Mental Health Clinician (LMFT, LCSW, LMSW)

Job Description

Job Description

Hope Mission Statement

The mission of Hope the Mission is to prevent, reduce and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions.

Position Purpose and Summary 

Homelessness and mental health are deeply connected. For many of the people Hope the Mission serves, untreated trauma, psychiatric crisis, and co-occurring disorders are not secondary issues — they are the main barriers standing between a person and stable housing. The Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP) addresses those barriers directly.

Under the direct supervision of the Program Manager, the Mental Health Clinician provides advanced mental health services, crisis intervention, and clinical leadership to participants facing some of the most complex challenges a person can experience. This role delivers trauma-informed, harm-reduction, and Housing First care while supervising the Mental Health Professional and collaborating with program staff, case managers, and outside partners to make sure every participant gets coordinated, comprehensive support.

The Mental Health Clinician shapes the mental health culture of the site — training staff, guiding care decisions, and making sure the people who need the most support actually receive it. It requires licensure, clinical depth, and a genuine commitment to serving individuals whose needs are significant and whose resilience is often extraordinary.

Duties Responsibilities

Clinical Mental Health Services

• Deliver individualized mental health services including crisis intervention, risk assessment, safety planning, and psychoeducation

• Conduct suicide risk assessments and develop safety plans; coordinate emergency services as needed

• Provide direct clinical support to high-acuity participants, addressing immediate mental health and behavioral needs

• Clarify and fulfill supervisory responsibilities for unlicensed Mental Health Professionals (MHPs), including accountability for the quality of work, productivity, and overall service outcomes, as required by licensure standards and program expectations.

• Develop, facilitate, and lead psychoeducational groups for participants

• Create psychoeducation training materials tailored to participant needs

Leadership & Collaboration

• Supervise and support the unlicensed Mental Health Professional (MHP), providing guidance on participant care, clinical decision-making, and documentation

• Collaborate with shelter staff, case managers, and external agencies to develop and coordinate comprehensive care plans

• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to ensure alignment of services and adherence to program goals

Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate and timely records of all clinical services in accordance with program guidelines and organizational policies in HMIS 

• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations related to mental health services and confidentiality

• Monitor and meet performance outcomes established by program funders

Training & Staff Development

• Provide training and consultation to programmatic staff on trauma-informed care, de-escalation techniques, and mental health best practices

• Participate in regular supervision, case consultations, and professional development activities

Skills & Competencies

• Maintain knowledge of and adhere to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements, ensuring the confidentiality and proper handling of all protected health information (PHI), particularly for Mental Health Program (MHP) roles.

• Knowledge of Housing First, Harm Reduction, and Trauma-Informed Care principles

• Knowledge of legal standards related to professional practice, mandatory reporting, Tarasoff requirements, and professional boundaries

• Ability to develop and facilitate psychoeducational groups and training materials

• Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team

• Problem-solving, strategic thinking, and creative solution development

• Highly motivated self-starter with the ability to adapt to changing priorities

• Proficient in Google Suite, Microsoft Office, HMIS, and Electronic Health Record systems

• Commitment to ending homelessness and serving individuals with lived experience of housing instability

Education & Licensure

• Active California license required in one of the following: LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC

• Minimum two years of post-licensure experience in behavioral health or mental health services; experience with individuals experiencing homelessness or co-occurring disorders preferred

• Experience with mobile crisis response and trauma-informed care preferred

Mandatory Requirements

• Background Screening – Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of  background checks as required per worksite.

• Drug and Alcohol Testing – Candidates must pass pre-employment and ongoing drug and alcohol screenings in accordance with company policy.

• Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check – For roles requiring driving, employment is contingent upon an acceptable driving record (meeting criteria of HTM’s commercial insurance), a CA drivers license, and proof of vehicle insurance coverage.

• Legal Eligibility to Work – Maintain proof of legal authorization to work in the US.

• Compliance with Company Policies and HIPAA standards – All employees must comply with company policies, including safety, confidentiality, and conduct standards.