Mental Health Therapist - (West LA) Housing Supportive Services

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.

St. Joseph Center provides clinical individual and group supervision with the intention of getting licensed for free

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

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.  
• Develop and maintain strong ties to the community, law enforcement, and other service providers.
• Provide mental health assessment, interventions, and services to individuals with severe and persistently mentally ill.
• Provide therapeutic services around increasing stabilization, independence and engagement in the community.

Essential Duties:

• Identify clients at risk of losing housing and take appropriate measures to minimize risk by providing stabilizing services.
• 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.
• 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.      
• Provide complete documentation, meeting medical necessity, of all services and plans provided to clients.
• Keep highly organized files for each client and enter appropriate data within agency and funder compliance.
• Coordinate services and collaborate with other service providers involved in the clients’ care.
• Link clients to psychiatry services and other supportive services internally or externally.
• Provide skill building, rehabilitation and therapy services to individuals and groups.
• Utilize a harm reduction model when working with clients with chemical dependency or abuse issues.
• Utilize evidence based practices and best practice models to meet each client’s individual needs
• Participate in case conferencing meetings and other community meetings.
• Coordinate and collaborate with community, law enforcement, and other service providers and programs.
• Participate in individual clinical supervision, group clinical supervision, and administrative 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

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 with evidence based practices and best practices including: Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, and Housing First.
• The ability to conduct home and field visits. 
•  A bilingual background is a plus.
• The position requires an ability to work flexible hours including some early mornings