Mental Health Professional - Providing Meaningful Services to Homeless People

Job/Position Opening

Job/Position Details

DESC

15 Thames St., 2nd Floor Groton, WA 98144

Location: Crisis Solutions Center, Seattle, WA


Job Title: Mental Health Professional - Crisis Solutions Center

Days Off: TBD (option for 4x10 shifts)

Pay Range: $43,459 - $54,177 annually

Shift: Day, Swing & Night

Location: Downtown/International District

Insurance Benefits: Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to end the homelessness of vulnerable people, particularly those living with serious mental or addictive illnesses. Through partnerships and an integrated array of comprehensive services, treatment and housing, DESC gives people the opportunity to reach their highest potential.

The Crisis Solutions Center (CSC) provides a resource for police, medics, crisis mental health professionals, and other first responders to use for individuals who are in crisis and might otherwise receive no help, or be taken to jail or a hospital emergency department. The goal of the CSC is to reduce chronic homelessness and unnecessary involvement in the criminal justice and emergency medical systems.

CSC Member PERKS:

• Over 6 weeks off in the first year
• Nationally recognized program
• Licensure Reimbursement
• 2 hours of Clinical Supervision per Month on site
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness from the Federal Government
• Fully paid for health insurance
• Opportunities for growth
• Team building and Camaraderie
• Paid Training and Learning Occurs at your Own Pace

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• As a member of a multi-disciplinary team, provide multi-axial assessments, chemical dependency screenings, crisis intervention, stabilization, and meaningful engagement to adults.
• Establish and implement a plan to successfully engage clients in relevant services and other resources.
• As needed, provide follow-up services aimed at establishing linkage to services for program participants.
• Complete all data collection and documentation requirements.
• Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with programs providing services for the population served.
• Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures.
• Comply with the all agency policies and procedures, relevant Washington Administrative Code and Revised Code of Washington.
• Advocate for clients' access to community resources and services, ensuring that clients' needs are met and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings and in-service trainings; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences for clients on caseload.
• Participate in verbal de-escalation and physical interventions in emergent situations and be able and willing to assist other staff as needed to maintain a safe, secure environment.
• Demonstrate the ability to work effectively under supervision, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and independently, when necessary.
• Promote and maintain positive relationships with the surrounding neighborhood.
• Participate in verbal de-escalation and physical interventions in emergent situations and be willing and able to assist other staff as needed to maintain a safe and secure environment.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in a social work, psychology or other relevant behavioral science or Bachelor of Nursing degree with specialty in mental health.
• Meet criteria as a Mental Health Professional as defined in RCW 71.05, WAC 388-865-0400.
• Be able to pass a Washington State Criminal background check
• Experience and skills in working with mentally ill individuals who are difficult to engage and may resist services.
• Familiar with Recovery Principles, Crisis Intervention and Stabilization, Integrated Treatment of Co-occurring Disorders, Intensive Case Management, Illness Management, Trauma-Informed Treatment, and relevant Evidenced based/Emerging best practices.
• Knowledge of Harm Reduction strategies.
• Strong working knowledge of DSM IV (and its successor).
• Be able to assess situations quickly and respond appropriately to any type of mental health and/or chemical dependency crisis to ensure the physical and psychological safety of clients.
• Be willing to seek to understand each client's unique circumstances and personal preferences and goals and incorporate them into the crisis response to help the client regain a sense of control.
• Assist clients in accessing internal resources to reinforce the client's ability to resolve crisis on their own.
• Assist clients in identifying unmet needs that may be causing them to have recurrent crisis.
• Have a strong understanding of recovery and resilience, the value of client partnerships and client choice, and the balance between protection from harm and personal dignity.
• Possess strong communication and writing skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours as required by program and staffing needs.
• Valid Washington state driver's license and insurable driving record.
• Familiar with King county crisis response system and methods of access.
• Knowledge of recovery focused, strengths based work in mental health.
• Strong knowledge of relevant community resources and methods for accessing them.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for program participants.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Licensed Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in State of Washington.
• Current Washington Department of Health minimum credential as an Agency Affiliated Counselor in good standing.
• Bilingual in Spanish/English.
• Bi-cultural background/experience and/or qualify as an Ethnic Minority, Developmentally Delayed, or Geriatric Mental Health Specialist (per WAC 388-865-0150 definition).
• Two years of experience of crisis intervention services within the mental health and/or chemical dependency field.
• Chemical Dependency Professional (CDP) or currently working toward becoming a CDP.
• Strong applicants are able to demonstrate the ability to be positive in their empathic responses to all persons; understand the value of meaningful and deep client engagement; have the potential to acquire the necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills of an effective crisis worker; and value a non-judgmental response to sensitive issues. Candidates should be able to accept feedback and work in a highly collaborative and potentially stressful environment.

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 will be required sit for long periods of time, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace, and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

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PI118002824

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