mental health specialist

The Mental Health Specialist’s key areas of responsibility include:
Key Areas of Responsibility:
▪ Utilize a harm reduction and housing first model when working with clients to have a “No wrong door”
approach to services.
▪ Provide mental health services to individuals.
▪ Develop and maintain strong ties to the community, law enforcement, and other service providers.
▪ Provide mental health assessment and interventions to the severe and persistently mentally ill.
Essential Duties:
▪ Implement client treatment plans, emphasizing coordinated strategies for addressing mental
health/substance abuse issues, relapse prevention, medication management, and any other risk factors
that could impede permanent housing and provide ongoing assessment of client progress in attaining
goals.
▪ Build trust and rapport with individuals.
▪ Assess individuals and complete assessments, re-assessments, and client treatment plan that are
required by the agency and funders.
▪ Utilize a harm reduction model when working with clients with chemical dependency or abuse issues.
▪ Link clients to physical health, mental health, and other supportive services internally or externally.
▪ Link clients to appropriate bridge/interim housing programs and assist them in completing required
paperwork to enroll them in permanent housing-related programs.
▪ Provide skill building, rehabilitation and therapy services to individuals and groups.
▪ Keep highly organized files for each client and enter appropriate data within agency and funder
compliance.
▪ Assist clients to enroll in mainstream benefits and obtain identification (i.e. California Driver’s License,
Social Security Card).
JOB DESCRIPTION
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▪ Provide bus tokens, bus passes, taxi vouchers, and/or direct transportation as needed.
▪ Participate in case conferencing meetings and other community meetings.
▪ Coordinate and collaborate with other service providers or programs.
▪ Participate in one-on-one or group clinical supervision as needed.
Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed are designed to provide
typical examples of the work performed; not all duties and responsibilities assigned are included here, nor is it
expected that all similar positions will be assigned every duty and responsibility.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
▪ Must be highly motivated and a self-starter.
▪ Must have the ability to communicate with and relate to a diverse group of people including clients,
community, and other staff.
▪ Must have excellent organizational skills and the capability to work in a fast-paced environment.
▪ Strong knowledge of homeless services and resources.
▪ Demonstrated knowledge and experience with Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, Critical Time
Intervention, and Housing First.
▪ A bilingual background is a plus.
Experience:
▪ Experience providing services to highly vulnerable populations preferred.
▪ Demonstrate experience with completing mental health assessments and client treatment plans using
diagnostic criteria from the DSM-5
Education:
▪ Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in social work, human services or a related field.
Direct Reports:
This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.
Computer Skills:
▪ Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
▪ Ability to use widely supported internet browsers.
Certificates, Licenses and Registrations:
▪ BBS licensure or current registration is required.