Mental Health Specialist I - Mental Health Dvision

  • Full-time

Company Description

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 Description

Job Summary

The Mental Health Specialist ensures the delivery of quality care in accordance to the rules and regulations established by the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health for contracted agencies as well as adhering to the mission of St. Joseph Center.  The position provides therapy and case management services to adults diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness and substance use disorders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

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

Key Areas of Responsibility:

  • Utilize a harm reduction and housing first model when working with clients to have a “No wrong door” approach to services.  
  • Provide mental health services to individuals.
  • Develop and maintain strong ties to the community, law enforcement, and other service providers.
  • Provide mental health assessment and interventions to the severe and persistently mentally ill.
  • Provide therapeutic services around increasing independence and engagement in the community.

Essential Duties:

  • Identify clients at risk of losing housing and take appropriate measures to minimize risk of losing housing.
  • Coordinate services with other service providers involved in the client’s care.
  • Provide complete documentation, meeting medical necessity of all plans and other case management activities.
  • Implement client treatment plans, 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.      
  • Build trust and rapport with individuals.  Assess individuals and complete assessments, re-assessments, and client treatment plan that are required by the agency and funders.
  • Utilize a harm reduction model when working with clients with chemical dependency or abuse issues.
  • Provide skill building, rehabilitation and therapy services to individuals and groups.
  • Provide case management services if needed.
  • Keep highly organized files for each client and enter appropriate data within agency and funder compliance.
  • Participate in case conferencing meetings and other community meetings.
  • Coordinate and collaborate with other service providers or programs.
  • Participate in one-on-one or group clinical supervision.

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

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

  • Must be highly motivated, independent, and a self-starter.  Must have 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.   
  • Strong knowledge of homeless services and resources.  Demonstrated knowledge and experience with Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, Critical Time Intervention, and Housing First.
  • The ability to conduct home and field visits required.
  • A bilingual background is a plus.
  • The position requires an ability to work flexible hours including some early mornings and evenings.

Experience:

  • Experience providing services to highly vulnerable populations preferred.
  • Demonstrate experience with completing mental health assessments and client treatment plans using diagnostic criteria from the DSM-5.

Education:

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

Direct Reports:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities. 

Computer Skills:

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

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations:

  • Required: Current CA BBS registration or CA license.
  • 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.
  • Travel to meetings at multiple St. Joseph Center sites and at community partner locations.

Additional Information

Status: Full time/Exempt

Salary: DOE

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

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