PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER I/STIPEND (NONCOMPETITIVE)

Full Job Description

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT
We welcome applications from anyone.

WHEN TO APPLY
The application filing period will begin on April 15, 2026, at 9:00 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.

EXAM NUMBER

b9034Q

WHY WORK FOR US?

With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation!

As the largest employer in Southern California, over 116,000 employees in more than 38 Departments, we provide vital public services as diverse as law enforcement, property assessment, public health protection, water conservation, cultural activities and many more.

We are dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee.

The County has more than 2,300 different job descriptions, offering a lifetime of opportunities and careers! We offer one of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the country.

Join us and discover a rich selection of health care options, robust retirement plans and the flexibility to work, relax, and rejuvenate to reach your fullest personal and professional potential.

CHECK OUT OUR OUTSTANDING BENEFITS!
The County of Los Angeles offers an excellent benefits package that includes a Cafeteria Benefit Plan, Contributory Defined Benefit Retirement Plan, Deferred Compensation & Thrift Plans, and 13 paid Holidays. Click here to see a list of employee benefits.Performs professional social work services in connection with the treatment of clients in need of mental health services.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
For more information on this position please visit Psychiatric Social Worker I

Requirements

• Interviews individuals, their families and/or significant others to obtain a family, social, employment, medical, substance abuse, and mental health treatment history.

• Assesses client's functioning in their environmental setting.

• Develops a tentative CCCP designed 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's treatment 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 evaluating the 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 for immediate 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.

• Participate in research to increase knowledge of mental health problems and to improve therapeutic treatment methods, as needed.

Qualifications

HOW DO I QUALIFY:

A master's degree* from an accredited** college or university in Social Work, including supervised field work experience in psychiatric social work and a Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) Stipend.***

LICENSE:

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

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.

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.

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.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:

*Withhold Information: Applicants who expect to receive their Master's degree within six (6) months of filing an application may compete in the examination, and if successful, will be withheld from certification for employment until original documentation of successful completion of the required education is received.

Applicants must attach proof (original or photocopy of an original) of their college transcripts or degree indicating the field of study from an accredited college or university, or a letter with the Registrar's signature on school letterhead with school seal indicating a planned graduation date within 6 months to their application at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days of filing.

Transcript: **In order to receive credit for any college or university course, or any type of college or university degree such as Master's or higher, you must include a legible copy of the official diploma, or official transcripts from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization with your application at the time of filing or email within 7 calendar days of filing to exams@dmh.lacounty.gov

Official Transcript is defined as 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 therefore, will NOT be accepted and may result in your application being incomplete or rejected.

***Stipend Status: Stipend Recipients must provide a copy of their Stipend Contracts or an official letter from their school of Social Work verifying their stipend status at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from date of application submission.

Additional Information

OUR ASSESSMENT PROCESS:

This opportunity is considered non-competitive, meaning you will only need to meet the requirements. If you do, we will put you on a list with everyone who qualifies and use this list to fill vacancies as they occur.

SPECIAL INFORMATION
Past and present mental health clients, parents, and family members are encouraged to apply.

ELIGIBILITY AND VACANCY INFORMATION

Applications will be processed as they are received and added to the eligible list accordingly.

Applicants will be placed on a list of eligible candidates without indication of relative standing in the examination.

The appointing power may appoint any one of the names on the appropriate list, except a person without Veterans credit may not be appointed if there are three or more names on the list of persons entitled to Veteran’s credit.

AVAILABLE SHIFT
Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends or holidays.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION
Applicants are required to complete and submit an online Los Angeles County Employment Application AND Supplemental Questionnaire in order to be considered for this examination. Paper applications, resumes, or any unsolicited documents will not be accepted in lieu of completing the online application and Supplemental Questionnaire. We must receive your application during the filing period.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING ONLINE
Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" tab for this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

The acceptance of your application will depend on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Requirements. Your online application must show complete license, education and information necessary to evaluate your qualifications. Education information section must include name and address of school attended, complete dates attended, name of course/s taken, number of units earned, and degree/s earned. License information section must show title of license, license number, original date of issue, and expiration date. All information supplied by applicants is subject to verification. We may reject your application at any time during the examination or selection process.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance before the deadline 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 www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacountyyou 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.

For the time being, all notifications, including results letters and notices of non-acceptance, will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add exams@ dmh.lacounty.gov as well as selections@dmh.lacounty.gov and recruitment@ dmh.lacounty.gov to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notification from being filtered as span/junk/clutter mail.

Applicants have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. lf 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.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER LANGUAGE
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT LIBRARIESFor 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.

NO SHARING USER ID AND PASSWORDAll applicants must file their applications 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.

DEPARTMENT CONTACT
Department Contact Name: Sheenia Stewart, Exam Analyst
Department Contact Phone: (323) 705-4669 or (213) 972-7034
Department Contact Email: exams@dmh.lacounty.gov

ADA Coordinator Phone (323) 705-4669
Teletype Phone 800-735-2922
California Relay Services Phone 800-735-2922