Therapist

Title:  Therapist, Full-Service Partnership (FSP)             Division: Project 180

FLSA: Non-Exempt Supervisor: Program Supervisor

Pay Scale: $35.76-$39.34/hour Location: Palmdale, CA

The Organization

SSG-Project 180 turns lives around through innovative, wraparound services that keep people out of institutions and in their communities. Project 180 is a leader in the forensic treatment space, offering high-quality, specialized treatment programs that serve thousands of justice-involved individuals. Our programs span criminal justice intercepts and include pre-arrest interventions, court-based diversions, jail in-reach, and intensive post-release services. Project 180 operates in partnership with County agencies including the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Department of Health Services (DHS), and the Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD).

The Program

The Full Service Partnership (FSP) program adopts a “whatever it takes” approach to provide intensive, wraparound, field-based services to adults who have significant mental health problems. The FSP program assists with housing, employment and education in addition to providing mental health services and integrated treatment for individuals who have a co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorder. Services can be provided to individuals in their homes, the community and other locations. 

The Position

Under the supervision of the Program Supervisor and Clinical Supervisor, the therapist is responsible for providing intensive, wraparound, field-based clinical services to include psychotherapy, rehabilitation, clinical case management, and crisis intervention. The therapist also serves as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team. A successful FSP therapist will actively engage this population in services, supporting their clients in making progress towards meaningful recovery goals. 

Essential Functions

Provide intensive, wraparound, field based clinical and case management services

• Actively engage clients in services through the development of strong rapport, consistent contact and use of motivational interviewing. Provide outreach services as needed, meeting clients “where they are at” (service location, client’s point of view).
• Complete initial assessment, formulate a diagnosis and engage clients in treatment planning. Services to target symptom reduction and cornerstones of recovery oriented care (instilling hope, empowerment, self-responsibility and engaging in meaningful roles). 
• Provide individual and group psychotherapy, rehabilitation, case management, and crisis intervention services. 
• Engage and join with collaterals (family members, probation, court) as appropriate. Provide education related to mental health recovery to better support clients. Engage in client advocacy.  

• Service delivery is consistent with ethical standards and a harm reduction, strength based, trauma informed framework. 
• Develop and maintain knowledge of available community resources. Complete needs assessment and link clients to community resources (CA ID, GR/SSI, Medi-Cal/Medicare/health insurance, SS Card, birth certificate, cellphone, access to transportation (TAP card), housing, employment, medical, dental, legal, food resources).
• Monitor ongoing participation in services/use of resources and facilitate problem solving to target barriers. Accompany clients to linkage appointments when appropriate. 
• Assist justice-involved clients in completing court reports and providing support during court appearances. 
• Assist clients with linkage to applications for housing related services, short-term housing assistance, and permanent housing resources. Support clients with understanding available resources, completion of housing applications, housing search, and preparing for interviews with prospective owners/property managers.
• Provide information and referral assistance regarding available support from appropriate social service agencies and/or community programs (In Home Supportive Services, eviction prevention, meal delivery, etc).
• Identify client strengths and barriers to housing readiness/retention and assist participants to reduce barriers and linking to resources and services.
• Provide information and assist clients with employment, volunteering, and education goals. Support clients with completing resumes, job applications, job searching, and preparing for job interviews. Referring clients to other supportive employment and or educational services (Department of Rehabiliation, GED, etc). 
• Assist clients to learn, develop, and practice prosocial and recovery skills necessary to engage effectively in their daily activities and to increase independence and build lasting meaningful relationships. This is done individually and/or in a group setting (i.e., healthy relationships, anger management, time management, budgeting, distress tolerance, for long-term stability in the community. 

• Conduct custody pick-ups from LA county jails

Collaborate with a multidisciplinary treatment team to coordinate client care

• Actively contributes to planning and execution of clinical interventions in collaboration with the treatment team. Leverage unique skills and abilities of team members in service delivery.  
• Participate in outreach and engagement efforts with the treatment team. 

• Coordinate services with various public and private community health, mental health, and social service agencies to ensure appropriate services for clients

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain comprehensive case notes in the electronic health record per program guidelines
• Maintain and submit billing records per program guidelines 
• Participate in program data collection per program guidelines

Fulfill baseline Project 180 staff expectations

• Regular attendance required. Holiday or weekend work may be required
• Maintain and uphold Agency mission statement, values, policies, procedures, and principles
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor
• Maintain active license and/or registrations as applicable (i.e. BBS, CCAPP)

Skills and Abilities

• Clinical Expertise: Provides clinical care with a focus on high-quality service delivery
• Empathetic and able to develop strong relationships with clients
• Independent and self-directed: Able to manage tasks and achieve results with minimal direction 
• Collaborative: Able to work in diverse teams to solve complex issues 
• Adaptive to changing circumstances and client needs in a dynamic environment
• Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills, remains calm under pressure 
• Organized: Strong organization systems and attention to detail
• Communication skills: Clearly conveys information, builds rapport, and effectively engages with clients

Minimum Qualification

• Master’s degree in social work or mental health field from an accredited college or university, and valid license or registration with licensing body (i.e. the BBS)

• Experience working with culturally diverse populations
• Valid CA driver’s license, proof of insurance and own vehicle required. Ability to transport clients in personal vehicle as needed

• Must not be on any type of legal supervision (probation or parole)

• Verification of Employment Eligibility and Background Check
• Basic computer skills

Preferred

• Bilingual or multilingual skills (Spanish preferred)
• Experience working with the forensic and/or dual diagnosed populations
• Experience working on an interdisciplinary team in a mental health or hospital setting

Supervisory Responsibilities

None.

Environmental Conditions (Working Conditions)

Job duties are to be performed both in office and field settings.

Physical Requirements  

The employee is expected to move about the worksite throughout the day, which may involve walking, standing, and climbing stairs, or using a mobility device, or similar. The employee is expected to drive, carry a maximum of 20 lbs, listen, and speak in order to complete job requirements. 

Salary : $36 - $39