Behavior - LCSW-Psychotherapist (Sign-on-Bonus)

Social Worker 8.0 Work-LifeNo weekendsNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$100K - $115K

The week · per this posting · Monday – FridayWeekdays only

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

We are an FQHC community health center dedicated to embodying the values central to American Indian cultures. This includes respect for our patients, acknowledgement of the whole person, and a focus on working together to ensure health for the individual, and therefore the community.

We invite persons of all tribes, ethnic backgrounds and walks of life to experience the comprehensive care we deliver and to contribute to the services we provide for children, youth, families, adults, and elders.

(Sign-on-Bonus) for FQHC qualified candidates

Ability to perform psychotherapy services via such modalities as Motivational Interviewing, CBT, Mindfulness, DBT, and other approaches to adults and older youth.

Ability to diagnose and evaluate mental & emotional disorders, treat persons with co-occurring disorders (mental health and substance abuse), to assess and handle crises (both in office and of people walking into the clinic).

Will work co-operatively with behavioral health teammates, with our Nurse Case Managers, and collaboratively with our Medical Department. Must have a patient centered approach to behavioral health care (the patient’s needs come first).

Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to perform all job-related activities as outlined below.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Primary Functions:

Conducts client interviews and reviews medical and social case histories to complete initial assessments and develop ongoing treatment plans

Provides therapeutic interventions to address psychological disorders and syndromes, aiming to enhance client functioning.

Collaborates with Psychiatry team and other agency specialists in developing treatment plans for patients, coordinating ongoing treatment and referrals in a collaborative manner, and providing case management as needed.

  • Primary Functions: continue
  • Demonstrates expertise in assessing and treating clients experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
  • Possesses experience working with a wide range of standard diagnoses and issues, including severe mental illness, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders.
  • Experience facilitating therapy treatment groups is preferred.
  • Will participate in weekly staff supervision meetings, including presenting challenging cases.
  • Must complete all documentation within 48 hours of seeing a client, plus stay current with all required treatment plans, closing summaries, etc.
  • Must be able to work effectively with our Electronic Health Record (E-Clinical Works).

May serve as consultant to social, educational, welfare, and other agencies on individual cases or in evaluation, planning, and development of mental health treatment for clients of SDCHC.

Must be able to respond to effectively de-escalate in-office client crises, respond to client crisis phone calls that day, and be able to respond to walk-in client crises when asked to by leadership staff.

  • May participate in Grants that help to fund this position and the BH program.
  • Is not hesitant to seek advice and consultation with peers and the Behavioral Health Director.
  • Other duties as assigned by Behavioral Health Director.

Qualifications

  • Minimum Qualifications:
  • CA LCSW is in good standing.
  • Minimum of 2 years’ experience.
  • Current BLS Certification through the American Heart Association.

Preferred

  • Master’s degree in social work.
  • Experience serving a multinational, multicultural population.
  • FQHC background.
  • Familiarity with Community Health Clinics and/or Indian Health Clinics.

ECW EHR.

  • Special Conditions of Employment:
  • Monday – Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.
  • Build caseloads that eventually translate to 8 sessions a day in an 8-hour workday.

CPR/ BLS certification: Maintain a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Red Cross, or an equivalent organization. Certification must include an in-person, hands-on skills assessment. Online-only certifications are not accepted.

Annual background checks: Consent to annual background checks as a condition of continued employment, to ensure compliance with organizational standards and eligibility requirements.

For-Cause Drug Screening: Comply with drug screening requirements when initiated by the organization for cause, to support a safe, compliant, and drug-free workplace.

Ongoing Compliance Requirements: Maintain up-to-date compliance with all required annual renewals, including professional licenses, certifications, physical examinations, TB testing, and mandatory regulatory trainings as assigned by the San Diego Community Health Center (SDCHC).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Strong oral and written communication abilities.
  • Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: continue
  • Proficient in time management and prioritizing tasks.
  • Highly organized with keen attention to detail.
  • Capable of maintaining confidentiality and accurate record-keeping.
  • Skilled in building effective interpersonal relationships.
  • Able to interact professionally and respectfully with diverse individuals.
  • Demonstrates the ability to establish and sustain cooperative working relationships throughout the course of work.
  • Competence in performing basic mathematical calculations is necessary for job responsibilities.
  • Dependable and highly trustworthy.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or similar software programs.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, with or without reasonable accommodation

  • Ability to lift and move up to 10 pounds and navigate between locations as needed.
  • Capability to remain seated at a desk and operate a computer for extended periods.
  • Physical stamina to stand, bend, and reach for prolonged durations.

Strong analytical skills, with the ability to perform mathematical calculations, organize and prioritize tasks, and maintain productivity under pressure.

Demonstrated ability to supervise, manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and comprehend and follow instructions accurately.

Customer Service

Actively champions and upholds the Mission, Vision, and core values of SDCHC through consistent actions and commitment.

Demonstrates outstanding customer service in all interactions with internal and external stakeholders, fostering positive and respectful relationships.

Embodies SDCHC’s Standards of Customer Service Behavior, including Compassion, Positive Attitude, Effective Communication, Professional Appearance, a Strong Sense of Ownership, and Collaborative Teamwork.

Continuously engages in customer service training and professional development to enhance skills and maintain best practices.

Proactively promotes SDCHC’s reputation as a leading service organization through every interaction, demonstrating professionalism and dedication.

Quality Management

Actively contributes to the organization's success by engaging in quality improvement initiatives and demonstrating a commitment to continuous enhancement of services.

Strictly adhere to all SDCHC policies and procedures while proactively supporting the adoption and implementation of new organizational initiatives.

Participate in and champion ongoing quality improvement efforts as directed by clinic leadership, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.

Safety

Maintain strict compliance with all regulations, policies, and procedures related to safe work practices, consistently prioritizing workplace safety.

Safety: continue

Actively engage in infection prevention by adhering to best practices and implementing appropriate infection control measures during patient care and interactions.

Ensure full compliance with regulatory standards to maintain the safety of the physical environment, including equipment and supplies, promoting a secure and hazard-free workspace.

Utilize all necessary tools and equipment effectively to uphold workplace safety and reduce potential risks.

Promptly identify and report any unsafe working conditions to ensure immediate corrective action and maintain a safe working environment.

Privacy/Compliance

Upholds the highest standards of privacy and security for all patients, employees, and volunteers by strictly granting access to information solely on a need-to-know basis for legitimate business purposes.

Demonstrates unwavering commitment to corporate integrity by adhering to all relevant regulations and promptly reporting any unethical, fraudulent, or unlawful behavior or activities.

Consistently exemplifies the highest ethical standards in all professional interactions and decision-making processes.

Safeguards the confidentiality and security of patient and employee information with the utmost integrity, maintaining trust and accountability by allowing access strictly for business-related needs.

Flexibility: Available for all shifts and, when required, able to work evenings and weekends

Disclaimer

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This description reflects managements’ assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Preference is given to qualified American Indian/Alaskan Natives in accordance with the American Indian Preference Act (Title 25, U.S. Code Section 472, 473 and 473a). In other than the above, the San Diego Community Health Center, is an equal opportunity employer.

Acknowledgement

San Diego Community Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or any other protected class, political affiliation, or belief.

Preference is given to qualified American Indian/Alaskan Natives in accordance with the American Indian Preference Act (Title 25

Key Responsibilities

Conduct client interviews, perform initial assessments, and develop ongoing treatment plans for patients with mental health and substance abuse disorders. Provide therapeutic interventions and collaborate with the psychiatry team and medical department to ensure comprehensive patient care.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Crisis interventionMental health assessmentSubstance abuse treatmentElectronic health recordsTreatment planningDe-escalation

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Behavior - LCSW-Psychotherapist (Sign-on-Bonus) at San Diego American Indian Health Center a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 5% in Social Work — ranked against 6,110 active Social Work listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements, no night shifts.

Social Worker Career Context

Of the 38 active Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) listings this role was benchmarked against, 47% are remote, 42% have no call, 58% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$108k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $97k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Jobs

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Salary Distribution23 jobs · 16 employers

5
<$105k
4
$105k-120k
7
$120k-135k
6
$135k-150k
1
$166k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks17 jobs · 16 employers

401k / retirement match
94%
Sign-on bonus
29% this job
CME allowance
18%
Loan repayment
12% this job
PSLF eligible
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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$50-$80/hr
#2

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$70/hr
#3

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 8.0
Among the best 10% of Social Work listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 6,110 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • No nights

Living in San Diego

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.01M≈ 10.1× annual pay
Typical market rent
$3,036/mo≈ 36% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
24 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

San Diego American Indian Health Center logo

About San Diego American Indian Health Center

Hospitals and Health Care
San Diego, CA
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Sign-on Bonus
Monday-Friday Schedule