Behavioral Intake Specialist - STAR Center

Description

Days Off: Saturday, Sunday

Shift: Office Day

Insurance Benefits: Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)

Other Benefits:  Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW. 

About DESC:

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.

As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing.  DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

JOB OVERVIEW:

DESC's STAR (Stability Through Access and Resources) Center is a time-limited, 24/7, behavioral health-focused non-congregate shelter program. Services at the Center are tailored for unsheltered adults facing significant untreated and undertreated challenges related to mental health and substance use disorders. The center is located at 619 3rd Avenue and Cherry St in Seattle.

We are looking for energized and passionate people to be a part of the STAR Center Shelter’s multi-disciplinary team responsible for providing outreach, assertive engagement and intensive services to people experiencing homelessness. The Intake Specialist is often the first person to engage with shelter guests and is responsible for setting the tone for a positive, non-judgmental and welcoming environment. The Intakes Specialist’s primary responsibility is for coordinating referrals and intake into the STAR Center Shelter and providing timely intake activities associated with enrollment in the program.  

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Intake & Assessment:

• Maintain clear instructions and methods by which referrals may be reliably made by other DESC program staff, the legal/justice system, hospitals, other service providers, and potential clients referring themselves.
• In compliance with Federal, Washington State and King County regulations and procedures, conduct eligibility screening and intake assessment of potential clients.
• Verify Medicaid status or eligibility as a person not receiving Medicaid to be enrolled in the King County Mental Health Plan.
• Conduct intake evaluations and psychosocial assessments with consumer participation.
• Develop initial goal planners/treatment and crisis plans.
• Facilitate linkages to collaborative resources when appropriate.
• Acquire information from client and other sources as psychosocial assessment form indicates.
• Obtain ROIs as needed in order to obtain the fullest possible history of key life domains.
• Identify client strengths, coping strategies and deficits to be incorporated into the treatment plan.
• Review consent to treatment and rights with client; assure client has signed relevant forms.
• Maintain complete and current log demonstrating referrals made and the outcome of each.
• If the client so wishes, make a referral to another agency if more appropriate treatment/service is available.
• Provide crisis intervention and risk assessment; tolerate unusual or unpleasant behavior.
• Document services provided.

Initial Goal/Treatment Planning:

• Develop initial goal planner/treatment plan in compliance with WACs and King County Policy & Procedures. This is to be done in cooperation with the client, as they are able and willing.
• Create and submit initial crisis plan for after-hours crisis services.

Case Management:

• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team providing case management and crisis services to new clients.
• As needed, assist clients and potential clients by providing relevant resource information and direct assistance in obtaining key resources such as food, shelter, financial and Medicaid entitlements, hospitalization, health care, etc.
• Consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Coordinate with other DESC programs making referrals to DESC Clinical Programs in order to assure successful transition of consumers to long-term case management.
• Assure linkage to psychiatric services is established.
• Refer to, and coordinate with, DESC substance use disorder (SUD) program as needed.
• Participate in psychiatric consultations, clinical supervisions, program meetings, and in-service trainings of mental health program staff; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences.
• Conduct work in compliance with documentation requirements of relevant Federal, State and King County regulations and procedures.
• Collaborate with non-mental health DESC staff to ensure continuity of care for consumers using other DESC services.
• Other duties as assigned. 

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Comply with the agency’s clinical accountability policies and procedures; maintain current and complete clinical and administrative records; participate in quality assurance reviews when assigned.
• Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures.
• Participate as a member of the Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Committee.
• Provide specialty services as qualified.
• Attend outside meetings as directed by clinical supervisor or clinical director.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Eligible for a Licensed AAC credential or any other superseding credential that meets RCW 71.05.020 requirements to act as a Mental Health Professional whose scope of practice includes independently conducting mental health assessments and making mental health diagnoses.
• Interest in working with clients who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health/substance use disorder programs.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients and other staff.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in social work, psychology or other relevant behavioral science or Bachelor of Nursing degree with specialty in mental health.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English).
• Bicultural background/experience and/or Qualified Minority Mental Health Specialist.

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit, communicate with other employees, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.