Mental Health Specialist - Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH)

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

In partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health through the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) Program, St. Joseph Center will provide interim housing opportunities designed to meet the immediate needs of individuals experiencing homelessness who are living with behavioral health conditions and/or substance use disorders. The BHBH Program offers a safe, private, and secure environment where participants are empowered to stabilize, build self-sufficiency, and transition from homelessness to permanent housing.

Under the supervision of the Program Manager and with clinical oversight from the Clinical Supervisor, the Mental Health Therapist provides direct mental health and substance use services to adults experiencing homelessness and behavioral health challenges. Working within a trauma-informed, harm-reduction framework, the Mental Health Specialist engages residents in therapeutic support, crisis intervention, and care coordination. As part of a multidisciplinary team, the Mental Health Specialist helps residents achieve greater stability, build life skills, and move toward recovery and permanent housing.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Key areas of Responsibility:

• Apply a harm reduction and Housing First approach to client care, ensuring a “no wrong door” philosophy is upheld across all services.
• Conduct comprehensive mental health assessments and deliver evidence-based interventions for individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI).
• Collaborate with shelter staff and partners to develop and implement individual and group service plans for residents at interim housing sites.
• Provide therapeutic services that promote clients’ independence, daily functioning, and meaningful engagement in the community.
• Offer case management support as needed to assist clients in navigating services, resources, and referrals.
• Cultivate and maintain strong community partnerships and effective working relationships with external service providers to enhance care coordination and access.

Essential Duties:

Clinical Assessment & Treatment Planning

• Build trust and rapport with individuals.
• Assess individuals and complete assessments, re-assessments, and client treatment plans as required by the agency and funders.
• Implement client treatment plans, emphasizing coordinated strategies for addressing mental health issues, medication management, and other risk factors.
• Provide ongoing assessment of client progress in attaining goals.
• Identify potential risk areas and implement appropriate measures to reduce them by providing stabilizing services.

Direct Clinical Services

• Provide skill-building, rehabilitation, and therapy services to individuals.
• Utilize a trauma-informed lens when working with clients.
• Utilize a harm reduction model when working with clients with substance use issues.
• Utilize evidence-based practices and best practice models to meet each client’s individual needs.
• Link clients to psychiatry services and other supportive services internally or externally.

Documentation & Compliance

• Provide complete documentation, meeting medical necessity standards, of all services and plans provided to clients.
• Document all services within 24–48 hours and meet the expected weekly billing productivity.
• Manage clients’ electronic health records and keep them up to date.

Collaboration & Coordination

• Coordinate services and collaborate with treatmen