Behavioral Health Clinician I
Salary
$98,626.11 - $115,678.58 Annually
Location
Berkeley, CA
Job Type
Career
Job Number
2026-11-2058
Department
HHCS Health
Division
Mental Health
Opening Date
11/02/2026
Closing Date
Continuous
Berkeley, California is a small city with a big reputation. At just ten square miles of land and seven square miles of water, Berkeley is famous around the globe as a center for academic achievement, scientific exploration, free speech, and the arts, and home to over 50 parks, a top-ranked university, and the largest public marina in the San Francisco Bay.
JOB OPPORTUNITY
The City of Berkeley invites you to apply for a Behavioral Health Clinician I position! In this role, you will provide community behavioral health services to Berkeley residents. Bring your skills to our Mental Health Division, where our clinicians and support staff demonstrate a commitment to cultural competence and a wellness/recovery orientation.
As the entry-level class in the Behavioral Health Clinician (BHC) series, the BHC I performs a wide range of community behavioral health services under direct supervision. Youll be assigned to one of our teams, with consultation provided by experienced, knowledgeable senior and supervisory staff.
The divisions teams include:
Social Services Unit (SSU): Time-limited case management for older adults (age 55 and over) who present with multiple, complex needs and are Berkeley residents or unhoused in Berkeley. The Behavioral Health Clinician position primarily provides case management and resource information/referral services to older adults. Additional services can include groups, providing community outreach/presentations, caregiver consultations, trainings, and other resource development and organization. The Behavioral Health Clinician may also perform other clinical tasks, such as case consultations, intern supervision, and quality assurance for service documentation.
Adult and Homeless Full Service Partnership Teams (AFSP or HFSP): Two distinct teams (HFSP primarily serves the unhoused population) providing intensive services to adults with serious mental illness (SMI), complex needs, and high utilization of crisis, hospital, and other systems of care. Both teams use the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model, in which clinicians share responsibility for clients as a team rather than managing individual caseloads. Staff-to-client ratios are approximately 1:10, and services are provided primarily in the community. Services include mental health treatment, crisis support, symptom management, and hands-on assistance with housing, medical appointments, benefits, and daily living needs.
Comprehensive Community Treatment (CCT): Provides ongoing mental health treatment and case management to adults with moderate to serious mental illness who need regular support to maintain stability and work toward recovery goals. Clinicians manage individual caseloads of approximately 20-25 clients, providing services both in the clinic and in the community. Services include symptom management, assistance with obtaining and maintaining housing, accessing benefits such as CalFresh, connecting with primary care providers, attending medical appointments, and building independence.
Focus on Independence Teams (FIT): Provides mental health treatment and case management to adults who have stepped down or graduated from more intensive services within Berkeley Mental Health. Clinicians manage individual caseloads of approximately 30-35 clients, providing services both in the clinic and in the community. Services focus on maintaining stability and increasing independence, including symptom management, accessing benefits such as CalFresh, joining housing waitlists, connecting with primary care providers, and attending medical appointments.
Crisis Assessment and Triage/Transitional Outreach Team (CAT/TOT): CAT/TOT acts as a waystation to provide screening for ongoing behavioral health services, follow-up to connect individuals to Berkeley Mental Health for those who meet criteria, linkage to social services, coordination with other agencies, and presentations to the community about behavioral health services.
High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW): This intensive, team-based model provides support for children, youth, and young adults. It is for families with complex needs, often involving more than one system, such as child welfare, probation, or special education. The team is comprised of a lead facilitator, clinician/family specialist, youth partner, and parent partner.
High School Mental Health (HSMH): Berkeley High School Health Center and Berkeley Technology Academy Health Center are integrated, multidisciplinary co-locations of our Mental Health and Public Health Divisions. Services include individual therapy, group therapy, crisis assessment/intervention, case management, educational advocacy, community outreach, and collaboration with parents, caregivers, and families.
See the full job description here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/berkeley/classspecs/998808
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position is:
A masters degree from an accredited school in Social Work, Counseling, Psychiatric Nursing, or other Marriage and Family Therapy eligible discipline, or a doctorate degree in Psychology, with field placement of at least one (1) year in a medical, psychiatric, or community mental health setting.
Must have registration as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW), and/or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) with the State of California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).
Must be able to travel to various locations within and outside of Berkeley to meet program needs and to fulfill the job responsibilities. When driving on City business, incumbents must have a valid California driver's license as well as a satisfactory driving record.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants must submit a completed application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire. Please note that attachment of a resume is not a substitute for a completed application.
Applications are available in alternative formats (audio-format, braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) upon request to ada@berkeleyca.gov. Please allow 10 days for production of the material in an alternative format.
EXAM PROCESS
The exam process will include, but is not limited to:
Tests may consist of any combination of written, oral or other exercises or assessment procedures that test content and may include, but are not necessarily limited to, typing, math, reading, writing and analytical skills; problem solving ability; computer and software proficiency, or any other job-related knowledge, skill, ability or qualification. The examination process and dates are subject to change. The City may, without notice, change or eliminate any assessment component as needs dictate. Applicants passing all examination phases will have their names placed on an employment eligible list that hiring departments will use to conduct final selection interviews.
Reasonable Accommodations: The City is committed to making reasonable accommodations in the examination process and in the work environment. Individuals requesting reasonable accommodations in the examination process must submit a request in writing to hr@berkeleyca.gov at the time of application.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROCESS
Candidates under final consideration for employment with the City will undergo an employment background check that may include, but is not limited to: confirmation of employment history, educational credentials and degrees, certificates, registrations, and licenses including drivers license; credit check; criminal history check; and Live Scan fingerprinting.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) EMPLOYER
The City of Berkeley is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All employment actions shall be administered regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, political affiliation, veterans' status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.
DISASTER SERVICE WORKER
All City employees are required to provide services as Disaster Service Workers in the event of an emergency/disaster.
Benefited employees receive a myriad of financial and other benefits, including CalPERS pension and other retirement plans, medical and dental coverage, tuition reimbursement, paid time off and more.
Benefit-eligible employees include those with a regular work schedule of at least 20 hours per week. Employees working less than 30 hours per week may receive pro-rated benefits.
Retirement
CalPERS
City employees are included in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). The retirement formula is either 2% at age 62 (PEPRA members) or 2.7% at age 55 (Classic members).
Supplemental Retirement Income Plan (SRIP)
The City contributes 6.7% of the first $32,400 of the employees salary (up to $2,170.80 annually) into a 401(a) account. The City is not a member of Social Security, therefore only the Medicare portion is deducted from employees salaries.
Deferred Compensation
The City offers voluntary 457 deferred compensation plans with CalPERS or Empower. Employees may contribute up to the IRS maximum on a pre-tax basis.
Medical Plans
Employees can choose coverage under Kaiser HMO or Sutter Health Plan HMO. The City contributes an amount equal to the cost of the Kaiser premium. Employees who have medical coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided medical coverage and receive a monthly stipend.
Dental Plan
The City provides group dental benefits through Delta Dental of California. The City contributes up to the family coverage for the plan, which covers 90% of the dental charges up to $2,000 annually per person. Orthodontic benefits are offered at a $2,000 lifetime maximum per person. Employees who have dental coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided dental coverage and receive a monthly stipend.
Vision Plan
The City provides vision benefits through Vision Service Plan. The plan covers 100% for eye exams and lenses every 12 months with $25 copays. The plan also provides an allowance for frames every 24 months.
Life Insurance
The City provides employees with a Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy in the amount of $50,000. Employees have the option to purchase additional term life insurance up to a maximum of $300,000.
Sick Leave
Employees earn one day of paid sick leave per month.
Vacation
New employees accrue 80 or 120 hours of vacation annually, depending on classification. Vacation accrual rates increase with additional years of service. See the benefits and compensation table for details.
Holidays
15 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays annually
Uniform Allowance
Employees in select classifications receive up to $1,400 annually (see MOUs)
(SEIU CSU)
01
Do you have a masters degree from an accredited school in Social Work, Counseling, Psychiatric Nursing, or other Marriage and Family Therapy eligible discipline, or a doctorate degree in Psychology? Please ensure that the school, degree, and discipline are included in the Education section of your application.
02
Have you completed field placement of at least one (1) year in a medical, psychiatric, or community mental health setting? Please indicate the organization/agency and dates of your field placement below.
03
Are you registered as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW), or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) with the State of California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) or as a Psychologist with the Board of Psychology? Please indicate the type, issue date, and expiration date of your registration below.
04
Which of the below populations have you worked with in a medical, psychiatric, community mental health, or similar setting? Select all that apply. Please ensure that your experience with each population you select is also reflected in the Work section of your application.
05
When assigned to certain case management teams, the Behavioral Health Clinician I performs significant field work in order to provide services to residents out in the community. Please briefly describe your experience performing this type of field work. If you do not have experience in this area, you may type N/A.
06
Please select the team(s) you are most interested in (you may select more than one).
07
I understand that I am required to attach a copy of my license to this application.
08
I acknowledge that I have reviewed my application and my answers to all above supplemental questions for accuracy. I understand that an incomplete application, inconsistent or conflicting information, or incomplete answers to the supplemental questions may result in disqualification from the recruitment process.
Required Question
Employer City of Berkeley
Address 2180 Milvia Street (1st floor)
Human Resources Department
Berkeley, California, 94704
Phone (510) 981-6800
| Location | Berkeley, CA |
| Salary | $98,626.11–$115,678.58 Per Year |
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