Client Engagement Specialist - DBHC

Description

Shift: Day

Days Off: Saturday, Sunday

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

Union Representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

About DESC:

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.

As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

We are looking for a Client Engagement Specialist (CES) who will work within the larger Client Engagement Team spanning two locations:
Hobson Clinic and the Pioneer Square DESC clinics.

Hobson Clinic is an integrated behavioral and physical health outpatient clinic jointly operated by DESC and Harborview Medical Center (HMC). The Clinic provides holistic health care services to thousands of community members annually with a focus on improving health care access for people who have experienced barriers to conventional health services. The Clinic specializes in serving people living on lower incomes, people living homeless, and people living with complex physical and mental health conditions and substance use disorders.

The Pioneer Square clinics are two clinics operated by DESC that support a variety of clinical staff and programs ranging from outpatient behavioral health, substance disorder treatment, supportive employment, medical, and drop-in services. The clinical programs located in Pioneer Square serve a myriad of clients daily to address complex needs related to their mental and physical health.

The CES team will be the point people to monitor the safety and security of the clinics by managing the milieu of the main lobby/building and engaging clients. The CES team will also be tasked with providing trauma-informed support to clients and patients utilizing Hobson clinic and Pioneer Square by employing various de‑escalation skills and tactics, both verbal and hands‑on approaches, while in coordination and consultation with the wider clinical and medical teams.

• To be present in all main operating areas of both Hobson and Pioneer Square clinics for client engagement and de‑escalation purposes only. Be a welcoming presence and direct clients to the services they are seeking, at times escorting to designated area, and walking regular rounds in both low and high‑risk areas of the clinic, including area immediately outside of the clinic.
• Initiate and maintain appropriate social interactions with clients. Integrate experience with behavioral health and substance use conditions into work with clients.
• Monitor the general milieu, lobby, entryway, immediately outside of the clinic, security systems, and other common areas to monitor the safety and security of clients and staff. Work to maintain a comfortable milieu, even in the presence of potentially unusual client behaviors.
• Commitment to the Harm Reduction and Trauma Informed Care models and working to incorporate those principles through an equity and social justice lens.
• Become certified in enhanced behavioral de‑escalation training and maintain annual re‑certification.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and applying to all areas of work responsibility.
• Assist in training clinic staff on de‑escalation skills and leading crisis response drills.
• Intervene when necessary to support clients, maintain order, and…