STRTP - MENTAL HEALTH REHABILITATION SPECIALIST (MHRS)

Governing Standards: STRTP Interim Licensing Standards (ILS), Version 5 (CDSS, released 12/11/2023); California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing (CCL); Title 22, CCR, Division 6; ILS §87022.1, §87065.1, §87061, §87019, §87072; DHCS Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS); Title 9, CCR §630 (MHRS classification); San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) and Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health (RUHS) Mental Health Plan contract, credentialing, and documentation standards; WIC §§15630, 16001.9; HIPAA.

Position Summary

The Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist (MHRS) provides individualized and group rehabilitation (skill-building) services to youth at the NFYS STRTP, addressing functional impairments identified in each youth’s Individual Client Plan (ICP), under the clinical supervision of the Head of Service. Services are delivered consistent with the Medi-Cal SMHS rehabilitation service definition and the credentialing and documentation standards of the contracting county mental health plans — San Bernardino County DBH and Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health (RUHS) — and in compliance with CCL / Title 22 and the STRTP Interim Licensing Standards (ILS v5).

Minimum Qualifications

• Meets the Medi-Cal Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist classification under Title 9, CCR §630 (as adopted by DBH and RUHS): a baccalaureate degree AND four (4) years of experience in a mental health setting as a specialist in the fields of physical restoration, social adjustment, or vocational adjustment.
• Substitutions per Title 9 §630: up to two (2) years of graduate professional education may be substituted for the experience requirement on a year-for-year basis; up to two (2) years of post-associate-arts clinical experience may be substituted for the required education, in addition to the four (4) years’ experience.
• Eligible for county MHP (DBH/RUHS) credentialing/registration as an MHRS rendering provider.
• Experience serving youth with trauma histories, complex behavioral health needs, and/or foster-care or juvenile-justice involvement; CSEC-responsive experience preferred.
• Knowledge of rehabilitation service delivery, skills-training methods, functional-impairment frameworks, and psychoeducation approaches.
• Training per ILS §87065.1 (8-hour initial training before being left alone with youth; 16 additional hours within 90 days of hire); CPR/First Aid (ILS §87065.1(b)(8)/(c)(8)); Mandated Reporter (CANRA) certification; DOJ/FBI criminal record clearance prior to employment (ILS §87019); at least 21 years of age (ILS §87065(g)(2)).

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide SMHS rehabilitation services — skills training, functional-skills coaching, behavioral intervention support, and psychoeducation — to youth individually and in groups, consistent with each youth’s ICP.
• Implement ICP rehabilitation service components under the clinical supervision of the Head of Service; participate in regular clinical supervision.
• Facilitate structured skills groups targeting emotional regulation, coping skills, social and communication skills, daily-living skills, and independent-living / transition readiness.
• Document all service contacts with Medi-Cal-compliant progress notes linking interventions to ICP goals and functional-impairment areas, within county MHP (DBH/RUHS) documentation timelines.
• Participate in treatment team meetings, case consultations, and CFT meetings; report behavioral observations and clinical concerns to the Head of Service.
• Monitor and de-escalate behavioral incidents using trauma-informed approaches; report incidents to the on-duty Facility Manager per ILS §87061.
• Uphold each youth’s Personal Rights (ILS §87072; WIC §16001.9); maintain strict confidentiality (HIPAA; Title 9).
• Complete all required initial and ongoing training per ILS §87065.1(c) and (d).

Employee Acknowledgment

I have read, understand, and agree to perform the duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description.

Employee Signature: __________________________________________ Date: ______________

Printed Name: __________________________________________ Title: ______________

Supervisor Signature: __________________________________________