Mental Health Clinician

Description

The Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS) is an acclaimed human services organization and one of the nation's largest providers of housing and social services. CUCS provides integrated programs that link housing, health, and social services for individuals who are homeless, low-income, living with mental illness, or have other special needs in New York City. The Mental Health Clinician will provide a full range of person-centered services, both on-site and community-based, to a caseload of clients, including but not limited to, counseling, psychotherapy, assessment-based treatment planning, ancillary services, groupwork, and concrete services. While not a supervisory position, the Mental Health Clinician is expected to understand and support management activities that involve guiding or supporting the team when necessary. This role requires a blend of clinical expertise, leadership capabilities, and excellent interpersonal skills.


The Uptown/SSAP Program is a scattered -site apartment initiative serving single adults aged 18 and older who have a history of mental health diagnoses, including a dual diagnosis involving substance use, as well as a history of chronic homelessness. Apartments are located in Washington Heights, Harlem, the Bronx, and Lower Manhattan. Uptown/SSAP provides comprehensive case management and housing assistance to help clients maintain permanent housing, thereby reducing returns to the NYC shelter system. Additional on-site services include psychiatric care and other resources. The main office is located in East Harlem.


Please note Mental Health Clinician responsibilities may vary depending on the program site.

Section 1. Essential Functions include, but are not limited to:
• Build relationships and work collaboratively with clients to develop and implement effective service plans.
• Coordinate and deliver comprehensive services and referrals to meet client needs. Assisting clients with self-administration and delivery of medication while following agency policies, procedures, and reporting requirements.
• Work collaboratively with clients to develop and implement effective service plans, taking the following factors into account: clients' goals, interests in employment and education, sources of support, medical or mental health diagnoses, substance use diagnoses, medication regimens, risk factors, collateral contacts, and psychosocial history, in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Conduct mental and mental health evaluations and assessments for clients, including but not limited to, mental status examinations, psychosocial assessments, and diagnoses based on the most recent DSM as applicable.
• Conduct intake and initial assessments for clients to determine eligibility, service needs, and appropriate program placement.
• Complete ongoing assessments to monitor client progress, revise service plans, and ensure alignment with program goals and requirements.
• Provide psychotherapy and counseling services, including substance use counseling, to clients in order to promote medical and/or psychiatric stability.
• Provide advanced crisis intervention using a person-centered, trauma-informed approach, supporting Case Managers as needed. Coordinate with emergency services and conduct in-reach to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, jails, and nursing homes to facilitate discharge planning and continuity of care. Assess risk factors, develop crisis prevention strategies, and implement interventions to mitigate future crises in alignment with agency policies and funder standards.
• Engage and coordinate care with external providers, collateral contacts, and social supports, and provide ancillary services including outreach, intake, escort, and recreational activities.
• Adhere to agency policies regarding confidential information and protect the privacy of clients.
• Provide clinical services to groups as assigned, including but not limited to, evidence based practice groups, therapeutic groups, wellness self-management sessions, and activity-based groups.
• Assist clients in accessing eligible federal, state and local benefits by identifying programs, completing applications, escorting to appointments, and tracking renewals.
• Assist clients with managing financial resources, including providing rep-payee services.
• Attend trainings to better support clients in obtaining federal, state and local benefits as directed by program management and in accordance with funder requirement.

• Facilitate the housing placement process by identifying appropriate options based on eligibility criteria, assisting with application completion and required documentation, coordinating with housing providers, and providing support throughout the search, transition, move-in process.
• Monitor clients who move into housing and conduct follow-up outreach, in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Assist clients with maintaining their housing, managing arrears, annual recertification, preparing units for apartment inspections and communicate with landlords and/or building management.
• Support clients with activities of daily living including, but not limited to hygiene, personal care, laundry, showers, cleaning, pest remediation, hoarding mitigation, donation coordination, and preparation for apartment inspections.
• Support client move-in and ongoing needs by assisting with program orientation, distributing essential items, and assisting clients with packing, processing personal belongings through the PackTite (bed bug oven) and treating infested items as needed including but not limited to assisting clients with packing and treating infested items as needed per Agency policy and protocol.
• Conduct in-home visits and assist clients with maintaining safe and clean apartments or personal spaces.
• Provide services both onsite and in the community, including but not limited to, accompanying clients to medical appointments, benefits offices, housing interviews, shopping trips, job interviews, school meetings, and court appearances.
• Facilitate or lead portions of team meetings, provide clinical guidance during crises and support the team in the absence of the Clinical Supervisor.
• Support staff with client assessments, coordinate care with psychiatric and/or primary care providers, ensure appropriate documentation is completed and maintained, and follow up on Janian referrals, in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Lead policy review sessions, provide in-service training in areas of expertise, and supervise student interns where applicable.
• Enter and maintain client service delivery in designated database ensuring that all documentation-including, but not limited to, progress notes, service plans (ILPs), assessments, and benefit forms-is completed accurately, thoroughly, and within required timeframes, in compliance with agency and funder standards.
• Maintain required monthly contact hours with clients or their collaterals in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Monitor client progress and adjust service plans accordingly.
• All other duties as assigned

Section 2. Expectations

• Prepare for and actively participate in regularly scheduled supervision by setting clear agendas, providing timely and appropriate updates on work activities, and integrating feedback into practice. Seek additional support as needed and follow management directives and guidance.
• Maintain professional conduct by fostering collaborative, respectful relationships with clients, colleagues, and supervisors. Demonstrate sound judgment, adapt to changing workloads and priorities, manage responsibilities independently and consistently uphold agency policies, procedures, and ethical standards.
• Contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment by actively participating in required meetings, trainings, and program initiatives. Support team-wide responsibilities as required, engage in continuous improvement efforts, and complete assignments within established deadlines.
• Provide leadership and support within the program to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of direct services as part of a collaborative team; serve as a clinical and programmatic resource to staff.
• Assist site-based resource development on clinical and programmatic issues and utilize specific areas of expertise to enhance team functioning and program development.
• Proactively assess situations, applying sound operational and clinical judgment to determine appropriate interventions, escalate concerns when necessary, and support client care, team functioning, and program operations.
• Manage time effectively by reporting to work at the start of the scheduled shift and remaining through the end of shift. Adhere to agency time and attendance policies, coordinate coverage for breaks, and follow established protocols for notifying in the event of lateness or absence.

Requirements

Title Minimum Qualifications Mental Health Clinician 1

• Master's degree in social work, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, public administration, public health, human services, psychology, or related field required
• Relevant pre or post master's or internship experience preferred.
• LMSW, LMHC, preferred.

Mental Health Clinician 2

• Master's degree in social work, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, public administration, public health, human services, psychology, or related field required
• 2 years' relevant pre or post Master's experience (excludes internships) required
• LMSW, LMHC preferred