Mental Health Specialist - Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH)

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 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 treatment teams and other service providers involved in clients’ care.
• Participate in treatment team meetings and other community meetings.
• Participate in individual clinical supervision, group supervision, and administrative supervision.

Community Engagement & Other Duties

• Perform education in the community and other duties within one’s scope of practice when assigned.

* 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.
• 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.
• The ability to conduct field visits if necessary.
• 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 the 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) and widely supported internet browsers.

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations:

• Current CA BBS registration or CA LMFT or LCSW licensure or documentation stating the request for BBS registration that adheres to the “90 Day Rule” required.
• 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 various St. Joseph Center sites and to community partner locations.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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: $75,600

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