Clinical Support / Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Specialist

About DESC

Recognized nationally as an innovator and leader in developing solutions to homelessness, DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on meeting the needs of people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Approximately 3,000 people are actively receiving services from DESC at any given point in time. Our vision is a community where all people are shown compassion, treated with dignity, and everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

DESC operates five shelter/emergency housing programs, 19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder.

Job Overview

The Clinical Support / Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Specialist will work in conjunction with other project staff and case managers from DESC and outside provider organizations.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop, in collaboration with residents and outside provider case managers, a Residential Services Plan (RSP) for each resident, that details resident needs as well as treatment goals and strategies to be pursued during residency.
• Identify and coordinate those case management elements that will be provided by case managers from outside provider organizations; directly provide other needed case management services.
• Maintain regular contact with residents and case managers from outside provider organizations to monitor progress toward goals identified in the RSP, and to ensure adequate provision of identified services.
• Record progress notes in each resident’s RSP file/Chasers regularly.
• Record significant events in the daily log; read log daily.
• Help identify, assess, and locate potential tenants.
• Assist residents with the formation of therapeutic support groups, interest groups and activities; facilitate as appropriate.
• Organize outings and other activities for residents.
• Facilitate resident community meetings.
• Work with residents and other staff to identify needs for additional on-site services, groups and activities; plan for the provision of these services in conjunction with staff, residents, volunteers and other providers.
• Intervene in crises as necessary.
• Aid in building rule enforcement.
• Aid in other property management functions as assigned by the Project Manager.
• Participate in staff meetings and trainings.
• Attend weekly SUD team meetings and perform other duties requested by SUD team, including documentation of services.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to perform all major and assigned duties and responsibilities with or without accommodations.
• Current Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) license in Washington State, or equivalent, or ability to obtain an AAC license soon after hire.
• Clinical experience working with homeless adults disabled by chronic alcoholism, mental illness, and drug use.
• Knowledge of local homeless, mental health, and chemical dependency service systems.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior.
• Commitment to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across agency programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

Education / Experience Requirements

• A relevant Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related behavioral science, OR
• A combination of 1 year* of relevant paid work experience and demonstration of the ability to perform required job duties
• *Internal applicants in direct, client facing positions can substitute 6 months of experience in lieu of 1 year

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Two years’ experience working with homeless adults disabled by chronic alcoholism, mental illness, and/or drug use.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license and insurable driving record.

Physical Demands

• Sit for long periods of time.
• Communicate with other employees by talking and hearing.
• Required to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and to operate computer systems.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Equal Opportunity Employer

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.