Staff_Mental_Health

Staff Mental Health Specialist

Exam Code: 3MHBB

Administering Department: Department of State Hospitals

Exam Type: Servicewide, Open

Final Filing Date: Continuous

Class Code: 8325

CLASSIFICATION DETAILS

Staff Mental Health Specialist – $6,061 to $7,817 per month.

Salary updated as of: February 8, 2023

View the Staff Mental Health Specialist classification specification

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Final Filing Date: Continuous

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis. The cut-off-date is the first Friday

(11:59 PM) of each month. All completed applications and Training and Experience

examinations submitted by the cut-off-date will be processed for that administration.

Note: Applications and examinations may be processed on a flow basis prior to the cut-

off-date to meet the hiring needs of the department.

Dates printed on envelopes by mobile barcodes or equivalent mobile print technology

are not acceptable proof of the date the application and any other required documents

or materials were filed.

Bulletin Date: 3/3/2023

Who Should Apply:

Applicants who meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin may apply for

and take this examination. Once you have taken this examination, you may not retake it

for twelve (12) months.

Unless otherwise stated on this bulletin, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications by

the Final Filing Date or cut-off-date stated above.

How to Apply:

Step 1. Applicants are required to submit an Examination Application (STD 678),

found at www.calcareers.ca.gov, either by mail, in person, or via email to the

address listed below.

Step 2. Once your application has been submitted, you must complete the

Training and Experience (T&E) following the instructions below under, Taking

the Examination.

Applicants must complete Steps 1 and 2 by each cut-off date. Failure to do so

will result in a delay in the examination process.

The preferred method to apply is by emailing your STD 678 to:

StaffMentalHealthSpecialist@dsh.ca.gov

Electronic signatures are acceptable.

Indicate the Classification on your Examination Application (STD 678).

You may apply in person at:

Department of State Hospitals – Sacramento

Selection Services Unit, MS-14

1215 O Street

Sacramento, California 95814

Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm (excluding State holidays)

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, please

contact the testing department listed in the Contact Information section of this bulletin.

Bulletin Date: 3/3/2023

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on

this exam bulletin to be accepted into the examination. Part-time or full-time jobs,

regardless of whether paid or volunteer positions, and inside or outside California state

service will count toward experience.

The following education requirement applies only to the non-California state service

experience patterns of all four levels.

Education Requirements: Equivalent to graduation from college. (Supervisory,

administrative, or clinical experience in the field of mental health may be substituted for

the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Either I: One year of experience in the California state service performing analytical

skills comparable to those duties performed by an Associate Mental Health Specialist in

a program for the mentally disabled. Or

Three years of experience providing professional clinical treatment in a State hospital in

the Department of Mental Health (now Department of State Hospitals) at the level of

responsibility equivalent to that of a Unit Supervisor.

Or II

Four years of experience either: (1) performing analytical staff work in planning,

costing, and monitoring of a program for the mentally disabled (experience applied

toward this pattern must include at least one year of performing duties comparable to

those performed by an Associate Mental Health Specialist); or (2) providing professional

clinical treatment for the mentally disabled, including three years at a level of

responsibility equivalent to that of a Unit Supervisor in a State hospital for the mentally

disabled.

(Possession of a Master’s Degree in Psychology, rehabilitation, Nursing, Social Work.

Public Administration, or closely related field may be substituted for two years of the

required experience. Candidates who possess two years of the required experience

and are in their final quarter or semester of completing the required course work will be

admitted to the examination, but they must produce evidence of successful completion

before they may be considered eligible for appointment)

Bulletin Date: 3/3/2023

SPECIAL PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

An objective and sympathetic understanding of the mentally and emotionally disturbed;

tolerance and tact.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

A limited number of positions may be allocated as high-level, nonsupervisory

specialists. Incumbents perform duties having significant impact on the Department's

operations. Positions at this level are those where the function performed is critical to

the Department's basic mission. Incumbents develop, implement, and evaluate

innovative mental health programs, policies, pilot projects, or prototypes. Incumbents

may act as a project leader or as a leadperson over a small group of lower-level

analytical or clinical staff.

EXAMINATION SCOPE

This examination consists of the following components:

Training and Experience Evaluation – Weighted 100% of the final score.

The examination will consist solely of a Training and Experience Evaluation. To

obtain a position on the eligible list, a minimum score of 70% must be received.

In addition to evaluating applicants’ relative knowledge, skills, and ability, as

demonstrated by quality and breadth of education and/or experience, emphasis in each

exam component will be measuring competitively, relative job demands, each

applicant’s:

Knowledge of:

1. Principles and practices of public administration, and budgetary preparation and

control.

2. Methods of clinical treatment of mentally disabled clients.

3. Mental health planning and procedures.

4. Social aspects of mental and emotional disturbances and mental deficiency.

5. Current trends in mental health, public health, public welfare, and governmental

budgeting.

6. Techniques, trends, and problems in the operation of public and private mental

health institutions.

7. Programs and trends in community or forensic mental health services in California.

8. Laws and regulations governing community or forensic mental health programs

partially or totally funded by the State or Federal Government.

9. Principles and practices of organization and fiscal management.

10. Treatment programs.

Bulletin Date: 3/3/2023

11. Laws and regulations relating to Federal and State funding programs and State

hospital and community treatment program organization.

12. Aspects of clinical services.

13. Principles of public personnel administration and supervision.

Ability to:

1. Work with community or forensic mental health administrators to improve mental

health services.

2. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action.

3. Develop cooperative working relationships with community or forensic mental

health administrators and health professionals.

4. Interpret mental health-related laws and their application to program situations.

5. Work effectively with clients.

6. Communicate effectively.

7. Work independently in identifying mental health program deficits and needs.

8. Developing recommendations for improvement of service delivery systems.

ELIGIBLE LIST INFORMATION

A Servicewide, Open eligible list for the Staff Mental Health Specialist classification

will be established for use by all state agencies.

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list in order of

final score regardless of exam date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established.

Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Veterans’ Preference will be granted for this examination. In accordance with

Government Codes 18973.1 and 18973.5, whenever any veteran, or widow or widower

of a veteran achieves a passing score on an open examination, he or she shall be

ranked in the top rank of the resulting eligible list.

Veterans status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR).

Information on this program and the Veterans’ Preference Application (Std. form 1093)

is available online at the following website:

https://www.jobs.ca.gov/CalHRPublic/Landing/Jobs/VeteransInformation.aspx

Additional information on veteran benefits is available at the Department of Veterans

Affairs.

Career credits are not granted for examinations administered on an Open or

Promotional basis.

Bulletin Date: 3/3/2023

PREPARING FOR THE EXAMINATION

Here is a list of suggested resources to have available prior to taking the exam.

1. Employment History: Employment dates, job titles, organization names and

addresses, names of supervisors or persons who can verify your job

responsibilities, and phone numbers of persons listed above.

2. Education: School names and addresses, degrees earned, dates attended,

courses taken (verifiable on a transcript), persons or office who can verify

education, and phone numbers of persons or offices listed above.

3. Training: Class titles, certifications received, names of persons who can verify

your training, and phone numbers of persons listed above.

TAKING THE EXAMINATION

Step 1. Submit your STD 678 to StaffMentalHealthSpecialist@dsh.ca.gov, then

IMMEDIATELY go to Step 2.

Step 2. Click on this link to take the Staff Mental Health Specialist examination.

Applicants must complete Steps 1 and 2 by each cut-off date. Failure to do so

will result in the examination process.

TESTING DEPARTMENT

Department of State Hospitals

CONTACT INFORMATION

Questions relating to this exam should be directed to:

Department of State Hospitals

Selection Services Unit

Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm (excluding State Holidays)

Phone: 916-651-8832

Email: StaffMentalHealthSpecialist@dsh.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a

Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped

with a TTY Device.

Bulletin Date: 3/3/2023

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age,

ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right of 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.

DRUG-FREE STATEMENT

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any

applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this

objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the

rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the

California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment

Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account at the following

website:

http://www.CalCareers.ca.gov/

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this

examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not

assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this

bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who

pass will be ranked according to their score.

The Department of State Hospitals reserves the right to revise the examination plan to

better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination

was planned change. This examination may be canceled by the Department of State

Hospitals at any time prior to the establishment of the employment list. Such revision or

cancelation will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will

be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications

including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgement, the ability to work

cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the

assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open

examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history

and fingerprinting may be required.

Bulletin Date: 3/3/2023

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date,

must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental

promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) servicewide promotional, 5)

departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must

be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the

bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12

grade may be

demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education

Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3)

certification form the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high

school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to

graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of

business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.