Background

Since 1976, St. Joseph Center has been meeting the needs of low-income and homeless individuals and families in Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, and surrounding communities.  The Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization that assists people without regard for religious affiliation or lack thereof through comprehensive case management and integrated social service programs.  The Center enjoys broad-based community support as well as a sponsored relationship with its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.  St. Joseph Center serves approximately 6,000 individuals annually.

Brief Description of Principal Activities

Multifaceted intervention, prevention, and education services are carried out at four sites on the Westside of Los Angeles.  St. Joseph Center’s integrated programs provide clients with concentrated and coordinated access to services according to the nature of their needs.

Job Summary

The Mental Health Specialist II (Lead) works as a team member with several social service professional and paraprofessional staff ensuring the delivery of quality care in accordance to the rules and regulations established as well as adhering to the mission of St. Joseph Center. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Mental Health Specialist II’s key areas of responsibility include: 

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Under supervision of program manager, provide clinical consultation and support to staff.
• Provide mental health assessment and interventions to the severe and persistently mentally ill clients.
• Develop and maintain strong ties to the community, court systems, law enforcement, and other service providers involved in the clients’ care.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other service providers or programs.
• Assist program manager with developing, reviewing and revising administrative policies and procedures in keeping with program requirements.

Essential Duties:

• Assist program manager with providing clinical and administrative supervision to program/department staff.
• Participate in weekly conference calls and staff meetings as assigned by the program manager.
• Lead weekly clinical case conferencing meetings and attend other  community meetings as assigned by the program manager.
• Assist the program manager with overseeing case management and supportive services to meet the needs of each client.
• Assist the case managers with keeping highly organized files for each client and enter data and progress notes into the appropriate electronic databases.
• Assist with collecting statistics and preparing reports for funders and internal agency use.
• Participate in other SJC community, administrative, and fundraising activities as necessary.
• Ensure court progress report and all other documentation is completed in a timely manner.
• May be dispatched to jail settings, street outreach locations, client homes, and/or homeless encampments as needed.
• Assist case managers with implementing case management service plan goals, emphasizing coordinated strategies for addressing mental health/substance abuse issues, relapse prevention, medication management, and any other risk factors that could impede permanent housing and provide ongoing assessment of client progress in attaining goals.
• Provide assessment, crisis intervention, mental health and case management services to a small caseload as needed.
• Respond to referral assignments within program expectations.  Initiate and complete necessary tasks prior to client’s release date as needed. 
• Ensure timely and regular meetings with clients in jail settings, street outreach locations, client homes and/or homeless encampments.
• Build trust and rapport with individuals.  Assess individuals utilizing the proper tool (i.e. Vulnerability Index (VI) SPDAT).
• Utilize a harm reduction model when working with clients with chemical dependency or abuse issues.
• Link clients to physical health, mental health, and other supportive services internally or externally.
• Link clients to appropriate bridge/interim housing programs and assist them in completing required paperwork in order to enroll them in permanent housing-related programs.
• Provide bus tokens, bus passes, taxi vouchers, and/or direct transportation as needed. 
• Utilize a harm reduction model when working with clients with chemical dependency or abuse issues.
• In absence of the program manager, takes on essential daily duties (i.e. lead team meeting, provide consultations as needed.)

Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed are designed to provide typical examples of the work performed; not all duties and responsibilities assigned are included here, nor is it expected that all similar positions will be assigned every duty and responsibility.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Must be highly motivated and a self-starter.  The ability to communicate with and relate to a diverse group of people including clients, community, and other staff.  Must have excellent organizational skills and the capability to work in a fast paced environment.   
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, Critical Time Intervention, and Housing First.
• Candidates must have demonstrated knowledge of case management principals and intervention techniques specific to hard-to-reach, difficult to serve populations.
• The ability to conduct home visits.
• A bilingual background is desirable.

Experience:

• Two years’ post Master’s degree, with experience of providing mental health services to highly vulnerable, homeless, and justice involved populations.  
• Demonstrate experience with providing mental health assessments using diagnostic criteria from the DSM-IV
• Supervisory experience is desirable.

Education:

• Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in social work, human services or a related field.

Direct Reports:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.  However, the Mental Health Specialist II serves as the lead on the team.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Ability to use widely supported internet browsers.

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations:

• Preferred: CA BBS registered as MSW or MFT.
• Valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
• Valid automobile liability insurance.

Travel Requirements:

• Travel to meet with clients as needed.
• Travel to meetings at multiple St. Joseph Center sites and at community partner locations as needed.

Status: Full-Time/Exempt

Salary: DOE

Employment with St. Joseph Center is contingent on completion of satisfactory background check.

St. Joseph Center endorses and supports the intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are applicants or employees who need accommodations. If you require an accommodation due to a disability to complete this application OR you are experiencing issues submitting your application and accompanying materials please contact Human Resources at 310-396-6468.

For consideration, please submit cover letter and resume. St. Joseph Center is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. All applicants for employment are invited to voluntarily self-identify their gender, race, ethnicity, and veteran status, by completing the EEO Information. Providing your EEO Information is voluntary and refusal to self-identify will not subject applicants to any adverse treatment. Similarly, applicants who do self-identify will not be subject to any adverse treatment based on the information they provide.

St. Joseph center invites you to review the current "EEO is The Law" poster as part of the application process. A link to the current poster is located here.

 https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf