Psychiatric Technician - Behavioral Health Services

This examination is being given to fill multiple part-time vacancies in the Behavioral Health Services Department and to establish an referral list to fill future vacancies. 

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. A completed application must be postmarked or received online by the final filing deadline.

Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is a division of San Joaquin County Health Care Services and provides an array of mental health and substance use disorder treatment services, primarily for Medi-Cal beneficiaries in San Joaquin County. The department consists of over 800 employees in the following operational divisions:

• Administration
• Adult/Older Adult Services
• Children and Youth Services
• Inpatient and Crisis Services (24 Hour Services)
• Mental Health Forensic Services
• Mental Health Pharmacy
• Mental Health Services
• Substance Abuse Services (Residential and Outpatient Treatment Services)

• Participates as a member of a treatment team in developing and implementing individual and group treatment programs for patients.
• Provides professional general and psychiatric nursing care to patients; monitors patient activities; assists patients to follow prescribed treatment plans.
• Observes patients' physical conditions and behavior; evaluates patient progress; reports significant changes to professional staff; records clinical notes on patients.
• Assists patients with feeding, habit training; keeps living areas clean; protects patients from personal injury; motivates patients to develop self-reliance in daily living.
• Monitors and administers medications and treatment, including hypodermic injections, catheterizations, enemas and oral medications; takes and charts temperatures, pulse and respiration; assists families and care providers in monitoring and administering medications.
• Admits and orients patients to inpatient facilities; acts as Court liaison through and admission process.
• Counsels family; explains patient's illness, medications and treatment; assists family to prepare for patient's discharge.
• Orders supplies, keeps records, and prepares reports.
• Participates in in-service training programs.

License: Completion of an accredited training program for Psychiatric Technician is required for entrance to testing. Possession of a valid license as a Psychiatric Technician issued by the Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician examiners of the State of California is required prior to employment.

Special Requirement: The Psychiatric Health Facility will perform a background investigation on prospective employees to include criminal background information from State and Federal information banks.

Note:  Supplemental application must be submitted with employment application.

Basic concepts of mental illness and mental health; the physical, emotional and social needs of emotionally disordered individuals; fundamentals of psychiatric terminology; principles and techniques involved in the care and treatment of individual or groups of mentally ill, or emotionally disturbed patients.

Apply routine psychiatric nursing care to mentally ill or emotionally disturbed patients; recognize symptoms indicative of adverse patient reactions; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; participate in treatment programs for patients; understand and follow written and oral directions; express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Mobility-Occasional operation of computers, sitting for long periods of time and driving; frequent walking, pushing/pulling and bending/squatting; Lifting-Ability to constantly lift 5 pounds or less and frequently up to 70 pounds; Vision-Constant overall vision, color/depth and eye hand coordination and peripheral vision; frequent reading and close-up work; Dexterity-Constant repetitive motion, writing, holding, reaching, grasping and writing; Hearing/Talking-Constant hearing normal speech, talking in person, talking on the telephone/radio; Emotional/Special Conditions-Constant decision making, public contact, concentration, working weekends/nights or overtime, exposure to trauma, grief and death; frequent working alone; Environment Conditions-Constant exposure to noise, dirt, dust, smoke, fumes, poor ventilation, cold, heat and hazardous materials;  Special Requirement-Constant exposure to assaultive behavior.

San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.  For more information go to Equal Employment Opportunity Division (sjgov.org).

Accommodations for those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Health Insurance:The County provides part time employees eligible for benefits with a choice of one of three health insurance plans at no cost to the employee. Dependent coverage is available for all plans, with employee paying a portion of the premium.  The three plans are: (1) a Kaiser Plan; (2) a Select Plan; and (3) a Premier Plan.

Dental Insurance:The County provides employees an option for dental insurance coverage for eligible employees and dependants in either the Delta Dental or the United Health Care Care-Select Managed cared direct plans at no cost to the employee. Dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

Vision Insurance:Under the Vision Service Plan (VSP), coverage for the employee is available at no cost to the employee. Dependent coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

Life Insurance: The County provides eligible employees with life insurance coverage as follows:
1 but less than 3 years of continuous service:   $1,000
3 but less than 5 years of continuous service:   $3,000
5 but less than 10 years of continuous service: $5,000
10 years of continuous service or more:           $10,000

Employee may purchase additional term life insurance up to a maximum of $100,000 at the County's rate.

125 Flexible Benefits Plan: This is a voluntary program that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses that are not paid by a medical, dental or vision plan (Health Flexible Spending Account $2550 annual limit with a $500 carry over); and dependent care costs (Dependent Care Assistance Plan $5000 annual limit).

Deferred Compensation: The County maintains deferred compensation plan under Section 457 of the IRS code. You may annually contribute $18,000 or 100% of your includible compensation, whichever is less. Individuals age 50 or older may contribute to their plan, up to $24,000.  

Vacation:  Vacation is pro-rated based on hours worked.  Employees earn .0385 hours based on each hour worked.  Vacation accrual increases based on length of service.

Holiday: 14 holidays per year which includes 4 floating holidays if the employee is normally scheduled to work the day of the holiday
·         Regular holiday: when an employee works on a regular holiday (non-floating), employee receives regular pay plus holiday pay or time off at time and one half
·         Floating holiday: employees who work on a floating holiday earn time off to be taken at a later date.

Sick Leave: Part time employees eligible for benefits accrue .0462 hours of sick leave for each straight-time hour on payroll with unlimited accumulation.  Sick leave incentive: An employee is eligible to receive eight hours administrative leave if the leave balance equals at least one half of cumulative amount that the employee is eligible to accrue.  The employee must also be on payroll during the entire calendar year. 

Bereavement Leave: 3 days of paid leave for the death of an immediate family member, 2 additional days of accrued leave for death of employee’s spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.

Merit Salary Increase: New employees will receive the starting salary, which is the first step of the salary range.  After employees serve 1840 hours on each step of the range, they are eligible for a merit increase to the next step.
License/Certificate Fees:  The County provides reimbursement for specific classifications under the Professional Memorandum of Understanding for fees required to renew State required license/certification.  Fees associated with initial license/certification will not be covered. 

Educational Reimbursement Program:  The County offers an Educational Reimbursement Program which reimburses the part time employees eligible for benefits up to $850 per fiscal year and up to $800 per semester (maximum $1600 per fiscal year) for enrollment in an approved degree program.

Parking Supplemental Downtown Stockton:  The County contributes up to $17.00 per pay period for employees assigned to work in the Downtown Core Area.

School Activities:  Employees may take up to 40 hours per year, but not more than eight (8) hours per month, to participate in their children’s school activities.

Social Security: Part time employees are covered by Social Security with the employee and the County sharing the cost.

Applicants for part-time and temporary recruitments who meet the minimum qualifications are either referred to the hiring department for further selection or they may be required to take a written examination.  If a written examination is given, the top candidates may be referred to the hiring department for further selection.

Testing Accommodation:  Candidates who require testing accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must call Human Resources Division at (209) 468-3370 prior to the examination date. 

Physical Exam:  Some classifications require physical examinations.  Final appointment cannot be made until the eligible has passed the physical examination.  The County pays for physical examinations administered in its medical facilities.

Pre-employment Drug Screening Exam:  Some classifications require a new employee successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen as a condition of employment.  Final appointment cannot be made until the eligible has passed the drug screen.  The County pays for the initial drug screen.

Employment of Relatives: Applicants who are relatives of employees in a department within the 3rd degree of relationship, (parent, child, grandparent, grandchild or sibling) either by blood or marriage, may not be appointed, promoted, transferred into or within the department when:

• They are related to the Appointing Authority, or

• The employment would result in one of them supervising the work of the other

Department Heads may establish additional limitations on the hiring of relatives by departmental rule.

Proof of Eligibility:  If you are offered a job, you will be required to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or other documents that establish your eligibility to be employed in the U.S.

Apply Online:       

www.sjgov.org/department/hr

By mail or in person:  

San Joaquin County Human Resources

44 N. San Joaquin Street Suite 330

Stockton, CA 95202                                  

Office hours:               
Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; excluding holidays.

Phone:  (209) 468-3370 

Job Line:

For current employment opportunities please call our 24-hour job line at (209) 468-3377. 

When a final filing date is indicated, applications must be filed with the Human Resources Division before 5:00 p.m. or postmarked by the final filing date. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. Applications sent through county inter-office mail, which are not received by the final filing date, will not be accepted. (The County assumes no responsibility for mailed applications which are not received by the Human Resources Division).  

San Joaquin County Substance Abuse Policy: San Joaquin County has adopted a Substance Abuse Policy in compliance with the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. This policy is enforced by all San Joaquin County Departments and applies to all San Joaquin County employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer:  San Joaquin County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.  For more information go to www.sjgov.org/department/hr/eeo.