Assessment Specialist - Postdoc (2026-2027)

WestCoast Children's Clinic • Oakland, CA

7d • $76,000

About The Position

WestCoast Children’s Clinic, located in Oakland, California, is a non-profit community psychology clinic that provides mental health services to Bay Area children, youth and families. Working at WestCoast Children’s Clinic means being part of an organization that is client-centered, trauma-informed, collaborative, and committed to justice and equity. Assessment Specialist (Prelicensed/Postdoctoral Level ok) WestCoast Children’s Clinic is seeking skilled Assessment Clinicians at the post-doctoral level who are collecting hours toward becoming a licensed psychologist. WCC clinicians provide mental health services to youth and families. WestCoast Children’s Clinic does not have a formal postdoctoral training program. However, pre-licensed staff are able to meet all supervision and training requirements for collecting hours toward California licensure. In addition, all staff participate in monthly program staff meetings and trainings to support professional development. Assessment Program The Assessment Program provides collaborative mental health assessments that answer our clients’ questions in ways that matter to them. The majority of clients receive services through MediCal. We serve youth and their families, ages 0-21 with most between the ages of 5 and 18 years. We serve youth and families with diverse racial, ethnic, language, cultural, and gender identities and needs, many of whom are current or past foster youth. We use a broad range of psychological and neuropsychological tools to answer assessment questions. Our assessors work with clients, their families, and their teams to determine the specific questions that need to be answered, with these questions guiding the interventions and support we provide along the way. Assessors gather information about previous assessments and evaluations, review relevant medical and developmental records, and speak with important stakeholders to determine how to best serve clients. We then recommend services that are tailored to the needs of clients. Assessments may be targeted or comprehensive, based on the questions and needs of the client. Testing domains may include neurodevelopmental, cognitive, attention, executive functioning, mood and emotion, social functioning, adaptive functioning, and impact of trauma. Throughout the assessment process, we listen to clients’ voices, seek to understand challenges, and foster a deeper understanding of clients’ lived experiences in order to help make changes and support growth. In addition to conducting assessments, clinicians also provide therapy services to clients, which may include individual, family, or group therapy. Clinical caseloads vary based on the needs of our clients, and clinicians may work with clients for a mix of clinical services in their role. Our assessment team uses a variety of clinical perspectives and orientations, including relational/psychodynamic, attachment-oriented, CBT, DBT, and family systems within a larger trauma-informed approach.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology. Degree must be conferred and sent to the agency prior to September 1st. You will need to provide an official transcript with your degree conferral date. This role requires that we obtain a professional licensing waiver from the Department of Health Care Services. These waivers are valid for 5 years from the original issue date and are nonrenewable.
• Able to start by September 2026
• Demonstrated clinical skills in assessment/evaluation, treatment, and crisis intervention while working with youth with complex need
• Experience and enthusiasm working with diverse clients and families
• Well-organized, efficient, and excellent time management skills
• A trauma-informed and relational approach to working with youth
• Ability to travel by car to meet with clients, generally within a 90 mile radius of WCC's Oakland office. Alternative forms of transportation may be accommodated based on the needs of the program and clients. Employees must have a clean CA DMV record. When driving for WCC, current vehicle insurance is

Nice To Haves

• Applicants who are bilingual in Spanish as well as bicultural applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Provide screening, assessment, and therapeutic assessment services; assess functioning, strengths, and needs depending on client’s assessment questions.
• Provide individual, family, or group therapy as part of your role, depending on WCC client needs.
• Identify useful services and supports, and support engagement in mental health services.
• Collaborate closely with youth and the adults in their lives to answer questions that are meaningful to them, from a collaborative-therapeutic assessment framework.
• Collaborate with other professionals on behalf of clients, including fellow WCC clinicians, school staff, medical providers, and other important stakeholders.
• Seek consultation with supervisors and colleagues in order to better serve clients and families with complex needs.
• Conduct services at WCC and in the community when indicated (for example, in youth’s home and community, at other agencies, or school). Because this is a core component of our assessment program, the ability to travel to meet with clients in the community is required.
• Provide assessment and therapy services that align with our program and agency values, that are strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming, and hold clients’ intersecting racial, cultural, and gender identities with intention and care.
• Engage in conversations around race, power, and privilege with clients, caregivers, and teams in order to serve diverse youth and families.
• Collect feedback from clients and families throughout the assessment and therapeutic processes, and use this feedback to guide the assessment process.
• As clinically indicated, assess risk, and provide crisis intervention and stabilization.

Benefits

• Receive individual and group clinical supervision by a dedicated licensed supervisor to assist toward becoming a licensed psychologist.
• Serve children and their families and work together to support them in ways that are meaningful to them, and create opportunities for change and growth.
• Be part of a values-driven team that is social justice-focused.
• The opportunity to connect with others with shared identities and values. As an agency we have several Staff Affinity Groups such as BIPOC Council, Alianza Latine, LGBTQIA+ council, Equity and Inclusion, Health and Wellness.
• As a Joint Commission Accredited agency, we provide the highest standard of care and offer extensive clinical training and seminars led by field experts. Training includes Working with CSEC Youth, Telehealth, Complex Trauma/Trauma-Informed Care, Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS), Supervisor in Training program, and much more!
• As a program, we hire professionals to teach us about assessment and therapy tools and interventions and how to best serve our diverse clients and families. Examples of recent trainings include Learning the MIGDAS-2 with Dr. Marilyn Monteiro and Antiracist Assessment with Dr. Alea Holman.
• A bi-annual Professional Development Stipend, which can be used for licensure materials and other professional training opportunities.
• Employer-paid Medical Benefits for Employees
• 100% employer-paid dental and vision
• Dependent medical, dental and vision (50% employer-paid)
• Medical and Dependent Care FSA and commuter plans
• 100% employer-paid life insurance long-term disability insurance
• 403(b) and ROTH retirement plan options, employer contribution targeted at 7.5% after first year of employment
• Quarterly (5-10%) and annual incentive compensation (10%)
• Three weeks PTO during the first year of employment, 4+ weeks PTO with additional years of service
• 12 paid holidays plus one paid floating holiday per year
• 4 paid self-care days per year
• Wellness stipend ($100.00 per month)
• Professional development stipend and CEUs for trainings
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree