Mental Health Therapist

Mental Health Therapist

Seattle, WA ( COAT

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Job Type

Full-time

Description

Shift: Office Day (9am - 5pm)

Days Off: Saturday, Sunday

Insurance Benefits: Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage), Dental, Life, Long-term Disability

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

About DESC:

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.

As the region's leading provider of services to multiply-disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 2,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

JOB DEFINITION:

The COAT (Community Outreach and Advocacy Team) program is a multi-disciplinary team responsible for providing outreach, engagement, intensive case management and behavioral health services to adults involved in the criminal legal system. The primary responsibilities of the COAT Mental Health Therapist are to provide evidence based therapeutic services, conduct screening and intakes into the program, and support the team in crisis support and clinical risk assessment.

The COAT model uses a modified assertive community treatment (ACT) approach with caseloads of 1:20, and companion-based services to ensure people are assessed, supported, and accompanied to services or appointments indicated. The team consists of behavioral health staff (including case managers, an SUD specialist and a certified Peer), a psychiatric prescriber, a psychiatric registered nurse, and an occupational therapist, all of whom will provide services with an intensive outreach and client-centered approach. The population served includes people who experience a combination of homelessness, substance use disorders, and severe and persistent mental illness.

Services will be provided in Seattle and King County areas. Many services will be provided on the streets, in shelters and other service centers as assigned. This position requires close coordination and collaboration with other DESC programs and outside agencies. COAT works closely with the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program and the Public Defender's Association.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct Medicaid compliant intakes and biopsychosocial assessments.

• Provide evidence-based psychotherapy primarily utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

• Provide outreach and engagement services as assigned, working closely with the Clinical Project Manager and other team members to develop strong rapport with the clients served.

• Maintain a caseload of 10-20 clients. Complete a minimum of 40 billable client services per month.

• Work closely with the client and other care team members to develop individualized treatment plans.

• Provide and prioritize crisis intervention with clients as needed. This may include de-escalation, outreaching clients in hospital EDs, and making referrals to Designated Crisis Responders (DCR).

• Participate in daily team wide consultations, weekly clinical supervision, and consultation with COATs community partners.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide case management activities as needed. This includes providing and/or coordinating survival services with a focus on access to food, shelter and clothing; acquisition and stabilization of housing; acute and ongoing medical care, psychiatric treatment, financial assistance, criminal legal system coordination, substance use treatment.

• Advocate for clients' access to community resources and services, ensuring that clients' needs are met and rights are maintained. Provide other activities focused on stabilization and transition to other ongoing providers as appropriate.

• Comply with the agency's clinical accountability policies and procedures; maintain timely and complete clinical records; participate in quality assurance reviews when assigned.

• Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures.

• Other duties as assigned.

LIVING CONDITIONS:

Support your clients with achieving and maintaining healthy living conditions. This can include but is not limited to attending care conferences related to living conditions, outreaching and supporting clients in their residential units with tools and skills to maintain their units, coordinating with housing staff, participating in cleaning out clients units, and documenting barriers to maintaining healthy living conditions.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Eligible for a Licensed AAC credential or any other superseding credential that meets RCW 71.05.020 requirements to act as a Mental Health Professional whose scope of practice includes independently conducting mental health assessments and making mental health diagnoses.

• Master's degree in social work, psychology or other relevant behavioral science or Bachelor of Nursing degree with specialty in mental health.

• Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle to conduct agency related business. A current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record are required.

• Interest or experience in working with clients who have difficulty engaging with traditional behavioral health programs.

• An in-depth understanding of how to apply housing first and harm reduction principles.

• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds.

• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of behaviors.

• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual in Spanish and English.

• Bicultural background/experience and/or Qualified Minority Mental Health Specialist designation.

• Experience working with adults who have experienced homelessness.

• Experience working with adults who have experienced mental health and substance use issues.

Strong applicants are able to demonstrate the ability to be positive in their empathetic responses to all persons; understand the value of meaningful and deep client engagement; have the potential to acquire the necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills of an effective crisis worker; and value a non-judgmental response to sensitive issues. Candidates should be able to accept feedback and work in a highly collaborative and potentially stressful environment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit, drive, walk, stand, communicate with other employees and vendors, is required to lift and carry items weighing up to 10 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Considerable stress may occur. Employee will be working both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace, and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Salary Description

$79,579.44 - $87,886.56 annually