Job Opening: Mental Health Clinician I

Location: San Jose, CA 95112

Schedule: Monday-Friday, Full-Time

Description: Abode Services one of the largest and effective nonprofits working to end homelessness in the Bay Area, has an opening for Mental Health Clinician I in Santa Clara County. The Mental Health Clinician I provides mental health services to participants and is aimed at increasing wellness, increasing housing stability, and preventing people from cycling through the criminal justice system and/or hospitals. Responsible for behavioral health assessment and delivery of strengths based/needs focused services. Acts as the lead on clinical cases and guides supporting team members in clinical service delivery.

Responsibilities:

1. Provide clinical case management services, including individual rehabilitative services, brokerage, collateral, and therapy to participants in the following settings: home, community, and office.

2. Act as the primary lead on assessments, ANSA and develop treatment plans on an on-going basis for participants enrolled in the program. Collaboratively work with participants and their treatment team to develop and work on their recovery goals.

3. Perform mental status exams, as well as safety assessments that include suicide, homicide, and gravely disabled assessments with participants on an ongoing basis.

4. Provide direct crisis counseling and needs identification.

5. Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to explore participants’ substance dependency, encourage reduction and/or provide support to clients moving towards abstinence.

6. Provide wrap around clinical case management services to individuals residing in permanent supportive housing.

7. Using the ACT model, this position will work as a therapist within the ACT team

8. Assist participants with establishing goals and strategies for increasing self-sufficiency.

9. Coordinate care and discharge planning for participants in institutional settings, hospitals, etc.

10. Identify a mental health provider and do a warm hand off to the new provider, required for some programs.

11. Provide linkage and warm hand offs to long term mental health providers, when called for or required.

12. Provide support to families and loved ones as needed.

13. Attend clinical, administrative, and case conferencing meetings as assigned by the program supervisor.

14. Enter all data on time and correctly to support program evaluation and outcomes tracking

15. Ensure proper and timely documentation of services including written case notes using the BIRP formats.

16. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

1. MS/MSW/MA degree in Psychology. *New grads are encouraged to apply*

2. Registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) required.

3. 1 year of field experience working with people with serious mental illness, individuals with a dual diagnosis and/or the homeless population.

4. Use of personal vehicle, proof of a valid and current California Driver’s License and current insurance along with a clean DMV record required.

5. Excellent verbal & written communication, organizational, and time management skills.

6. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to detail.

7. Ability to work well independently and collaboratively with teams.

8. Possess an understanding of and practice cultural sensitivity through open dialogue and self-exploration with diverse groups, while providing direct services.

9. Experience with outreach and providing clinical services to individuals in field settings i.e., encampment, streets, psychiatric hospital, etc.

10. Knowledge of Psychiatric Disorders as well as the ability to implement the following evidence-based models: Harm Reduction, Psychosocial Rehabilitation, Strength-based Case Management and Motivational Interviewing.

11. Ability to build supportive and respectful working relationships with individuals diagnosed with a mental illness that instills hope and promotes self-determination, with a sensitivity to and understanding of the special needs of the homeless.

12. Experience in effectively intervening in crisis situations, with de-escalation techniques.

13. Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, systems, and platforms.

14. Ability to learn and use required mobile devices and business-related applications.

15. Outstanding communication skills and high degree of emotional intelligence, cultural humility, with a proven track record to build and maintain effective relationships with a wide variety of internal and external contacts.

16. Communicating with others to exchange information; seeing to read a variety of materials.

17. Some travel by car throughout the county region and surrounding areas required.

Compensation: $36-$45.20 an hour plus benefits and sign-on bonus.