Mental Health Clinician

Position: Mental Health Clinician (MHC)

Program: Mental Health Outpatient Program 

Location: MHC will work across Community Forward’s portfolio of programs based on clinical need (see below for location details)

Reports To: Clinical Manager, Mental Health Outpatient Program

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Union

Wage:

• MHC I - $36.59/hour 
  • Completed Master’s degree, not yet registered with Board of Behavioral Science (BBS) in CA
• MHC II- $41.72/hour 
  • Completed Master’s degree, registered and in good standing with the BBS in CA

Community Forward SF is changing the way women receive homeless services in San Francisco. For over 45 years, we’ve led the way in innovative, compassionate, community-based care for chronically homeless and disenfranchised individuals—especially women, older adults, and those with severe medical or mental health needs. We operate the city’s only 24/7 drop-in center for women experiencing homelessness and provide a full continuum of care, including mental health services, gender-specific recovery programs, medical respite, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing. Our person-centered model emphasizes dignity, empowerment, and healing, and our staff reflects the communities we serve—many with lived experience of homelessness. We also lead on systems change, having helped create the SF Women’s Housing Coalition and advancing gender-focused policy at the local, state, and national levels. Our mission is to help the most vulnerable individuals get off the streets, access comprehensive services, and achieve the stability they need to thrive.

JOB SUMMARY:

Community Forward SF is hiring a Mental Health Clinician (MHC) for our Mental Health Outpatient Program. An MHC at Community Forward SF provides therapeutic support for clients who are experiencing or have experienced homelessness through individual and group therapy and clinical case management services. This position plays a key role in helping clients address mental health needs as they navigate complex systems to access the resources they need to achieve stability and wellness.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES: 

• Facilitate individual and group therapy sessions.
• Provide targeted case management (clinical case management) services.
• Maintain a client caseload of 12-15 clients.
• Meet billing expectations for Units of Service (UOS): 15-20 billable hours weekly.
• Participate in weekly Care Team meetings with assigned program(s) to coordinate client care.
• Complete client assessments under the supervision of the clinical supervisor(s).
• Develop and update treatment plans in collaboration with clients.
• Present formal case formulations to the team.
• Submit documentation and notes independently and within required timeframes, consulting with supervisor(s) as needed.
• Maintain accurate and timely client charts.
• Participate in weekly individual and group clinical supervision sessions.
• Adhere to established policies and procedures.
• Complete trainings as assigned and attend meetings as scheduled. 
• Participate in monthly chart reviews.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of Master’s level program in social work, psychology, mental health, or counseling.
• Ability to work sensitively with individuals from diverse cultures, languages, abilities, backgrounds, and identities.
• Must have CPR and First Aid certification within 90 days of hire.
• TB clearance within 7 days of hire

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Registration and assigned associate number with either the Board of Behavioral Science (BBS) or the Board of Psychology (BOP) in the State of California; registration in good standing.
  - For candidates seeking to collect hours for independent licensure, please note that this position offers adult hours only - family, couples, and child hours are not available.
• Proficient in documentation, utilizing strong clinical language skills; knowledge and familiarity with San Francisco billing database (EPIC).
• A strong understanding of the interconnection between complex medical conditions, substance use disorder, and mental health disorders.
• Previous experience working with the populations and neighborhoods served.
• Good computer skills in MS Office and G-Suite applications and the ability to work in a networked computer environment.
• Bicultural, bilingual Spanish speaking or other SF Threshold Language strongly preferred
• Knowledge of San Francisco neighborhoods and community resources.

• Ability to effectively de-escalate conflict
• Knowledge of homelessness, trauma, domestic/intimate partner violence, substance use disorder and recovery, HIV/AIDS, harm reduction, mental health disorders, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ communities, and systems of oppression.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to stand and walk as needed throughout the shift for extended periods of time. 
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to sit and use a computer, including keyboard and visual display terminal, for extended periods of time. 
• Finger, hand, and wrist agility.
• Ability to complete tasks in an environment where interruptions are the norm and background noise is present.
• Ability to move through buildings commonly including stairs, and out in the community.
• Ability to transition between assigned program locations as needed:

• A Woman's Place Transitional Housing Program (1049 Howard St.)
• A Woman’s Place Drop-In Center (211 13th St.)
• Eddy Street Apartments (425 Eddy St.)
• Coronado Hotel (373 Ellis St.)
• Subsidy Programs - Women’s Flex/Ending Trans Homelessness (205 13th St.)

Community Forward SF (CFSF) reserves the right to revise job descriptions or work hours as required. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this position. Essential job duties are intended to describe those functions that are primary to the performance of this job. Other job duties include those that are considered secondary to the overall purpose of this position. This position description does not state or imply that the above are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by the supervisor and management. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability. All jobs are subject to contract funding availability. CFSF will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if CFSF is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the Civil Rights Department Fair Chance Act webpage.