What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mental Health Clinician position at CENTER FOR URBAN COMMUNITY SVC?
The Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS) is an acclaimed human services organization and one of the nation’s largest providers of housing and social services. CUCS provides integrated programs that link housing, health, and social services for individuals who are homeless, low-income, living with mental illness, or have other special needs in New York City. CUCS is the lead agency in the Manhattan Outreach Consortium (MOC). MOC is a coalition of three neighborhood-based organizations working together with people experiencing street homelessness to obtain and maintain housing. The Care Coordination program at Bellevue Hospital is a new addition to the MOC program. MOC, including the Care Coordination team, provides comprehensive services to people staying on the street in Manhattan with the ultimate goal of permanent housing.
The Mental Health Clinician provides person-centered, strengths-based clinical services to a caseload of approximately 25–30 individuals, with the goal of supporting clients in living full and satisfying lives in the community. The majority of services are delivered in the field as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team.
A full list of duties is outlined below and includes, but is not limited to: case management, counseling, entitlements assistance, crisis intervention, psychoeducation, outreach, and coordination of care. The Clinician also contributes to program planning and implementation, with a focus on mental health, substance use, and services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, and works closely with the Clinical Supervisor to meet program goals and contractual obligations.
Please note:
- The Mental Health Clinician will receive weekly clinical supervision that meets the requirements for LCSW hours and will have access to all CUCS agency trainings.
- This is a one (1) Year, limited-funded position, with plans to extend if funding is available
- Continued employment is contingent upon ongoing funding and may end at any time based on the availability of fund resources.
- There is one (1) 10pm – 6am shift, per year required with this position.
Essential Functions include, but are not limited to:
- Build relationships and work collaboratively with clients to develop and implement effective service plans.
- Coordinate and deliver comprehensive services and referrals to meet client needs. Assisting clients with self-administration and delivery of medication while following agency policies, procedures, and reporting requirements.
- Work collaboratively with clients to develop and implement effective service plans, taking the following factors into account: clients’ goals, interests in employment and education, sources of support, medical or mental health diagnoses, substance use diagnoses, medication regimens, risk factors, collateral contacts, and psychosocial history, in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
- Conduct mental and mental health evaluations and assessments for clients, including but not limited to, mental status examinations, psychosocial assessments, and diagnoses based on the most recent DSM as applicable.
- Conduct intake and initial assessments for clients to determine eligibility, service needs, and appropriate program placement.
- Complete ongoing assessments to monitor client progress, revise service plans, and ensure alignment with program goals and requirements.
- Provide psychotherapy and counseling services, including substance use counseling, to clients in order to promote medical and/or psychiatric stability.
- Provide advanced crisis intervention using a person-centered, trauma-informed approach, supporting Case Managers as needed. Coordinate with emergency services and conduct in-reach to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, jails, and nursing homes to facilitate discharge planning and continuity of care. Assess risk factors, develop crisis prevention strategies, and implement interventions to mitigate future crises in alignment with agency policies and funder standards.
- Engage and coordinate care with external providers, collateral contacts, and social supports, and provide ancillary services including outreach, intake, escort, and recreational activities.
- Adhere to agency policies regarding confidential information and protect the privacy of clients.
- Provide clinical services to groups as assigned, including but not limited to, evidence based practice groups, therapeutic groups, wellness self-management sessions, and activity-based groups.
- Assist clients in accessing eligible federal, state and local benefits by identifying programs, completing applications, escorting to appointments, and tracking renewals.
- Assist clients with managing financial resources, including providing rep-payee services.
- Attend trainings to better support clients in obtaining federal, state and local benefits as directed by program management and in accordance with funder requirement.
- Facilitate the housing placement process by identifying appropriate options based on eligibility criteria, assisting with application completion and required documentation, coordinating with housing providers, and providing support throughout the search, transition, move-in process.
- Monitor clients who move into housing and conduct follow-up outreach, in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
- Assist clients with maintaining their housing, managing arrears, annual recertification, preparing units for apartment inspections and communicate with landlords and/or building management.
- Support clients with activities of daily living including, but not limited to hygiene, personal care, laundry, showers, cleaning, pest remediation, hoarding mitigation, donation coordination, and preparation for apartment inspections.
- Support client move-in and ongoing needs by assisting with program orientation, distributing essential items, and assisting clients with packing, processing personal belongings through the PackTite (bed bug oven) and treating infested items as needed including but not limited to assisting clients with packing and treating infested items as needed per Agency policy and protocol.
- Conduct in-home visits and assist clients with maintaining safe and clean apartments or personal spaces.
- Provide services both onsite and in the community, including but not limited to, accompanying clients to medical appointments, benefits offices, housing interviews, shopping trips, job interviews, school meetings, and court appearances.
- Facilitate or lead portions of team meetings, provide clinical guidance during crises and support the team in the absence of the Clinical Supervisor.
- Support staff with client assessments, coordinate care with psychiatric and/or primary care providers, ensure appropriate documentation is completed and maintained, and follow up on Janian referrals, in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
- Lead policy review sessions, provide in-service training in areas of expertise, and supervise student interns where applicable.
- Enter and maintain client service delivery in designated database ensuring that all documentation—including, but not limited to, progress notes, service plans (ILPs), assessments, and benefit forms—is completed accurately, thoroughly, and within required timeframes, in compliance with agency and funder standards.
- Maintain required monthly contact hours with clients or their collaterals in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
- Monitor client progress and adjust service plans accordingly.
- All other duties as assigned