Background

Since 1976, St. Joseph Center has been meeting the needs of low-income and homeless individuals and families in Venice and throughout Los Angeles County.  The Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization that assists people without regard for religious affiliation or lack thereof through 20+ programs in four pillars of service: Outreach and Engagement, Housing Services, Mental Health, and Education and Vocational Training.  St. Joseph Center serves more than 10,000 people each year. 

Brief Description of Principal Activities

Multifaceted intervention, prevention, mental health, and housing assistance is offered through street outreach and 9 service sites throughout Los Angeles County. St. Joseph Center also provides on-site services at five permanent supportive housing developments, and will provide services at an additional six more sites in the coming year.  St. Joseph Center’s total holistic approach to services provide our clients with the help they need to regain their stability.

Job Summary

The Mental Health Specialist works as a team member of a multi-disciplinary homeless street outreach team, in collaboration with social service professionals, ensuring the delivery of quality care in accordance with the rules and regulations established by the Los Angeles Department of Health Services for contracted agencies, while also adhering to the mission of St. Joseph Center. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Culver City Outreach Mental Health Specialist will use the “whatever it takes” approach and strong clinical lens to help people experiencing homelessness get connected to resources, and mental health supportive services to obtain permanent housing.

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

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Provide street-based outreach, navigation, and mental health support to individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Provide support and assistance to clients with accessing resources in the community. 
• Establish and maintain professional and positive relationships with staff, clients, and community providers.   
• Provide mental health assessment and interventions to the severe and persistently mentally ill.
• Link clients to appropriate bridge/interim housing programs and assist them in completing required paperwork to enroll them in permanent housing programs.
• Participate in staff meetings, trainings, conferences, program evaluation and program development.

Essential Duties:

• Implement case management, housing stabilization plans, biopsychosocial assessments 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 experiencing homelessness. 
• Assess homeless individuals utilizing the DSM-V.
• Utilize a trauma informed, housing first and harm reduction model when working with clients with chemical dependency or abuse issues.
• Link clients to appropriate bridge/interim housing programs and assist them in completing required paperwork to enroll them in permanent housing-related programs.
• Keep highly organized files for each client and enter appropriate data into the region’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Assist clients with enrolling in mainstream benefits and obtain identification (e.g., California Driver’s License, Social Security Card).
• Must be able to transport clients in company vehicles.
• Provide bus tokens, bus passes, taxi vouchers, and/or direct transportation as needed. 
• Perform daily follow-ups and wellness checks on existing clients and on all new referrals.
• Participate in SPA 5 case conferencing meetings and other community meetings.
• Coordinate with other outreach teams in joint outreach efforts and attend to special requests from the Coordinated Entry Systems Team.

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.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Must be highly motivated 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.   
• Must have strong knowledge of homeless services and resources. 
• Must have demonstrated knowledge and experience with Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, Housing First, and Critical Time Intervention.
• Must be able to walk long distances.
• Must have the ability to work flexible hours including some early mornings and evenings.
• A bilingual/bicultural background is a plus.

Experience:

• Two years of experience providing street-based services to highly vulnerable populations.
• Must have demonstrated experience with providing mental health assessments using diagnostic criteria from the DSM-V.

 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.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Ability to use widely supported internet browsers.
• Ability to accurately enter data into L.A. County, and St. Joseph Center databases

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations:

• BBS licensure or current registration.
• Valid California Class C Driver License
• Valid automobile liability insurance.

Travel Requirements:

• Must be able to travel to SPA 5 and surrounding areas.  May travel to trainings around L.A. County.

Work Environment:

The work environment will be primarily field based in the Los Angeles Service Planning Area 5. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The noise level in the work environment in the office is usually moderate, the work environment in the field can vary depending on where a client may be.

 Physical Demands:

 The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, stoop, talk, hear, reach above and below shoulders; use hand and finger dexterity, keyboarding and making and receiving telephone calls. The employee may be required on occasion to lift and or carry up to 20 lbs.

Status: Full-Time/Exempt

Salary: DOE

Benefits:

Excellent Benefits package available.

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

For consideration, please submit cover letter and resume. 

EEO:

St. Joseph Center provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, status as a veteran or any other characteristic protected under federal law. In addition to federal law requirements, SJC complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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  below. https://www.eeoc.gov/employers/eeo-law-poster