Mental Health Team Lead Clinician, C3 Skid Row

Role: Mental Health Team Lead Clinician Reports to: Program Manager Program: 1502-Downtown C3 Department: Outreach Location: Molly Lowrey and Frank Rice Center - 627 S. San Julian Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014 Setting: 100% Onsite Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Status: Full-time/Non-Exempt/Non-Management  Benefits: Medical, Vision, Dental, Life Insurance, 403(b) Retirement plan, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), etc. Openings: 1   Summary: Under the supervision of the Program Manager, the Mental Health Team Lead provides leadership and clinical support to a small team of case managers, as well as provides therapeutic engagement and intensive case management to a caseload of street homeless clients with severe persistent mental illness. The Team Lead assists their team in outreaching and assessing the highest need chronically homeless individuals, and is responsible for identifying, engaging, and connecting to street medicine/psychiatry, and long-term providers. The Team Lead will focus specifically on the Skid Row area of Downtown Los Angeles, and will provide emergency and ongoing risk assessment, linkages to emergency care, medical and mental health services, and housing. The Mental Health Team Lead provides clinical training and support for team members, as well as fosters a supportive team setting for growth. Clinical Team Lead will model competence in clinical and safety assessment, trauma-informed interventions, and implement a harm reduction approach to meet the needs of those living with severe mental illness, severe medical disorders, and high-risk substance use disorders. The Team Lead is also responsible for maintaining the highest quality services and efficiency of team operations including accurate, and timely referrals and documentation to meet outcome measures. The C3 outreach program is part of a large-scale street-based engagement effort in the Metro Los Angeles Area (Service Area 4). The goal of C3 is to create a countywide network of multidisciplinary, integrated street-based teams to identify, engage, and connect, or re-connect homeless individuals to interim and/or permanent housing and supportive services.    Essential Duties and Responsibilities:   Work as part of an interdisciplinary team (medical, psychiatry, case management) to engage and provide services to the most vulnerable homeless individuals. Interface with partners, including community health providers, the business community, hospitals, and social service/housing providers to professionally advocate for the complex needs of C3 clients. Work in collaboration with other team members to remove barriers to permanent housing; e.g., acquisition of identification, legal aid, benefits assistance, life skills acquisition. Serve as the team’s mental health consultant and mental health care provider. Assess for, and respond to medical, psychiatric, and safety emergencies in the skid row community. Facilitate daily team huddles with multidisciplinary staff. Attend weekly staff meetings, trainings, and case consultations. Provide leadership and support to a team of case managers to support with client care and team coordination needs. Work collaboratively as a team to remove barriers to client safety, identify appropriate services taking into account each individual’s physical, and cognitive needs. Provide excellent documentation and referrals in a timely manner to adhere to required outcome measures.   Qualifications:  Ph.D., Psy.D., Master of Social Work (MSW) , or Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT); hours are available for this position for unlicensed candidates. Those who will complete a clinical masters program within the next 12 mos. may also be eligible for this role. A clinician who is registered and in good standing with Board of Behavioral Sciences. Current, valid Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record Able to obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid certification Strong clinical assessment skills and experience working in fast-paced, unpredictable clinical settings. Highly detail oriented with excellent time management, organizational, written, verbal, interpersonal, and computer skills Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and database applications Able to learn quickly and work effectively with a wide range of constituencies Passion for meeting clients where they are, and working independently in the skid row community. Desire to lead, and work as part of an interdisciplinary team   Preferred Qualifications: Applicants with past lived experience of substance use, homelessness, sex work, or incarceration encouraged to apply. Preferred applicants will have experience working with: Those living with co-occurring disorders (serious mental illness and chaotic substance use) and experiencing homelessness A program that provides low-barrier clinical services with a goal to do “whatever it takes”. A social service agency that provides outreach and engagement services   Work Environment Required to answer: Skid Row program serving street-homeless individuals. Daily walking independently throughout Skid Row community. Combination of field, and office environments. Regularly required to sit, stand, bend, stoop, twist; occasionally lift or carry up to 35 lbs. Regularly walking distances over uneven surfaces and in encampment areas. Will necessitate working in busy, loud, and chaotic environment with individuals with untreated mental illness and substance use. Will be exposed to elements like cold, heat, noise and odor, as well as clients with severe medical and hygiene needs.