Client Engagement Specialist - Downtown Behavioral Health Clinic

DESC • Seattle, WA

93d

About The Position

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness. As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness. We are looking for a Client Engagement Specialist (CES) who will work within the larger Client Engagement Team spanning two locations: Hobson Clinic and the Downtown Behavioral Health Center. The CES team will be the point people to monitor the safety and security of the clinics by managing the milieu of the main lobby/building and engaging clients. The CES team will also be tasked with providing trauma-informed support to clients and patients utilizing Hobson clinic and DBHC by employing various de-escalation skills and tactics, both verbal and hands-on approaches, while in coordination and consultation with the wider clinical and medical teams.

Requirements

• Ability to meet Washington Department of Health requirements for registration as a Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) or any other superseding credential.
• 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.
• Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle to conduct agency related business.
• Interest in working with clients who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health/substance use disorder programs.
• Experience working with behavioral health conditions and intervening with de-escalation and hands-on approaches using Crisis Prevention & Intervention (CPI) or the equivalent.
• Willingness to become certified in enhanced behavioral de-escalation training.
• Experience in human services (paid or volunteer), preferably working with adults living homeless and/or living with a mental illness and/or substance use disorder.
• Proficient in de-escalation skills, crisis intervention, and stabilization strategies.
• Have a strong understanding of recovery and resilience, the value of client partnerships, and client choice.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with clients and staff from various backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively with clients potentially displaying unusual and bizarre behaviors.
• Able to prioritize multiple job responsibilities, work independently, and exercise good professional judgment.
• Able to maintain client confidentiality.
• Ability to pass criminal background check.

Nice To Haves

• Has work experience as an Emergency Medical Technician or Psych Technician in the field.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Skill in operating office equipment, including computers (including e-mail), software (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel) and telephones.

Responsibilities

• Be present in all main operating areas of both Hobson and DBHC for client engagement and de-escalation purposes only.
• Initiate and maintain appropriate social interactions with clients.
• Monitor the general milieu, lobby, entryway, immediately outside of the clinic, security systems, and other common areas to monitor the safety and security of clients and staff.
• Be present in outside spaces near to the clinic for community visibility and client engagement.
• Commitment to the Harm Reduction and Trauma Informed Care models and working to incorporate those principles through an equity and social justice lens.
• Become certified in enhanced behavioral de-escalation training and maintain annual re-certification.
• Assist in training clinic staff on de-escalation skills and leading crisis response drills.
• Intervene when necessary to support clients, maintain order, and communicate/enforce clinic rules and policies.
• Write significant events involving clients and Clinic operations activities in a daily log.
• In collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, promote a safe and secure clinic environment by responding to emergent safety issues using a layered active response approach.
• Participate in clinical reviews and case conferences to develop personal success plans for clients as needed.
• Lead critical debriefs and work in coordination with clinical Director and Managers to provide support to staff related to safety issues upon request.
• Help ensure cleanliness of lobby area and other common spaces within the building.
• Participate in staff meetings, team huddles, and training, with both DESC and HMC staff.

Benefits

• Dental
• Life
• Long-term Disability
• Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• ORCA card subsidy
• Paid Time Off (34 days per year)
• Retirement Plan

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees