Mental Health Specialist - Interim Housing

Why Join Us

You believe that every person deserves a place to call home. You see that homelessness is a systemic issue and want to be a part of the solution. You are ready to utilize your talent, experience, and creativity toward purpose‑driven work. You want to work alongside industry leaders to learn, implement, and pioneer best practices.

USD $32.90/Hr.

The Mental Health Specialist (MHS) is responsible for providing direct clinical intervention to participants (families and individual adults) in Interim Housing Site(s) or as part of a street‑based Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). The MHS will identify participants needing mental health services through assessments, referrals, and coordination of care with partner agencies. The MHS will connect participants to community based and mental health care, provide crisis prevention and intervention, recommend level of care options, and support participants by utilizing evidence‑based clinical modalities.

The MHS will provide in‑person individual one‑on‑one care and lead groups. The MHS will also support their team by consulting on cases, providing recommendations for services and modeling appropriate interventions with members of their multidisciplinary team.

• Provide in‑person, individual and group based clinical case management and behavioral health services to people experiencing homelessness in interim housing settings or within a homeless outreach team.
• Conduct mental health, substance use and safety/risk assessments on identified participants.
• Create relationships with mental health service providers, Department of Mental Health, VA and hospital social work teams. Refer participants for services and maintain a resource listing of mental health services for participants engaged in LA Family Housing programs.
• Engage in discharge planning and lead care coordination activities.
• Utilize Harm Reduction, Housing First, Low Barrier and Trauma Informed Care philosophies when working with individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Work collaboratively with medical providers to ensure PEH are triaged to needed medical care.
• Complete risk assessment and safety plan and liaise with Psychiatric Mobile Response Team (PMRT) if danger to self/others resulting from a mental health disorder or grave disability is suspected.
• Follow mandated reporting guidelines with communication to protective and emergency services as needed; complete follow‑up documentation as required, including incident reports.
• Advocate on participants’ behalf with other organizations and/or government agencies when appropriate.
• Coordinate services with other non‑clinical staff including:
  • Co‑facilitate meetings.
  • Organize participant mental health events.
  • Provide guidance, direction, and clinical support through case consultations.
  • Provide training for social services staff (in coordination with Supervisor).
• Provide crisis intervention and conflict management techniques.
• Provide support with medication monitoring services, to help participants take medications correctly and promote healthy and wellness.
• Provide task supervision to MSW interns and utilize the interns in providing support to participants serving as a Preceptor or Field Instructor to MSW or MFT interns as needed.
• Assist in onboarding activities for MHS new‑hires related to mental health assessment, documentation, linkage, and safety procedures.
• Ensure that referrals are completed; provide advocacy as needed.
• Maintain thorough and accurate records in both written form and through HMIS/CHAMP.
• Attend various regular staff, agency, and community meetings as designated by supervisor.
• Drive personal vehicle in and around Los Angeles County and drive agency vehicles periodically to transport clients.
• Additional tasks, projects, and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.

• Demonstrated knowledge of issues facing program participants (e.g. health, substance abuse, mental health, domestic abuse, child welfare, trauma, poverty, criminal justice, resources for undocumented persons).
• Knowledge of barriers people experiencing homelessness face (e.g. chronic health, substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, being…