Mental Health Specialist - Outreach & Engagement

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

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, as well as adhering to the mission of St. Joseph Center (SJC). The 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.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

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 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.
• Build trust and rapport with individuals experiencing homelessness. Assess homeless individuals utilizing the DSM-V.
• Utilize a 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 to enroll in mainstream benefits and obtain identification (i.e., California Driver’s License, Social Security Card).
• Must be able to operate a motor vehicle to perform the essential functions of the position, which includes transporting 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.
• Conduct group therapy 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.
• Strong knowledge of homeless services and resources. Demonstrated knowledge and experience