Description

Volunteers of America (VOA) envisions a community where all individuals who experience homelessness have the opportunity to thrive. VOA serves people of many ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and religious beliefs; therefore, we seek a workforce that respects and values diversity. VOA is committed to helping individuals succeed and to breaking the cycle of homelessness by investing in and developing innovative program solutions.

Participants engaged in services at VOA’s Hope House Emergency Shelter, have a long history of inequities and disparities; including but not limited to: homelessness, economic instability, tri-morbidity, high rates of chronic health and mental health conditions, traumatic events, lack of social support, etc. Behavioral Health participants, typically, have developed numerous skills that have helped them survive and meet their needs, while facing homelessness. As participants access services within various VOA programs, services are made available to assist them in re-learning skills that are necessary to become stably housed.

Behavioral Health Clinicians support our mission of assisting VOA participants to independence by helping participants adapt to housing and living independently and working through barriers that have contributed to homelessness.. Clinicians provide individual and group behavioral health service to program participants and foster a positive team environment with all other VOA programs. In addition, BH Clinicians ensure that Evidence Based Practices, including Harm Reduction, Person-centered and Trauma Informed Care.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position with 40 work hours per week. Core work hours for this position will usually take place Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Work schedule may vary and occasionally allow for some flexibility. Occasionally, long work hours, as well as evening, weekend, and holiday work may be necessary.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each of the essential duties/responsibilities listed below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties/responsibilities of this job. The essential functions of the position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Establish collaborative relationships and deliver needed care to participants; maintain appropriate boundaries with participants and staff according to VOA policies and procedures.
• Build and maintain relationships with community partners, service organizations, other VOA programs and their staff.
• Assess initial treatment needs and formulates appropriate diagnosis. Provides treatment to patients with more complex or multiple diagnoses. Performs intake sessions with participants and completes Integrated Biopsychosocial Assessment.
• Respect and value all participants and potential participants, regardless of circumstances, behavior, need or program enrollment.
• Behavioral Health Clinicians provide counseling and care coordination, care plan development and implementation, risk assessment and management, and assessment of progress including:
• Provide both patient-centered psychotherapy and integrated behavioral health services to participants of all ages through individual, family and group evidence-based practices.
• Identify and include participants’ natural supports and community partners in care coordination.
• Assist participants in identifying and accessing resources which will meet their needs.
• Assist participants in the development of healthy coping mechanisms and independent living skills.
• Provide crisis intervention as needed; involve other staff, administration, community crisis services and/or the authorities, when necessary.
• Promote mental health, resilience and wellbeing to each participant on a regular basis and determine the quality and effectiveness of the services provided.
• Plan and carry out psychoeducational groups and therapeutic processing groups to assist in skill building and social engagement.
• Participate in specific expanded assignments and responsibilities such as quality improvements teams, task groups, committees, consultations, mentoring or training responsibilities.
• Complete accurate and timely data entry and documentation, including but not limited to, intake assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, safety plans, and other necessary documentation within agency established timeframes.
• Travel to different locations to provide community based services.
• Participate in supervision and staff meetings, community meetings and required training.
• Educate and collaborate with VOA staff to effectively and appropriately deliver the Behavioral Health interventions.
• Maintain licensing requirements, including but not limited to completion of continuing education and yearly renewal of license with Washington Department of Health.
• Adhere to ethical and professional standards of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), American Counseling Association (ACA).

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.
• Travel as required. Travel is primarily local and during the business day; although very occasional out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be expected.
• This role has no supervisory responsibilities.

Compensation and Benefits:

Monetary compensation for this role is $29.00 per hour, but other benefits of working at VOA go far beyond that:

• Short Term and Long Term Disability
• Supplemental Insurance
• 8 Paid Annual Holidays
• Up to 5 additional discretionary annual holidays (depending on hire date)
• Company-issued cell phone and laptop
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Time Off
• Mileage Reimbursement
• Three Aflac Insurance Policies to electively enroll in: Accident Protection, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity
• 403(b) Retirement Plan including up to 25% employer match up to $500 per year
• Ongoing program specific training and professional development training
• Opportunity for career growth and professional development
• Work/Life Balance: We are dedicated to being flexible for family and self-care!

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must meet the minimum qualifications listed below. These qualifications are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required to perform this job.

Required Education and/or Experience: To perform this job successfully, an individual must have:

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or related field.
• Experience working with disadvantaged populations, including but not limited to people experiencing chronic homelessness, mental health conditions and substance use disorders.

Certificates and/or Licenses: To perform this job successfully, an individual must:

• Be eligible to be licensed as Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) and apply for credential within 30 days of hire
• Become CPR/First Aid/BBP Certified within 6 months of employment
• Have a valid Driver’s License
• Have the ability to maintain Auto Liability Insurance
• Have reliable transportation
• Must be able to successfully pass a Comprehensive Criminal History Background Check and Driving Record Review

Preferred Education and/or Experience:

• Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) Certification.
• “Mental Health Professional (MHP)” status with the State of Washington.
• Experience using a high level of proficiency with database software, such as HMIS, electronic health records, or other client databases.

Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications:

Due to program and licensing requirements, must be at least 21 years of age.

Skills, Abilities, and Competencies: For an employee to succeed in this position they must have:

• Ability and desire to work cooperatively with others on a team.
• Ability to listen and respond constructively to other team members’ ideas.
• Demonstrated ability to remain team and client oriented, while negotiating different personalities and working under competing priorities.
• Ability to convey confidence in participants’ ability to be successful, especially at challenging new tasks.
• Ability to work with others and coach them to develop their capabilities through evidence based practices.
• Ability to take responsibility for one’s own performance, by setting clear goals and expectations, tracking progress against the goals, ensuring feedback, and addressing problems and issues promptly.
• Ability to ensure that information is passed on to others who should be kept informed.
• Ability to express oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others.
• Ability to express oneself clearly in writing, such as electronic communication, case noting, case planning, and program documentation.
• Ability to plan and deliver oral and written communications that make an impact and persuade their intended audiences.
• Ability to notice, interpret, and anticipate others’ concerns and feelings, and to communicate this awareness empathetic to others.
• Ability to gain others’ support for ideas, proposals, projects and solutions.
• Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.
• Ability to demonstrate concern for satisfying one's external and/or internal participants/customers.
• Ability to identify the information needed to clarify a situation, seek that information from appropriate sources, and use skillful questioning to draw out the information, when others are reluctant to disclose it.
• Ability to anticipate the implications and consequences of situations and take appropriate action to be prepared for possible contingencies.
• Ability to find effective solutions by taking a holistic, abstract, or theoretical perspective.
• Identifying what needs to be done and doing it before being asked or before the situation requires it.
• Ensuring that one’s own work and information are complete and accurate; carefully preparing for meetings and presentations; following up with others to ensure that agreements and commitments have been fulfilled.
• Ability to make difficult decisions in a timely manner.
• Faith in one’s own ideas and capability to be successful; willingness to take an independent position in the face of opposition.
• Ability to keep functioning effectively under pressure and maintain self-control in the face of hostility or provocation.
• Demonstrated concern for being perceived as responsible, reliable and trustworthy.
• Respect for confidentiality of information.
• Ability to take responsibility for own areas of development.
• Openness to different and new ways of doing things; willingness to modify one’s preferred way of doing things.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with demanding and competing deadlines.
• Ability to maintain a quality workplace in a diverse, fast paced, stressful and changing environment.
• Ability to integrate core values, integrity and accountability throughout all practices.
• Demonstrated ability to value and consider perspectives and backgrounds of all people, including community members, clients and staff.

Physical Requirements:

In order to meet all expectations of this position, an individual must be able to:

• Regularly operate a computer with keyboard and mouse, as well as other office equipment, such as printers, copy machines, telephones, etc., perceive text and buttons on the computer screen and discern print and handwriting on paper forms.
• Frequently remain in a stationary position (such as sitting or standing), move about inside and outside of their work environment to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc., lift small to medium objects in the shelter, cleaning supplies, and/or client possessions (up to 25 pounds).
• Occasionally ascend and descend stairs, when accompanying participants to various appointments.

Work Conditions:

While performing the essential duties/responsibilities of this job, the employee may experience the following environmental conditions at the frequency indicated:

• Noise Conditions: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud consisting of usual business office sounds and typical residential housing and/or shelter traffic. This job operates in residential supportive housing and shelter environments and involves regular visits to participants’ homes; sometimes, multiple times per day.
• Heat/Cold: May be subject to heat, cold, wet, and/or humid weather conditions, and occasionally extreme heat and/or cold.
• Injury Exposure: Position requires working with standard office equipment – copy machine, computers, and phones.
• Atmospheric Exposures: May be exposed to various scents and perfumes, less than sanitary or uncomfortable conditions, various pests and pathogens, participants’ service and emotional support animals, as well as clients in physical, mental or emotional distress.