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Posted: January 1, 2026 (14 days ago)

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Marriage and Family Therapist I - Custody Health Services

City of Santa Clara

Santa Clara Valley HHS - Custody Health Services

Recent

Location

Salary

$48.62 - $58.86

per hour

Closes

February 1, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This entry-level role involves providing counseling, therapy, and case management to adults and youth in jail facilities, helping with mental health needs in a secure environment.

It's ideal for pre-licensed therapists or social workers passionate about supporting incarcerated individuals through acute and ongoing care.

The position suits those comfortable working in locked settings and committed to public health services.

Key Requirements

  • Pre-licensed or associate status as a Marriage and Family Therapist or Psychiatric Social Worker
  • Ability to provide counseling, psychotherapy, and case management in institutional settings
  • Experience or willingness to work in custody environments like jails and juvenile facilities
  • Passing a comprehensive background check for security clearance in locked facilities
  • Possession of a Master's degree in a relevant field such as marriage and family therapy, social work, or counseling
  • Registration as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) or Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences
  • Ability to obtain credentialing, potentially through CAQH application

Full Job Description

Under supervision, the Marriage and Family Therapist I (pre-licensed) provides counseling, psychotherapy, case management, and treatment services in a counseling center, clinic, or institutional setting.


This is a posting to fill vacant positions that may be filled in the classifications of Marriage and Family Therapist I (associate), Marriage and Family Therapist II (licensed), Psychiatric Social Worker I (associate), or Psychiatric Social Worker II (licensed). Candidates need only to apply to one of these four postings for which they qualify to be considered. Additionally, this posting will create a list that will be used to fill vacancies for the following month. Qualified applicants will remain on the list for one month and will be referred to available vacancies. To be considered for future opportunities, applicants must reapply each month to be placed on the eligible list for the following month.

Custody Health Services (CHS) provides medical, mental health, and dental services to patients in custody at the 3 County Jail facilities: Main Jail, Elmwood, and Juvenile Detention facilities. CHS provides on-site routine and urgent/emergent medical services at both Main Jail and Elmwood adult detention facilities in Santa Clara County. Health care of incarcerated men and women includes care of acute and chronic illness as well as preventative and specialty care. CHS also runs a 39 single-bed acute psychiatric inpatient housing unit at the Main Jail. The services are provided for adult male and female patients who require acute inpatient services for stabilization. Juvenile Custody Health provides integrated medical services to justice-involved youth housed in Juvenile Hall and in James Ranch, including comprehensive pediatric medical, mental health, and dental care.

Selected candidate(s) must be able to work in a locked facility, which requires passing a background check for security clearance.


Some positions may require credentialing prior to appointment. If you have not previously completed a CAQH (Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare) application, it is recommended that you start one at the same time you submit your application for this recruitment. To start your CAQH application, visit CAQH ProView - Sign In.

CANDIDATES HIRED MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A SIGN-ON BONUS OF UP TO $5,000.

A new hire or a regular coded full-time or part-time employee who is hired into, transfers, or promotes in the Marriage and Family Therapist or Psychiatric Social Worker classifications may be eligible to receive a sign-on bonus of up to $5,000 (subject to discontinuation at any time).

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Requirements

The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

Performs intensive counseling, psychotherapy, case management and treatment services with patients or clients and their families;Participates in the evaluation of problems presented and in the development of treatment plans;May participate in a group therapy program;Cooperates with staff and other community agencies in carrying out treatment plans;Participates in psychotherapy and case management programs with psychiatric staff treatment teams;Interprets and explains social and emotional factors pertaining to illness to clients, relatives, and community groups, and may conduct educational sessions and training events, as appropriate;Evaluates new techniques for dealing with emotional and environmental problems;Refers patients or clients to appropriate community agencies; May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required*;Performs other related duties, as required.

Qualifications Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks, plus the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through possession of a Master’s Degree that qualifies for licensure as described in the Special Requirements.Special RequirementsPossess and maintain current registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, or an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, for the duration of employment in this classification.Incumbents in this class must comply with California licensure requirements as outlined by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.Some positions may require provider credentialing prior to appointment.Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work.

If driving, possession of a valid California driver’s license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.*As a condition of employment, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 3100-3109 and Local Ordinance, all County of Santa Clara employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), including extra help.

A DSW is required to complete all assigned DSW-related training, and in the event of an emergency, return to work as ordered.Knowledge of:Theory and treatment practice of intrapsychic, interpersonal, and social pathology;Theory and practice of community mental health and substance use interventions;Community agencies and community resources serving the mentally ill and those with substance use disorder;Physical and mental illnesses and their impact on personality;English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling;Common computer systems and applications.Ability to: Apply theory and practice of intrapsychic, interpersonal, and social pathology;Conduct differential diagnosis;Develop and implement a counseling program;Effectively use psychiatric consultation;Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures; Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, at all levels, including colleagues, the public, and representatives of other agencies.

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Posted on NEOGOV: 1/1/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/2/2026

Source: NEOGOV | ID: neogov-santaclara-5182490