Mental Health Team Lead Clinician, C3 Skid Row

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

About the role

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 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, providing 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, fosters a supportive team setting for growth, models competence in clinical and safety assessment, trauma-informed interventions, and implements 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.

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.

Requirements

• 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 months 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.
• Experience working with those living with co-occurring disorders (serious mental illness and chaotic substance use) and experiencing homelessness.
• Experience working with a program that provides low-barrier clinical services with a goal to do “whatever it takes”.
• Experience working with a social service agency that provides outreach and engagement services.

Work Environment

• 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 environments 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.

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Retirement Planning (403b) & Matching
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Vacation Days
• Paid Sick Days
• Employee Assistance Plans (EAP)
• TELUS Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Basic Life / Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
• Voluntary Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Voluntary Pet Insurance
• Corporate Discounts: Discounts on Hotels, Theme Parks, Concerts, Movies, Restaurants & More
• The People Concern University & Certificates

About The People Concern

The People Concern empowers the most vulnerable among us to rebuild their lives. One of Los Angeles County’s largest social services agencies, The People Concern was formed in 2016 in a merger of two trusted social service organizations based in Los Angeles County, OPCC and Lamp Community. Informed by more than fifty-eight years of work in the community, The People Concern is a leading provider of, and advocate for, evidence-based solutions to the multi-faceted challenges inherent in homelessness and domestic violence.

With compassion and profound respect for those we serve, we provide a fully integrated system of care – including outreach, interim housing, mental and medical health care, substance abuse services, domestic violence services, life skills & wellness programs, and permanent supportive housing – tailored to the unique needs of homeless individuals, survivors of domestic violence, challenged youth, and others who have nowhere else to turn. The People Concern’s model of integrated and comprehensive care empowers our participants to navigate the multi-faceted obstacles in their lives, become their best selves, and ultimately, connect with and contribute to their communities.