Behavioral Health Clinician I

Overview

SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The ECS Behavioral Health Clinicians work across ECS program sites and in the community on a mobile basis in order to best meet the behavioral health needs of clients. The ECS Behavioral Health Clinicians provide intensive and consistent services that follow clients across shelter, interim housing, and permanent housing locations. Clinicians provide direct intervention and coordinate services and planning for clients with significant mental health, substance abuse and criminal justice issues that impact their ability to maintain in the community. Responsibilities include direct services to clients including clinical and intensive case management/linkage functions, maintenance of case records and progress notes, participation in the programs multidisciplinary team and using flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed. ECS Behavioral Health Clinicians strive to provide individually tailored services to assist the client to promote wellness, identify and mitigate risky behaviors, and improve functioning levels at their home and in the community.

Behavioral Health Clinician I is also responsible for outreach, providing professional, accessible and culturally relevant support, advocacy, information and referrals to program participants in order to guide participants through a process of self-directed goal-setting that builds upon client strengths and talents. , work with participants with substance use issues informed by the Stages of Change model and may utilize either a harm reduction or abstinence-based approach depending on the clients personal goals and wishes.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Behavioral Health Clinician I will provide drop-in support, occasional services, triage/intake and community education according to different billing requirements.
• Community Support services focuses on the single or occasional nature of client services along with other billable activities such as general shelter psychoeducation and coordination with shelter staff/referral sources.
• Enroll all shelter clients receiving more regular or comprehensive services in Avatar.
• Attend shelter staff meetings, provide New Resident Orientation Sessions to referral sources and build community knowledge about the Behavioral Health program.
• Implement resident education sessions through individual and group therapy about mental health needs and services available through START.
• Implement triage process using ANSA Crisis Assessment Tool and provide follow-up to shelter clients on the Behavioral Health waiting list to identify clients who must be opened immediately due to the presence of severe mental health symptoms and/or risk behaviors, those with significant but not urgent needs and those with stable presentations that could be referred elsewhere for long term services.
• Maintain a caseload of different billable activities (Medi-Cal and non Medi-Cal) episode opening, progress notes, ANSA assessment, episode closings as assigned by the Associate Director of Behavioral Health.
• Collaborate with Behavioral Health Clinicians II for those clients requiring full-scope mental health Medi-Cal billable services.
• Actively participate in community services which includes shelter staff meetings; open office hours; coaching shelter staff.
• Utilize informed consent documentation for all drop-in services.
• Provide professional and culturally relevant support, advocacy, information and referrals to program participants in order to guide them through a process of self-directed goal-setting that builds upon client strengths and talents.
• Achieve a broad understanding of the resources and services available in the community for clients with acute behavioral health needs. Provide information and referral to clients on an ongoing basis. This may include information such as benefit entitlement, drug and alcohol treatment programs, vocational training, legal services, INS and immigration services, health and mental health services, housing and community resources.
• Provide up-to-date and appropriate documentation of plans of care, client interactions, progress toward goals, and exit plans via the Avatar electronic charting and billing system.
• Ensure that there is an updated PURQC (utilization review) for every open Medi-Cal chart.
• Facilitate groups for participants with behavioral health issues and/or dual diagnoses such as: Seeking Safety, Art Support Group, Recovery and DBT skills, and other behavioral health topics as appropriate.
• Participate in weekly case conferencing and group supervision meetings.
• Participate in weekly individual supervision with the Associate Director of Behavioral Health.
• Provide crisis management and immediate therapeutic response to clients experiencing acute symptoms associated with their behavioral health issues.
• Perform outreach duties as requested and as appropriate to build relationship and trust with shelter-users who are eligible for Behavioral Health services but not yet ready to fully engage.
• Collaborate with outside agencies and teams (e.g. HOT Team, Citywide, host-shelter staff, etc.) on behalf of clients to support their efforts to secure benefits, housing and resources that are essential to achieving established goals.
• Assist clients in developing and learning methods, based on strength-based perspective, of advocating for themselves.
• Participate in ongoing trainings provided by ECS, Community Behavioral Health Services, and other trainings as appropriate.
• Perform data management including the accurate input into the Behavioral Health database and navigation of the HSA CHANGES system.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding patient health information and comply with all laws of confidentiality and HIPAA requirements. Consult with supervisor as needed regarding exceptions to confidentiality.
• Follow policies, procedures and protocols established by the Department of Homelessness & Supportive Housing (citywide grievance procedure), the Department of Public Health, and Episcopal Community Services.
• Maintain a cooperative and collaborative working relationship with the employees, volunteers and clients of Episcopal Community Services and other host shelters.
• Perform other duties as required.

ECS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records as consistent with San Francisco’s Fair Chance Ordinance.

ECS celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

REQUIRED EXPERTISE:

Previous experience working with homeless adults is preferred. Experience working in integrated service teams using participant-centered harm-reduction approaches. Excellent working knowledge of resources in San Francisco. Possess a strong knowledge of and sensitivity to adults with substance abuse, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, mental health issues, history of trauma and co-occurring-diagnoses. Demonstrated respect for, experience with and willingness to work with a very diverse client population.

REQUIREMENTS:

Master’s degree in counseling psychology (MFT track) or social work (MSW), maintaining BBS certification with 2 years recent, full time paid/internship experience in assessment, crisis intervention and case management of persons with mental, emotional and behavioral disorders (preferably with the homeless population ).

OTHER: 

Must secure annual TB test. Must secure fingerprint background check. Must be able to show proof of COVID vaccination, including booster.