Service Coordinator I - Generalist DMH

REPORTS TO: Assistant Program Manager

HOURS: 40 hrs/week

CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

REQUISTION:

SUMMARY:

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) programs provide intensive mental health services to adults (18+ years of age) in community, field, project-based, and clinic-based settings. We serve individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental illness, substance abuse and who are experiencing homelessness or are in danger of losing their home. The DMH programs aim to provide linkage to resources including mental health services, housing, benefits, and are geared toward promoting wellness, mental health management, and community integration. The program provides 24/7 on-call coverage to members to provide the highest quality of life in the least restrictive community setting possible. Our work at Step Up is guided by the principles of Housing First, Mental Health Recovery and Trauma Informed Care.

DUTIES: The following reflects essential functions for this job but does not restrict other tasks, which may be assigned:

Leadership, Administration, Oversight

- Support the targeted outreach efforts of the AOT, FSP, OCS, HSSP, and CGF programs to initiate contact, develop rapport, and in coordination with multidisciplinary team members: SC I, SC II, LVN and PM, will assess TAY and adults for mental illness, co-occurring substance use and other health care needs in the community until linkage and services are accepted.

- Attend all staff and community meetings as requested by Program Manager.

- Engage in all scheduled supervision with management to consult about caseload and discuss any pertinent issued related to consumer care and/or documentation.

Direct Service and Support

- Outreach and engage potential members in community settings like (but not limited to) jails, hospitals, board & cares, street settings to evaluate and determine if referral is an appropriate fit for Step Up services.

- Provide linkage to assure members have access to local resources, including psychiatric and medical care/appointments, housing, benefits establishment, community rehabilitation and socialization activities, and drug/alcohol services. Provide transportation and accompany the consumer using personal or public transportation when deemed clinically appropriate.

- Make home visits as needed to support independent living skills and subsidized housing certificates. Assist members with relevant skill building and self-care to support independence and housing retention.

- Monitor for compliance, stability, and report any warning signs of decompensation and crisis.

- Ensure each member has applied for or is receiving mainstream benefits. Assist with benefits establishment process, including health care enrollment and other needs such as housing applications, employment or vocational training, continuing education etc.

Documentation and Data Collection

- Complete all program-required paperwork such as HMIS or DMH/Medi-Cal and maintain documentation according to those program standards of practice in Electronic Health Record – Welligent or HMIS within prescribed timeframes as outlined in SUOS documentation policy.

- Maintain consumer’s chart on EHR system by ensuring all relevant documents pertaining to client care have been scanned into attachments

- Meet monthly billing quota as outlined by Program Manager.

- Perform all other duties as assigned.

SKILLS:

- Knowledge of or experience with mainstream benefits and services, mental health diagnoses and level of functioning, EBP’s such as Critical Time Intervention, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, Housing First, Harm Reduction, etc.

- Ability to work collaboratively with others and on a team.

- Initiative and solution focused practice.

- Uses good time management skills and resources to balance case load direct service and paperwork.

- Works within skills and scope of practice asking for support and training to improve abilities when needed.

- Ability to work as a team member on the streets, in homeless facilities or with other homeless community providers such as police, churches and hospital ER’s.

- Ability to engage individuals on the streets in a meaningful manner which imbues trust enough to accept services offered.

- Understands and promotes safety first to self and team members.

QUALIFICATIONS:

- B.A. in psychology or social work or 3 years of related work experience with a minimum of 2 years’ experience working with homeless or at-risk TAY and/or adults diagnosed with a mental illness.

- Case management experience is essential, including the ability to chart patient progress to meet documentation requirements.

- Must have own transportation and current California driver’s license and insurance.

- Position requires frequent driving and transporting.

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 is 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 and 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 is committed to providing quality services that adhere to the highest ethical standards and principles. All Step Up employees agree to adhere to the ethical policies and codes of conduct, as outlined in the Employee Handbook and those specified for this grant.

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