JOB SUMMARY

The Clinical Specialist is a mental health professional who collaborates with supported housing case management teams to provide clinical guidance for high-risk individuals. Working alongside the Health Connect team, the Clinical Specialist supports individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders, ensuring they receive the necessary interventions to maintain community living and housing stability.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Assists Program Directors and case management staff to provide quality clinical and crisis management services across the supported housing system, primarily through consultation and training.
• Provides consultation to staff on challenging clinical cases, such as those involving high-risk consumers, (i.e., those with co-morbid medical conditions, those identified as at risk psychiatrically) or individuals who present compliance issues or added complexity due to factors such as AOT/forensic status.
• Maintains a “caseload” of said consumers, although primary services (counseling, service planning, apartment visits, etc.) are the responsibility of the case management staff.
• Organizes and facilitates internal case conferences as needed, working with staff to design and implement person-centered, evidence-based interventions to resolve clinical/compliance issues, motivate consumers, and determine disposition of cases.
• Attends external case conferences on behalf of the Cluster; participates in decision-making regarding discharge planning to/from SH programs, inpatient settings, detox/rehab programs, etc.
• Oversees the risk assessment process in supported housing, ensuring that assessments are completed as directed, informing the Program Directors and Vice President about status of high-risk consumers, and managing appropriate follow-through by staff.
• Provides staff training as needed (for example, independent living skills training, and wellness activities) and co-facilitate groups- if needed- as a teaching method.
• Oversee the clinical quality and integrity of service planning and utilization review in relevant programs. Provides staff training in these areas.
• Participate actively in the Supported Housing Task Force. Attends the meetings and is centrally involved in the implementation of initiatives rolled out by the committee.
• Participate in the process of determining readiness for transition to supported housing, including helping staff to identify- and address- skills training needs.
• Develops/oversee supported housing alumni activity and assists with the SH newsletter.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Committed to the active promotion of ICL values and goals.
• Ability to coordinate activities of staff and integrate as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, delegate tasks and ensure completion of all tasks, assigned and delegated.
• Ability to manage resources.
• Ability to solve problems effectively.
• Ability to work with consumers/residents, families, and staff in a caring and respectful manner, and with due understanding of and consideration for cultural differences.
• Ability to serve as a role model to residents/consumers.
• Ability to develop, evaluate, implement and modify a case management plan, meeting all deadlines and productivity standards.
• Ability to complete written forms and reports in an accurate and timely manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff, consumers/residents, families, and the public.
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely documentation, reports and other written material as assigned.
• Ability to secure the cooperation of and work effectively with others.
• Ability to work independently, and to conform to all applicable safety and accountability measures.
• Ability to be aware of other’s reactions and understanding why they react the way they do.
• Ability to actively look for ways to help people, be compassionate and hopeful.
• Ability to talk to others to effectively convey information.
• Ability to listen to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate.
• Ability to identify the nature of problems and propose solutions.
• Ability to report for work as scheduled on a consistent basis.
• Ability to understand and adhere to internal and external laws, rules, and policies.
• Knowledge of human behavior and performance, mental processes, and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, and societal trends and influence, cultures, their history, migrations, ethnicity, religion and other cultural dimensions of target recipients.
• Knowledge of principles and processes involved in planning, coordination and execution and of the principles and process of supervision.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing services, including needs assessment techniques, quality service standards, alternative delivery systems, and consumer satisfaction evaluation techniques.
• Knowledge of laws, legal codes, regulations agency policies, etc., that govern the work of the program.
• Ability to develop, evaluate, implement and modify a case management plan, meeting all deadlines and productivity standards.
• Ability to secure the cooperation of and work effectively with others.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

MSW, MHC or master’s in psychology plus a minimum of 1 year of experience providing direct services to individuals with mental disabilities (i.e., persons properly diagnosed as suffering from mental illness, alcoholism, or substance abuse), and at least 1 year of experience providing clinical supervision or consultation.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Licensed Social Worker, experience in providing case management services to individuals with mental illness as defined above. Experience providing clinical consultation and supervision in a community mental health setting. Experience in housing-based case management. Bilingual in Spanish.