Mental Health Therapist (FSP)

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 Centers integrated programs provide clients with concentrated and coordinated access to services according to the nature of their needs.

Job Description/Summary

Adult Full-Service Partnership (FSP) programs are designed for adults who have been diagnosed with severe mental illness and would benefit from an intensive service program. The foundation of FSP is doing whatever it takes to help individuals on their path to recovery and wellness. FSP partnerships embrace client driven services and support each client choosing services based on individual needs.

A Mental Health Therapist is part of an interdisciplinary team which conducts field-based, comprehensive, integrated, therapeutic mental health services to all assigned clients.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Ability to demonstrate empathetic, trauma-informed approach to individuals who have severe functional impairments (social, housing, medical, financial, legal).
• Provides appropriate field based therapeutic services and interventions based on specific needs of the client.
• Demonstrates meet the client where theyre at approach in relation to interventions and therapeutic modalities practiced
• Demonstrate ability to conceptualize cases and prioritize treatment needs
• Complete intake assessments, annual re-assessments, individual psychotherapy, consultations, crisis interventions, treatment planning and medical record documentation/reviews
• Utilize harm-reduction approach
• Provide psychoeducation/referrals on mental health illnesses, symptoms, medication management, chemical dependency or abuse issues
• Assist clients to enroll in benefit programs, low income resources and obtain identification
• Link clients to appropriate bridge/interim housing programs and assist clients in completing required paperwork to enroll them in permanent housing-related programs
• Responsible for developing and demonstrating appropriate skills in providing consultation/liaison services to multidisciplinary program staff pertaining to clients diagnosis, mental status, interventions and treatment planning
• Develop and maintain working relationships to other service providers, law enforcement and community systems.
• Responsible for developing and demonstrating appropriate skills and knowledge of current legal standards pertaining to professional practice, reporting requirements, professional boundaries and related issues.
• Demonstrate ability to maintain calm and composure when responding quickly and effectively to client crises and life situations
• Actively participate/collaborate in team meetings and case conferences for optimizing coordination of care.
• Maintain client information in a confidential manner.

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

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Must be highly motivated and a self-starter. 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.
• Strong knowledge of homeless services and resources. Demonstrated knowledge and experience with Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, Critical Time Intervention, and Housing First.

Experience:

• Two years experience providing services to highly vulnerable populations preferred.
• Demonstrate experience with providing mental health assessments using diagnostic criteria from the DSM-IV

Education:

• Masters Degree from an accredited college or university in social work, human services or a related field.

Direct Reports:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Ability to use widely supported internet browsers.

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations:

• Required: CA AMFT or ACSW licensure with the BBS
• 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 as needed.
• Travel to meetings at multiple St. Joseph Center sites and at community partner locations as needed.

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: DOE

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.