.org/CEO/HR/MOA/docs/SEIU_MOA_2022-2025.pdf
AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Health Care Agency - Behavioral Health
Mental Health Associate is represented by the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation.
The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, and Extra-Help vacancies within the Health Care Agency. There are currently five (5) Regular, full-time vacancies.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE: November 10, 2025
CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs. It is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible.
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Teaches relevant social and daily living skills, provides supportive counseling;
- Serves as a client advocate and assists clients in using community resources;
- Participates as a team member in client evaluation, treatment planning and implementation of approved treatment plans;
- May transport clients to appointments; and
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Typical Qualifications
These are entrance requirements to the examination process and ensure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.
EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE:
- Two (2) years of experience providing patient care in a mental health setting and/or support services to mental health clients and their families.
OR
- A bachelor’s degree in social-behavioral sciences including Psychology, Social Work, or Sociology, AND one of the following:
NOTE: If you are using your degree to qualify for this position, verification of degree is required.
- Submit your transcripts or grade reports from an accredited college or university which shows your name and reflects the conferred degree. Attach education verification documents to your online application or submit to Vivian.Merida@ venturacounty.gov prior to the closing date/time of this recruitment.
- If you need additional time to submit transcripts, contact the analyst conducting the recruitment at Vivian.Merida@venturacounty.gov for an extension.
- Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
- Degrees from a foreign institution require an academic credential evaluation to determine the U.S. equivalency.
- If the name is different on the transcripts from your application, documentation needs to be submitted showing the name change.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must possess a current valid California driver's license by first day of employment and maintain thereafter.
- Positions may require standby or on-call work hours.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:
Thorough knowledge of:
- Methods and techniques of group and individual counseling;
Basic knowledge of
- psychopathology and treatment procedures for the mentally ill;
Knowledge of:
- Community resources (public and private agencies and services available);
Working ability to:
- Establish and maintain cooperative relations with public and private agencies;
- Make maximum use of community resources for the advantage of the client;
- Prepare clear and concise narrative descriptions of client's behavior, care, field activities, and research studies;
- Develop patient care plans; and
- Provide individual and group counseling.
Recruitment Process
FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.
To apply on-line, please refer to our website at hr.venturacounty.gov . If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 677-5184 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources - Health Care Agency, 646 County Square Drive, Ventura, CA 93003.
NOTE TO APPLICANTS: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, if/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.
LATERAL TRANSFER OPTION: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointed by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here (Download PDF reader) for additional information.
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from consideration.
APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.
WRITTEN EXAMINATION - 100%: An online, un-proctored job-related written examination will be administered to test candidates' knowledge of psychiatric treatment, counseling, case management, effective work relations, and language usage. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.
Applicants successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.
For further information about this recruitment, please contact Vivian Merida via email at Vivian.Merida@venturacounty.gov or by telephone at (805) 677-5231.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE
Service Employees International Union (LOCAL 721)
(SEIU)
To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.
- Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
- Retirement FAQ's
- Memorandum of Agreement
Union Codes: UPA, UPC, UPE, UPH, UPI, UPJ,UPT, UWS
Closing Date/Time: Continuous