Substance Abuse Specialist

SUMMARY: Step Up on Second, a nationally recognized nonprofit mental health and housing provider currently has opportunities for a Mental Health Service Coordinator in San Bernardino.  Step Up is a Department of Behavioral Health contractor with Mental Health Service Administration (prop 63) and Medi-Cal funded programs.

The Service Coordinator I: Substance Abuse Specialist (SCI: SAS) is a member of the FSP Housing First team. The SC I SRS is a BA or experienced equivalent staff, with a recognized, valid substance abuse license who will work within their designated scope of practice to assess, treat and house adults experiencing chronic homelessness and serious mental health issues. Services include comprehensive mental health services, targeted case management, medication management, and crisis intervention in a field and office-based setting. The program provides 24/7 on call coverage to clients and family members to provide the highest quality of life in the least restrictive community setting possible.

DUTIES:

Outreach and Housing Placement

• Provides intensive case management services to residents through Permanent Supportive Housing including:
• outreach and engagement, accepting referrals, screening, intake and assessment;
• housing application process, documents acquisition, benefits establishment prior to placement, service plan development, monitoring and reassessment;
• linkages and referrals to clinical services and appropriate community resources; ensure compliance with eligibility and lease-up procedures.
• Comprehensive coordination of care including effective communication with residents’ co-service providers establishing goals and objectives for successful transition to and maintenance of independent living.
• Meets with assigned residents individually through regular home visits, to review progress toward goals, reassess and revise service plans using psychosocial recovery-oriented service models including Housing First and Harm Reduction to ensure stable housing.
• Monitors for warning signs of decompensation and crisis, and respond accordingly.
• Facilitates or links to life skills groups and community-based recreational opportunities.

Mental Health and Case Management Services

• SC I works with SC II to manage client caseload with the SC II as the primary clinical lead on each case. Both collaborate with the client to identify needs, set goals, establish concrete objectives and develop a Personal Service Plan. Provide both ongoing psychosocial recovery rehabilitation (skill building), support and crisis intervention.
• SC I works with SC II to assure access to local resources, including psychiatric and medical care, housing, rehabilitation programs, drug/alcohol services, socialization activities, providing transportation and accompanying the client when necessary. Communicate regularly with other treatment providers.
• Attends daily staff meetings, supervision and trainings as requested.
• Works cooperatively with other Service Coordinators including sharing responsibility for 24 hour on-call coverage.

Substance Recovery Specialist

• Provides mental health rehabilitation services to client’s who are experiencing co-morbid mental health and substance use that is exacerbating client’s mental health barriers through a strength-based perspective.
• Serves as a stable, positive role model to help clients achieve stability and success with recovery from substance use.
• Assists clients, families and significant others in understanding substance addiction and gaining their acceptance of and participation in their recovery and psychiatric treatment recommendations.
• Co-facilitates support groups and coaches clients individually with independent living skills, sobriety, transitioning to work or independent housing and developing other healthy coping skills and meaningful roles.
• Develop interagency and external agency working relationships to increase successful Coordination and linkage to detox and other external substances use resources.

Data Collection and Record Keeping

• Completes all DBH chart paperwork and maintains documentation according to MediCAL standards of practice in Electronic Health Record – Welligent within proscribed timeframes as outlined in SUOS documentation policy.
• Meets weekly, monthly and quarterly billing quota set by Program Manager.
• Processes agency paperwork in a timely and accurate manner.

SKILLS: Experience working with individuals with mental health challenges, crisis intervention, understanding and commitment to psychosocial philosophy, strong computer skills, ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team. Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness as well as familiarity with and dedication to the Housing First, Harm Reduction, and Recovery Oriented service models preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in psychology/social work or 3 years of related work experience working with homeless populations and/or those diagnosed with a mental illness in a community setting desirable. Maintain recognized and valid substance abuse license. Ability to work as a part of a team is crucial. Knowledge of Microsoft Office is essential. Must have own transportation, and current California driver’s license and insurance with good driving record.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Work with people experiencing homelessness whether on the streets, in shelters or other places of habitation or services, may present inherent challenges and difficulties such as: exposure to bed bugs or other infestations, unpleasant smells or odors, individuals who may have poor hygiene or unclean homes due to homelessness, mental health symptoms, or poverty. Additionally, in working with our members, employees may encounter instances of profanity, sexually explicit or derogatory language, or verbal or physical expressions of anger and trauma. Very rarely do these situations ever escalate to physical contact, and negative or derogatory communication patterns can often be negotiated successfully. All direct care staff are provided adequate training to develop skills to deescalate crisis situations that may arise and Step Up has established procedural safeguards for all employees to mitigate (but not eliminate) these inherent risks of employment.

Physical Requirements: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers; handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk; and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, balance, stoop, kneel, and/or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Keyboard data entry required.

Step Up utilizes the principles of trauma-informed care and mental health recovery. These principles inform our Core Values of Hope, Wellness, Voice and Choice, Respect, and Collaborative Relationships. As representatives of Step Up, employees agree to adhere to these values in their interactions with members, colleagues, supervisors, and associated community members.

Step Up Core Values

HOPE – We believe all people have the capacity for positive growth and change. We use hope to inspire and motivate ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

WELLNESS – We believe in promoting a culture that supports healthy and fulfilling lives. We use a supportive environment to foster well-being for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

VOICE AND CHOICE – We believe in the right to choose and be heard. We use voice and choice to create meaningful outcomes and empowerment for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

RESPECT – We believe in promoting interactions that are non-judgmental, transparent. We use respect to guide all of our words and actions with ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS – We believe in forming partnerships to share resources, knowledge, and experiences. We use collaborative relationships to strengthen accomplishments for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

Step Up provides equal employment opportunities without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, mental or physical disability, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws.

STEP UP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER