Therapist (Homeless Outreach)

Description

Position Title:         Mental Health Therapist

Program & Location:   Homeless Outreach Team (Full Service Partnership)   - San Luis Obispo   

Position Summary

The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) is designed to engage homeless adults with severe and persistent mental illness and provide treatment, rehabilitation, and social services in the community where they live, instead of in a hospital or clinical setting. The Homeless Outreach Team meets individual’s needs with a “whatever it takes” approach. HOT provides a full range of services including assessment, individualized treatment planning, personal service coordination, rehabilitation services, integrated co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment, medication support, social skills development, supported housing, integrated vocational services, supported education and access to support services on a 24/7, 365 day basis. The Mental Health Therapist will be responsible for providing trauma informed therapeutic services including assessments, case management, rehabilitation services, crisis management, and collaboration and coordination with other service providers. The Mental Health Therapist may need to provide after-hours support to clients, transport clients to appointments, assist in meeting client’s daily living needs, and attend medical appointments to ensure the wellness of the clients. Under direction of the Program Manager, the Mental Health Therapist provides clinical consultation and subject expertise for the team and ensures that each team member’s observations and interactions with the clients are considered for individual treatment planning. The Mental Health Therapist works as a member of the Homeless Outreach multi-disciplinary team, and performs related duties as required.

Hours/ Salary

Full-time, non-exempt position. 40 hours per week. Anticipated hiring range $33.50-$45.00 (based experience and education within on our internal clinical pay scales). Includes a generous individual benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life, 403b retirement (with up to a 5% employer match) paid vacation/holiday time, paid sick time and a variety of helpful employee perks as well. (*Full Salary Schedule $33.50-$48.00 per hour). 

Employee Perks/ Work Culture

A few of our helpful employee benefits include membership discounts to various local fitness centers, as well as a voucher to Sycamore Mineral Springs for discounts. We offer years of service gift cards to businesses of your choice. We offer gift cards for walking, biking, or carpooling to work as well as 20% discount for shopping at our Growing Grounds Downtown Store/Nursey/ Farm. We host two employee appreciation events for employees and their families yearly. We practice Trauma Informed Care Principles, Guidelines for Collaborative Conversations, and encourage the use of pronouns. We mindfully promote equality, respect and diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and all the fascinating characteristics that make us different! TMHA is also a pet friendly workplace (upon approval)!

Mission Statement:

Transitions Mental Health Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating stigma and promoting recovery and wellness for people with mental illness through work, housing, community, and family support services. 

Organization Description

Transitions – Mental Health Association is a leading non-profit agency committed to providing comprehensive mental health services and support to individuals and families by inspiring hope, growth, recovery and wellness in our communities.  TMHA has decades of experience with teams of compassionate staff. TMHA is a driving force in improving mental health and wellness in our communities and a supportive and inclusive work environment that values diversity and individual contributions. 

Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Provide a wellness and recovery approach to service delivery for all clients. Foster and maintain a collaborative team approach with the FSP team members. Model a client centered approach to service delivery, bringing a “whatever it takes” approach to meeting the needs of clients in all aspects of their treatment (ie: “doing alongside” clients, recreational/art/music therapy, attending wellness groups with clients). . 

2. Provide and participate in trainings on best practices and evidenced based approaches to service delivery including: Assertive Community Treatment, integrated treatment of co-occurring disorders, Dialectic Behavior Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Motivational Interviewing, Seeking Safety, Trauma Informed Care (trainings provided, as needed, and approved by HOT FSP Program Manager).

3. Work with and train team members, clients and family members on mental health services and/or drug or alcohol abuse prevention strategies as part of developing a holistic wellness and recovery plan for the clients.

4. Participate in daily case review and coordination meetings with teammates. Assess and interview potential clients to determine if requirements for admission into HOT Program services are met, or if referral elsewhere is most appropriate. Collaborate with County Behavioral Health on assessments and referrals for admission into HOT Full Service Partnership services and stepping down of services back to the County BH Clinic. 

5. Provide therapy, education and rehabilitation services for individuals, couples, or members of a family.  Assist clients in achieving productive social adjustments reducing the impact of disabling disorders, and facilitate the achievement of family, vocational, recreational, and interpersonal goals. 

6. Document clinical activity in a timely manner, meeting program outcomes, in an electronic medical records system, presenting diagnostic and interview findings, clinical evaluations, and recommendations as a member of an interdisciplinary team; function as the SAI (Single Accountable Individual) for client caseload. Must document and provide at least one contact with each client per week.

7. Provide crisis counseling in the field, in the office for individuals experiencing acute episodes; evaluate clients, and arrange for voluntary or involuntary admission to facilities for observation and treatment. Become trained and designated to conducting evaluations and writing of applications for 5150 holds (training provided).

8. Confer with and advise clients’ families to promote their understanding of and cooperation in treatment and rehabilitation programs. 

9. Perform the duties of a case manager by coordinating services for a caseload of 15-20 clients to assure continuity of care and assure that clients receive appropriate types of service.

10. Provide transportation to clients as determined by the daily schedule and the needs of the client, in own automobile (reimbursed for mileage). 

11. Practices and promotes, both individually and in team meetings, the Collaborative Communication Guidelines

12. Promote, encourage and maintain trauma-informed practices in all services and activities. 

13. Cooperate and work with other agencies and practitioners. 

14. Educate clients, and their families regarding their diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and the rehabilitation process.

15. Assist clients to obtain stable housing, physical health care, benefits and entitlements, and to learn basic living skills. 

16. Participate in ongoing quality assurance and program evaluations.

17. Assist with interviewing, hiring, and training of new staff.

18. All other duties as assigned by the HOT FSP Program Manager.

Job Environment:

1. While performing the duties  of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and sit. 
2. Frequent driving required   that will include the transportation of TMHA clients.
3. Daily and frequent documentation  of client services on the computer.
4. The employee must  occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
5. Involves moderate risks that  require safety precautions and the risk of exposure to potentially intense  situations. 
6. Services may be delivered to clients during a Monday  through Sunday work week; schedules will be developed in collaboration  with all teammates and management staff to ensure maximum support for  clients.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements 

Possession of a valid license as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT); a registered associate progressing toward licensure or a MFT trainee. Working knowledge of: assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, counseling, and psychotherapeutic treatment of marriage, family, and child relationship dysfunctions; methods of developing and implementing a treatment plan; human service delivery system; current trends in the field of mental health; and laws and regulations applicable to mental health. Ability to: perform effective counseling and psychotherapy with individuals, families, and groups; develop and maintain cooperative relationships with clients’ families, members of other professional disciplines, social service agencies, and co-workers; relate professionally with persons with serious mental disorders; identify and utilize community resources; prepare and present clear and concise oral and written reports. Must have experience working with persons with severe and persistent mental illness. Must have experience working with persons who are chronically homeless, homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. Must have a strong commitment to the right and ability of each person with a severe and persistent mental illness to live in a safe living environment, develop a meaningful role in the community, and have access to competent and continuous supports and services. Must have a strong commitment in clients’ rights to self-govern and create their own choices and goals. Strong interpersonal skills, collaborative work style and strong oral/written and communication skills. Must be responsible, and reliable, and possess problem solving and conflict resolution skills. Well defined organizational and time management skills. Ability to work independently and flexibly. Ability to handle intense situations, display good judgment and decision-making skills, and remain calm and clearheaded under pressure. Ability to work well within a team and maintain a professional, respectful attitude in the workplace. Ability to be willing to work with supervisor oversight and direction. Able to work effectively with a variety of people and personality types regardless of age, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or socio-economic level. Ability to possess and maintain good physical and mental health. Attendance is an essential function of this job that requires face-to-face interaction with clients and/or other employees. Must use reasonable precautions in the performance of one’s duties and adhere to all applicable safety rules and practices while acting in such a manner as to assure at all times, maximum safety to one’s self, fellow employees, clients, and other persons contacted through TMHA business. Conditions of employment include: Must be at least 18 years of age; possess a valid CA Driver’s License, reliable transportation, proof of auto insurance, and DMV driving record that meets TMHA’s current vehicle insurance requirements. May be required to utilize personal vehicle and auto insurance. Must comply with a TB assessment (possibly a TB test if needed to confirm a negative tuberculosis result) and receipt of a criminal record clearance through fingerprinting. Must be able to successfully complete First Aid and CPR training.

Physical Demands:

1. Seeing
2. Hearing
3. Speaking
4. Stooping/Bending
5. Moving  around office
6. Moving  between offices/clients
7. Driving
8. Climbing
9. Lifting/carrying  heavy items
10. Computer use
11. Pushing/pulling/dragging  items
12. Standing for  long periods
13. Working  outside
14. Using  hands/fingers