Co-Occuring Clinician

POSITION TITLE: Co-Occurring Clinician

PROGRAM/LOCATION: SLO ACT / San Luis Obispo

POSITION SUMMARY:

The San Luis Obispo ACT program is designed to engage adults with severe and persistent mental illness and provide treatment, rehabilitation, and social services in the community where they live, instead of a hospital or clinical setting. The SLO ACT team provides psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation services directly with a “whatever it takes” approach. For all SLO ACT clients, functioning in major life domains presents significant personal difficulties. These domains include affordable and safe housing; meaningful daily pursuits, including employment; and satisfying interpersonal relationships. Addressing the rehabilitation needs of clients in these key domains will be the team’s essential purpose. SLO ACT provides a full range of services, including assessment, individualized treatment planning, personal service coordination, integrated co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder treatment, medication services, and access to support services on a 24/7, 365-day basis. The Clinical Specialist will be responsible for providing therapeutic series including assessments, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, rehabilitation services, crisis management, and collaboration and coordination with other service providers with a trauma-informed approach. The Clinical Rehabilitation Specialist will need to provide after-hours support to clients, transport clients to appointments, assist in meeting clients’ daily living needs, and attend medical appointments to ensure the wellness of the clients.

Under the direction of the team leader, the Clinical Rehabilitation Specialist provides clinical consultation and subject expertise for the team and ensures that each team member’s observations and interactions with the clients are considered for individual treatment planning. The Clinical Rehabilitation Specialist works as a member of the SLO ACT multidisciplinary team and performs related duties as required

HOURS/ SALARY EMPLOYEE PERKS:

Full-time, non-exempt position. 40 hours per week. Anticipated hiring range is $28.50-$38.50. Includes a generous individual benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life, 403b retirement (with up to a 5% employer match) paid vacation/holiday time, paid sick time and a variety of helpful employee perks as well. (*Full Salary Schedule $28.50-$51.00 per hour).

EMPLOYEE PERKS:

A few of our helpful employee benefits include membership discounts to various local fitness centers. We offer years of service gift cards to businesses of your choice. We offer gift cards for walking, biking, or carpooling to work as well as 20% discount for shopping at our Growing Grounds Downtown Store/Nursey/ Farm. We host two employee appreciation events for employees and their families yearly. We practice Trauma Informed Care Principles, Guidelines for Collaborative Conversations, and encourage the use of pronouns. We mindfully promote equality, respect and diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and all the fascinating characteristics that make us different! TMHA is also a pet friendly workplace (upon approval)!

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:

Transitions – Mental Health Association is a leading non-profit agency committed to providing comprehensive mental health services and support to individuals and families by inspiring hope, growth, recovery and wellness in our communities. TMHA has decades of experience with teams of compassionate staff. TMHA is a driving force in improving mental health and wellness in our communities and a supportive and inclusive work environment that values diversity and individual contributions.

MISSION STATEMENT:

Transitions Mental Health Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating stigma and promoting recovery and wellness for people with mental illness through work, housing, community, and family support services.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

1. Provide a wellness and recovery approach to service delivery to all clients. Foster and maintain a collaborative team approach with the SLO ACT team members. Model a client-centered approach to service delivery, bringing a “whatever it takes” approach to meeting the needs of consumers in all aspects of their treatment.

2. Provide and participate in trainings on best practices and evidence-based approaches to service delivery, including Assertive Community Treatment, integrated treatment of co-occurring disorders, Dialectic Behavior Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Care. Promote an engaging learning environment for team members.

3. Function as a core member of the multidisciplinary ACT team, operating within a shared caseload mode.

4. Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments with integrated screening for substance use and mental health disorders.

5. Assess stage of change and readiness for substance use treatment using evidence-based tools.

6. Provide assertive engagement strategies for individuals who are ambivalent, disengaged, or actively using substances.

7. Develop and implement integrated, person-centered treatment plans addressing both serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD).

8. Provide ongoing assessment of risk, including relapse, risk, psychiatric decompensation, and safety concerns.

9. Provide crisis intervention and support during psychiatric and/or substance-related crises.

10. Coordinate with community providers, including Sobering Center, MAT providers, Sober Living Homes, and Drug and Alcohol Services.

11. Advocate for client access to appropriate levels of care by collaborating with DAS.

12. Incorporate harm reduction, wellness management, and recovery-oriented goals into planning.

13. Medi-Cal billing provides a critical portion of funding for this program. You are expected to reach documentation and billing goals as set by Team Leader and Director.

14. All direct service staff are expected to spend 50% of their work time on direct service and support of clients, unless otherwise assigned by your supervisor.

15. Promote, encourage, and maintain trauma-informed practices in all services and activities. Practice and promote, both individually and in team meetings, TMHA’s Collaborative Communication Guidelines to facilitate clear, empathetic, and person-centered communication.

16. Work with and train team members and clients on mental health services and/or drug or alcohol abuse prevention strategies as part of developing a holistic wellness and recovery plan for the clients.

17. Collaborate closely with psychiatry, nursing, substance use specialists, vocational specialists, peer specialists, and case managers

18. Participate in daily case review and coordination meetings with teammates. Assess and interview potential clients to determine if requirements for admission into ACT services are met, or if referral elsewhere is most appropriate. Collaborate with County Behavioral Health on assessments and referrals for admission into SLO ACT services.

19. Provide psychotherapeutic counseling, educational, and rehabilitation services for individuals, couples, or members of a family to assist them in achieving productive social adjustments, reducing the impact of disabling disorders, and facilitating the achievement of family, vocational, recreational, and interpersonal goals.

20. Document clinical activity presenting diagnostic and interview findings, clinical evaluations, and recommendations as a member of an interdisciplinary team; review the treatment plans and assessments of staff; function as the Care Coordinator for client caseload.

21. Provide crisis counseling in the field, in the office for individuals experiencing acute episodes; evaluate clients, and arrange for voluntary or involuntary admission to facilities for observation and treatment. Become trained and designated to conduct evaluations and write applications for 5150 holds (training provided).

22. Employees in this position are required to participate in a rotating on-call schedule as part of their regular job duties. This includes providing client support services during weekday after-hours and all weekend hours, in accordance with our program’s contractual obligations. Flexibility and reliability are essential. Employees must respond, sometimes in person, in accordance with our on-call policy.

23. Confer with and advise clients’ relatives to secure their understanding of and cooperation in treatment and rehabilitation programs.

24. Provide transportation to clients as determined by the daily schedule and the needs of the client.

25. Cooperate and work with other agencies and practitioners.

26. Educate clients, and their families regarding their diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and rehabilitation process.

27. Assist clients to obtain stable housing, physical health care, benefits, and entitlements, and to learn basic living skills.

28. Participate in ongoing quality assurance and program evaluations.

29. Assist with interviewing, hiring, and training new staff.

30. All other duties as assigned by the SLO Team Leader and Directors.

JOB ENVIRONMENT:

1. Daily and frequent documentation of client services on the computer.

2. Services may be delivered to clients during a Monday through Sunday workweek; schedules will be developed in collaboration with all teammates and management staff to ensure maximum support for clients.

3. Moderate physical activity and frequent driving that will include the transportation of TMHA clients; may include moving or lifting to 50 lbs.

4. Involves moderate risks that require safety precautions and the risk of exposure to potentially intense situations.

5. Possible intense situations related to confrontational or oppositional adults.