Mental Health Practitioner

Class Specifications – H.65
Senior Mental Health Practitioner – 8913
Mental Health Practitioner – 8914

February, 1975

Series Concept

Mental Health Practitioners assist members of an interdisciplinary team to plan, administer and evaluate programs for the care of mentally ill children and adults and/or children with developmental disabilities; and perform other related duties as required.

Class Concepts

Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Under general supervision incumbents are responsible for the development of programs that support other disciplines in carrying out their treatment and educational objectives; and work with the staff of community and placement agencies and with members of families to assist in carrying out programs, monitoring outcomes and providing for continuity of treatment objectives. Incumbents also assume responsibility for teaching other staff within their area of expertise; and may direct Mental Health Practitioner incumbents in the performance of their duties.

Mental Health Practitioner

Under supervision, incumbents work with small groups of patients, or with individual patients, or with patient-family groups, to develop programs that assist clients in more adaptive behavioral patterns. This includes the ·ability to formulate, implement and evaluate plans to assist clients; to develop more constructive adaptive patterns to cope with stressful situations; to develop impulse control, to learn self-help skills, to develop motor skills, to improve social and interpersonal relationships, and to reinforce adaptive behavioral patterns. Incumbents also adjust to motor and sensory deficits; structure time spans to engage in vocational, social, recreational and other selfdevelopment activities; and assist children in play activities that are based on learning theory and developmental play concepts and consider an individual child’s physical and intellectual capabilities. Incumbents work in both inpatient and clinic settings and develop liaison with community agencies and foster families to assist clients in their adjustment.

Minimum Qualifications

Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Possession of an Associate of Arts degree in a Behavioral Science and four years of experience working with mentally ill or developmentally disabled children or adults; or possession of a Baccalaureate degree in a Behavioral Science-and three years of experience working with mentally ill or developmentally disabled children or adults; or possession of a Master’s degree in a Behavioral Science and two years of experience working with mentally ill or developmentally disabled children or adults; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Mental Health Practitioner

Possession of an Associate of Arts degree in a Behavioral Science and three years of experience working with mentally ill or developmentally disabled children or adults; or possession of a Baccalaureate degree in a Behavioral Science and two years of experience working with mentally ill or developmentally disabled children or adults; or possession of a Master’s degree in a Behavioral Science and one year of experience working with mentally ill or developmentally disabled children or adults; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.