LA Family Housing

  • Canoga Park, CA


  • Temporary

  • Full-time
Description :

POSITION: Mental Health Specialist III

DIVISION: Programs – Interim Housing – Individual Programs

LOCATION: Scattered Sites- San Fernando Valley

SALARY: $23.92 – $26.68

SUMMARY OF THE ORGANIZATION

LA Family Housing is a leader in homeless services and affordable housing development in Los Angeles. We believe that everyone deserves the dignity of a home and we are invested in innovative solutions to ensure their long-term stability. With 37 years of experience, we know what works to end homelessness in people’s lives: an individualized approach that combines housing options with supportive services. Our commitment to best practice impacts 11,000+ people each year, and our community-based approach allows us to influence how homelessness is addressed in Los Angeles and nationwide. Our growing portfolio of 26+ properties enables vulnerable groups access to permanent homes, and our services help them overcome their barriers to overall well-being.

We take tremendous pride in the emergence of our staff as national leaders in innovation, best practices, and policy within housing production and homeless services. From presenting at national conferences to facilitating service collaboration among providers in other regions, we equip our industry to effectively respond to homelessness and ultimately move more people home, together. Join the fight to end homelessness and make a difference in people’s lives at LA Family Housing!

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

The Mental Health Specialist is responsible for providing direct clinical intervention to participants in LA Family Housing’s (LAFH) Interim Housing Site(s) for Individuals. The Mental Health Specialist will focus on two critical areas:

Provide general oversight of the mental health plans for the participants in Interim Housing. Duties include identifying participants needing mental health care through assessment, referral, and coordination of care with offsite partner agencies, reconnecting participants to mental health care for participants who fell out of services, and providing intervention during crisis situations, including recommendations on care option and facilitating emergency support services.

Develop and lead facilitation of psycho-social education and group classes for participants., including co-facilitating a weekly DMH meeting. Duties include developing course and group curriculum, creating and oversight of the class/group schedule, providing follow-up to participants based on reactions to class/group topics, monitoring class/group attendance, and adjusting the schedule or curriculum as needed.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

  • Track participants in Interim Housing who are receiving mental health care
  • Coordinate with DMH to ensure that participants are meeting with their care providers and following Mental Health treatment plans
  • Address participants who have fallen out of treatment and work to re-engage as needed
  • Conduct mental health assessments on identified participants. Provide referrals to community mental health care, as needed, and provide onsite supportive counseling as needed to supplement outside care.
  • Perform crisis intervention and conflict management techniques. This includes participating in room meetings and behavioral contract meetings, as requested.
  • Provide guidance to Interim Housing staff, including direct collaboration with the Housing Navigation team, on participants who are struggling to secure permanent housing based on mental health needs.
  • Create relationships with community mental health service providers as well as onsite DMH representative. Refer participants for services as well as maintain a resource listing of mental health services for participant and staff use
  • Advocate on participants’ behalf with other organizations and/or government agencies when appropriate
  • Provide support with medication monitoring services, to help participants take medications correctly and promote adherence. As needed, help coordinate refills with providers and pharmacies.
  • Initiate calls to protective and emergency services as needed; complete follow-up documentation as required, including incident reports
  • Submit weekly program report documenting mental health assistance provided and participant updates through Clarity notes and case conferencing with supervisor
  • Coordinate services with other non-clinical Interim Housing staff including:
  • Co-facilitating meetings
  • Organizing participant mental health events
  • Providing guidance, direction, and clinical support on social service client issues
  • Providing training for social services staff (in coordination with Clinical Service Manager)
  • Create an offering of psycho-social classes and groups in Interim Housing for participants. Determine class/group offerings based on an assessment of participant needs. Create the curriculum, provide the class/group directly or through staff/intern support, monitor participant attendance and feedback, and revise classes/groups on an ongoing basis
  • Provide task supervision to MSW interns and utilize the interns in providing support to participants serving as a
  • Preceptor to MSW interns, as needed
  • Attend various regular staff, agency, and community meetings as designated by supervisor
  • Drive personal vehicle in and around Los Angeles County and drive agency vehicles periodically to transport clients to
  • Mental Health appointments, as needed
  • Provide support to new intakes entering Interim Housing, to identify any urgent needs, coordinate referrals and reinforce Interim Housing policies during their time of transition.
  • Additional tasks, projects and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor

ACCOUNTABILITY AND REVIEW

Position reports to: Clinical Services Manager

Performance review: Annual

DIRECT REPORTS

Number of employees receiving work direction: Zero (0)

Position titles reporting to position: Zero (0)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

  • Demonstrated knowledge of issues facing program participants (e.g. health, substance abuse, mental health, domestic abuse, child welfare, trauma, poverty, criminal justice, resources for undocumented persons)
  • Must be able to perform extensive charting, electronic data entry, and documentation
  • Knowledge of social service agencies and community resources
  • Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to advocate on behalf of LAFH participants
  • Bilingual: Spanish/English a plus
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Good organizational skills, and ability to follow through from beginning to end on tasks and projects
  • Must be able to work evenings or weekend when requested by the Director of Interim Housing.
  • Able to maintain and execute confidential information according to HIPAA standards
  • Obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid Certification
  • Ability to pass post-offer Tuberculosis (TB) clearances
  • Self-directed and internally motivated
  • Travel is a regular duty for this position and is required 20% of the time
  • Use of a personal vehicle to travel between worksites and other locations may be required
  • Must have and maintain a valid California Driver’s License and insurance in good standing
  • Ability to work a 9/80 work schedule

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Master degree in social work or Marriage & Family Therapy from an accredited University required
  • Active registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and pursuing licensure within six months of start date required
  • Two (2) years of experience in social services preferred

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

PAYROLL STATUS: Hourly

WORK SCHEDULE: Full-time

PHYSICAL DEMANDS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, EQUIPMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. Employee may be in contact with individuals and families in crisis who may be ill, using substances and/or not attentive to personal health and safety for themselves. The employee may experience several unpleasant sensory demands associated with the client’s use of alcohol and drugs, and the lack of personal care. The employee must be ready to respond quickly and effectively to many types of situations, including crisis situations and potentially hostile situations Employee is required to:

Walk and climb stairs; Handle, finger, grasp and feel objects and equipment; Reach with hands and arms; Communicate, receive and exchange ideas, information by means of the spoken and written word; Be mobile by moving oneself from place to place quickly and easily; Repeat various motions with the wrists, hands and fingers; Be able to have visual activity for (including, but not limited to) administrative and clerical tasks; Drive personal vehicle in and around Los Angeles County and periodically transport clients; Be able to enter various buildings that may require climbing stairs. Be subjected to outside environmental conditions. Use a personal and/or laptop computer, copy, postage and fax machines. Complete all required forms in personal writing.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you require an accommodation, please make sure to inform the Human Resources Department by the first week of employment. If an accommodation is not required at the time of employment, but is later required, you must inform the Human Resources Department of the need for accommodation at the time it is needed.

BENEFITS

Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Voluntary Life, 403B Retirement Plan, 529 Education Savings Plan, Long Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, AFLAC Policies, AFLAC FSAs, Legal Policy, Employee Appreciation Program, Company Sponsored Employee Outings, 9/80 Alternative Work Schedule, Paid Sick, Vacation and 12 Observed Holidays.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

LAFH is committed and proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE

LAFH is in compliance with the Fair Chance Initiative for hiring and will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories.

Skills : Collaboration: Advanced

Harm Reduction: Advanced

Crisis Intervention: Advanced

Trauma-Informed Care: Advanced

Housing First: Advanced

Conflict Resolution: Advanced

Education : Masters

Experience : 2 years: Experience in social services preferably in homeless services

Licences & certifications BBS Active Registration

LMFT

LCSW

LA Family Housing

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