Community Therapist I (MSW): Community Health

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

The Community Therapist I (MSW) provides care in the outpatient environment and the surrounding community as dictated by Community Health Department parameters. Responsible for conducting registration appointments and performing comprehensive intake assessments/evaluations, to determine appropriateness for agency services. Work may include transactional administrative work, coordinating services according to client needs. Identifies needs and provides therapy that supports and creates individual change and improves the community as a whole. Meets with clients for weekly sessions to provide an array of therapy modalities to address mental health needs and psycho-social stressors such as, emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal concerns. Educates and provides communication skills, self-improvement techniques, emotional regulation, insight building, and coping tools to improve individual resilience to specific challenges. Ensures clients are connected to the most suitable program and supports, while maintaining a trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach.  Coordinates care that is safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and client centered. This role supports psychoeducational initiatives. May provide psychodynamic intervention and crisis counseling and assessment to support clients and incoming referrals. Performs other duties as assigned.

Clinical Services

• Supports the initial clinical assessment of symptoms, risk management, scope of practice and competency, and agency appropriateness for individuals and families (clients).
• Carries a small psychotherapy caseload of 5-10 clients, including individuals, couples, and families, promoting optimal mental health by providing ongoing psychosocial support, education, and services in one-on-one weekly sessions, or a group setting.
• Conducts client assessments following department guidelines, and legal and ethical reporting requirements. 
• Coordinates the response to emergent client needs, community partner needs, departmental and hospital needs via referrals, walk-in clients, incoming phone calls and emails. 
• Required to use clinical judgement when assessing agency appropriateness. Will initiate coordination of services for clients that fall out of the agency's scope of practice and require being referred out to appropriate agencies and services. 
• Supports high risk protocols and strategies including but not limited to: officer of the day responsibilities, supporting the officer of the day, assisting with mental health consults, contributing to safety planning, facilitating coordination of care, and assisting with crisis intervention.
• Utilizes a variety of factors to evaluate client's biopsychosocial needs and collaborates with the Community Health team to develop a comprehensive treatment, termination and aftercare plan. 
• Documents client interactions in a timely manner as required by state licensing board and department policies. 

Community Engagement

• Supports the Community Health team by co-facilitating psychoeducational groups, presentations, and workshops for community members and community-based organizations.
• Work may be on-site or off-site; reliable transportation is required.
• Educate clients and families on mental health care options and connect them to appropriate community-based resources. 
• Partners with the Community Health Team and other departments to create, plan, and coordinate community education and awareness events.
• Uses cross cultural competence to contribute to community outreach events, ensuring sensitivity to the needs of clients and stakeholders.
• Maintains and continuously builds a working knowledge of community-based resources, programs, and social services. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Required:

• Master of Social Work (MSW) degree or Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT) degree required. 
• Zero to one year (0 to 1) of Community Health work experience.
• Strong understanding of clinical diagnostics and treatment planning.
• Demonstrated commitment to Community health and responsive care.

Preferred:

• Experience in providing psychotherapy and working with diverse populations.
• Multilingual

License Required: 

• Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) in good standing, in the State of California OR Associate Marriage Family Therapist (AMFT), in good standing, in the State of California.
• AND must be a licensed CA driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state and/or organization requirements and is in good working order. 

Licenses Preferred: 

• N/A

Certifications Required:  

• N/A

Certifications Preferred:

• N/A