Mental Health Clinician - MSW jobs in Berkeley, CA

Abode Services, one of the largest and effective nonprofits working to end homelessness in the Bay Area, is seeking a skilled Mental Health Clinician l to help support our Alameda County Programs.

About the role: The Mental Health Clinician l provides mental health services to participants and is aimed at increasing wellness, increasing housing stability, and preventing people from cycling through the criminal justice system and/or hospitals. Responsible for behavioral health assessment and delivery of strengths based/needs focused services. Acts as the lead on clinical cases and guides supporting team members in clinical service delivery.

About the Program: Greater HOPE is a comprehensive community based treatment program serving 150 adults, who have been diagnosed with serious mental illness, utilizing the Assertive Community Treatment model. Participants receive services from a multi-disciplinary mobile mental health team providing: intensive case management, harm reduction strategies, employment and psychiatric services, as well as housing navigation and stabilization support. The Greater HOPE team consists of a Program Manager and Clinical Supervisor who function as team leads, a Psychiatrist, Mental Health Clinicians, Housing Navigators, Peer Specialists, Harm Reduction Specialists, an Employment Specialist, and a Program Assistant.

Abode’s Benefits & Perks: 

• $36.00/hr - $38.00/hr DOE
• Sign-on bonus up to $4,500 (contingent on BBS validation)!
• 100% paid health benefits for employees
• 31 PTO / Holidays per year
• 403(b) Retirement Plan w/ Employer Match & Contribution Programs
• Opportunities to grow clinically and/or into management roles
• Dynamic, mission-drive culture and supportive leadership
• Professional Development Trainings, Leadership Academy Programs, All Staff Events & Holiday Parties

The Diverse Culture: 

We believe that we make better decisions and provide quality services when our workforce reflects the diversity of the communities in which we operate. People of color make up nearly 70% of our workforce and we strive to recruit and retain employees from all backgrounds.  

How You Make an Impact:

• Provide clinical case management services, including individual rehabilitative services, brokerage, collateral, and therapy to participants in the following settings: home, community, and office.    
• Act as the primary lead on assessments, ANSA and develop treatment plans on an on-going basis for participants enrolled in the program. Collaboratively work with participants and their treatment team to develop and work on their recovery goals.   
• Perform mental status exams, as well as safety assessments that include suicide, homicide, and gravely disabled assessments with participants on an ongoing basis.   
• Provide direct crisis counseling and needs identification.   
• Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to explore participants’ substance dependency, encourage reduction and/or provide support to clients moving towards abstinence. 
• Provide wrap around clinical case management services to individuals residing in permanent supportive housing.   
• Using the ACT model, this position will work as a therapist within the ACT team 
• Assist participants with establishing goals and strategies for increasing self-sufficiency.   
• Coordinate care and discharge planning for participants in institutional settings, hospitals, etc. 
• Identify a mental health provider and do a warm hand off to the new provider, required for some programs. 
• Provide linkage and warm hand offs to long term mental health providers, when called for or required. 
• Provide support to families and loved ones as needed. 
• Attend clinical, administrative, and case conferencing meetings as assigned by the program supervisor.   
• Enter all data on time and correctly to support program evaluation and outcomes tracking 
• Ensure proper and timely documentation of services including written case notes using the BIRP formats and bill services to Medi-Cal. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

How You Meet the Qualifications:

• MS/MSW/MA degree in Psychology.
• Registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) required as an LCSW/LMFT.
• 1 year of field experience working with people with serious mental illness, individuals with a dual diagnosis and/or the homeless population.   
• 1 year of field experience diagnosing patients with acute behavioral healthcare needs and completing assessments and treatment plans. 
• Use of personal vehicle, proof of a valid and current California Driver’s License and current insurance along with a clean DMV record required.   

COMPETENCIES: 

• Excellent verbal & written communication, organizational, and time management skills. 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to detail. 
• Ability to work well independently and collaboratively with teams. 
• Possess an understanding of and practice cultural sensitivity through open dialogue and self-exploration with diverse groups, while providing direct services. 
• Experience with outreach and providing clinical services to individuals in field settings i.e., encampment, streets, psychiatric hospital, etc.  
• Knowledge of Psychiatric Disorders as well as the  ability to implement the following evidence-based models: Harm Reduction, Psychosocial Rehabilitation, Strength-based Case Management and Motivational Interviewing. 
• Ability to build supportive and respectful working relationships with individuals diagnosed with a mental illness that instills hope and promotes self-determination, with a sensitivity to and understanding of the special needs of the homeless.   
• Experience in effectively intervening in crisis situations, with de-escalation techniques. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, systems, and platforms. 
• Ability to learn and use required mobile devices and business-related applications. 
• Outstanding communication skills and high degree of emotional intelligence, cultural humility, with a proven track record to build and maintain effective relationships with a wide variety of internal and external contacts.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Communicating with others to exchange information; seeing to read a variety of materials.  
• Manual dexterity for use of keyboard, tools, controls; repetitive motion that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. 
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods, while at a desk or working on a computer.  
• Ability to drive and sit in a car for prolonged periods of time. 
• Ability to move between floors, ascending and descending stairs.  
• Light work that may include moving or lifting objects up to 25 pounds.   
• Ability to squat, bend at the waist, crouch, reach overhead and horizontally, and kneel.   

WORK CONDITIONS / ENVIRONMENT: 

• Must be able to work in a shared office environment with moderate to high noise level with frequent contact and interruption.  
• Multi-level buildings with stairs and/or ramps.  
• Some travel by car throughout the county region and surrounding areas.   

Notice: This description is to be used as a guide only. It does not constitute a contract, commitment or promise of any kind. Abode Services reserves the right to change, add, delete, upgrade, or downgrade the position as dictated by business necessity at any time with or without notice. 

Notice: Abode Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Drug Free Workplace 

Notice: Abode Services values safety, wellness, and respect for each other and for those who we serve. Because of this commitment Abode Services is mandating that all employees be vaccinated effective September 30, 2021.