Mental Health Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 1

LOCATION: Whittier, CA

SALARY RANGE: $23-25.50 per hour starting pay.

JOB STATUS: Full time – Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO: Program Director & Clinical Supervisor

JOB OVERVIEW:

Under the direct supervision of the Program director or their designee, the Rehabilitation Specialist provides Targeted Case Management, assisting clients and their families with accessing community resources and supports, and with gaining, restoring, improving, or maintaining daily independent living. This role also may provide rehabilitative services to help clients, parents and family units overcome barriers to implement Outpatient Services that are integrated, individualized, and tailored to the community needs under the oversight of the Program Supervisor. Works with the therapist, Psychiatrist & Parent Partner as a team from the framework of the Core Practice Model providing services that are family-centered, and strengths and needs based.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Meet annual productivity/client care expectation.
• At the direction of the supervisor, work hours to meet the needs of the community including evening hours if necessary. Schedule/calendar activities and coordinate with the teams to ensure services are delivered in alignment with the family team meeting agreements
• Assist in Outreach and Engagement (O&E)
• Once assessment and problem lists are established, assist in providing direct contacts and ensure client’s access to services; assist clients and caretakers in linking to community services. Assess and periodically reassess the need for establishment or continuation of targeted case management services to access medical, educational, social or other services. Provide referral and related activities
• Participate in identifying clients’ needs and triggers (within a strengths-based model) to escalation and barriers; and makes recommendations to supervisors and treatment team
• Participate in child/family team (CFT) meetings for all assigned families
• Provide direct Intensive Care Coordination (ICC) case management interventions as required facilitating the access and linkage to services and resources and incorporating the Core Practice Model (CPM)
• Provide Intensive Home-Based Services (IHBS) providing rehabilitative services to clients, parents and caregivers to help them develop skills and achieve the goals and objectives
• Provide medically necessary skill-based intervention for the remediation of behaviors or improvement of symptoms, i.e., implementation of a positive behavioral plan, modeling interventions, developing functional skills in self-regulation or self-care, assist parents in developing positive problem-solving skills, modeling appropriate behavioral interaction
• Work closely with personnel as available to facilitate implementation of the child/family treatment plan. Maintain positive communication with all agency staff, clients and visitors and act as a liaison including the use of informal support and natural family helpers
• May assist in crisis intervention at the direction of the clinical personnel
• Attend weekly individual supervision
• Attend weekly team meetings
• Attending training as assigned by supervisor to promote professional growth and adhere to County related expectations
• Provide interventions at the direction of the supervisor and/or from the team meetings that are school and family-centered and strengths-based. May accompany parents to important meetings (i.e. court proceedings)
• Participate in outcome-oriented data collection for Program Evaluation and assist in facilitation of any required outcome measures
• Participate in a multi-cultural team approach that is sensitive to the cultural and linguistic needs of the families served
• Participate in staff meetings
• Support all existing agency policies, principles and mission
• Maintain confidentiality in matters of agency operation, personnel, and clients
• Complete all charting/paperwork within 48 hours of service delivery and ensure all activity is entered on time (by the end of next workday)
• Provide and document 100% of activity in compliance with Federal and State of California Standards for Medi-Cal, Short-Doyle, EPSDT service delivery, ensuring accuracy
• Exercise good judgment in performance of all duties and responsibilities, including maintaining good boundaries and professional conduct
• Other related duties as assigned and approved by the Supervisor(s)

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required

• Minimum of 4 years of work experience related to providing case management or rehabilitative services in a mental health setting.
• Knowledge of community resources
• Must be willing to work in homes, schools, and other non-traditional, community-oriented environments
• Strong communication skills
• Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) may be required in certain locations and/or positions.  (Additional compensation for proven bilingual skills and ability to translate)
• Strong writing skills are required.  Must be able to document in a clear and concise manner and in accordance with DMH and other program standards
• Strong commitment to children and families, and a willingness to take the steps necessary to assure their well-being
• Willingness to work in a multi-cultural environment

Preferred

• Experience with DMH Paperwork for 1 year
• Knowledge of the L.A. County Department of Mental Health system is a huge plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or other mental health related discipline.  

BENEFITS:

• Full benefits package to all positions after 30 days of employment.
• Free standard HMO Health, Dental, and Vision plans offered to employees.
• 401k plan with 4% employer match.
• Paid Vacation Time Off that accrues to 10 days annually and increases with seniority.
• 5 Paid Sick Days annually.
• 14 Paid Holidays annually.
• Bilingual Stipend if applicable.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

This description is only intended to identify the duties, responsibilities, and requirements for the position. It is not intended, nor should it be interpreted to describe each and every duty an employee assigned may be required to perform.

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Work is performed in a normal office setting, client's homes and the community.
• Noise level is moderate with occasional loud outbursts.
• This is a field-based position and requires 50% driving.
• Will require a personal motor vehicle to frequently travel between offices, housing appointments, and community events.

REASONING ABILITY: 

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time
• Needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, (i.e., calculator, copy machine and computer printer).
• Constantly converses with staff and clients
• Frequently operates a motor vehicle to travel to school or home site
• Frequently needs to position self in order to effectively interact with children of lesser stature
• Occasionally needs to transport materials (food, clothing, books, etc.) weighing up to 50 pounds for therapeutic activities
• Frequently needs to use motor vehicle for business purposes.

The Whole Child is an equal employment opportunity employer and no candidate for employment will be rejected on account of race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, or sex.  Candidates with physical impairments will be considered so long as it can be reasonably demonstrated that the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed without hazard to the individual, fellow employees, or clientele.