Mental Health Specialist

Summary:

As part of a multidisciplinary team, the Mental Health Specialist will conduct counseling, clinical skill building, and rehabilitative services with adults who have severe and persistent mental illness. They will work collaboratively with Wellness Team Case Managers and Clinicians to provide wraparound care. The Mental Health Specialist's primary responsibilities are to engage members and to coordinate mental health and recovery services that will ensure housing stability and community integration. The Mental Health Specialist will provide emergency and ongoing risk assessment, linkages to emergency care, and medical and mental health services. This position is responsible for maintaining the highest quality provision of direct individual and group therapeutic and case management services while fostering teamwork among staff and across departments and programs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provide, coordinate, and implement mental health and recovery support services for adult clients.
2. Provide trauma-informed interventions using a harm reduction approach to meet the needs of those living with severe, persistent mental illness, severe medical disorders, and high-risk substance use disorders.
3. Provide case management services, including linkage to necessary referrals and resources to meet the client's needs.
4. Assist clients with life skills building and individual rehabilitation interventions to support recovery and successful housing retention.
5. Conduct individual, family, and group counseling, and document services using Department of Mental Health (DMH) and Medi-Cal guidelines.
6. Develop effective, trusting relationships with clients, with a focus on facilitating independence and maintenance of improved physical and mental health.
7. Collaborate with each member to develop their individual treatment plan, review and update it upon completion of goals.
8. Assist clients with becoming involved in daily activities, socialization, health maintenance, sense of community, and progress in recovery, reflecting The People Concern's model, which emphasizes customer choice, harm reduction, and psychosocial rehabilitation.
9. Work cooperatively and cohesively with other members of the Wellness team, including participation in weekly staff meetings, case consultations, group clinical supervision, and trainings.
10. Provide crisis intervention services.

Qualifications:

1. Master's Degree in Behavioral Health, Mental Health, or Counseling from an accredited university.
2. At least 2 years of experience in the mental health field.
3. Outstanding clinical and strong team-building skills.
4. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and database applications.
5. Detail-oriented with excellent time management, organizational, written, verbal, interpersonal, and computer skills.
6. Able to learn quickly and work effectively with a wide range of constituencies and with minimal supervision.
7. Valid CA Driver's license, reliable car, auto insurance, and an acceptable driving record
8. Able to transport members in your vehicle.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Experience working with those living with mental illness and/or substance addictions
2. Experience completing DMH documentation
3. Bilingual Spanish preferred

Work Environment

1. Office environment with occasional field activities with participants and staff
2. Regularly required to sit, stand, bend, and occasionally lift or carry up to 35 pounds
3. May be exposed to elements like cold, heat, dust, noise, and odor
4. May need to bend, stoop, twist, and sit throughout the day