Health and Wellness Substance Use Therapist

Safe Place For Youth•Venice, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Health and Wellness Substance Use Therapist supports the growth and development of Safe Place for Youth’s clinical programming by providing individual and group therapy and specialized substance use services using a harm reduction approach. The therapist supports members in meeting their goals, improving health and wellness, and building community connections. Services are provided in person at the Venice drop-in center and housing sites in Los Angeles. The role works collaboratively across internal departments and with community providers to deliver holistic substance use and mental health services, strengthen the continuum of care, and support youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Therapeutic services are strengths-based, non-judgmental, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and grounded in harm reduction. The position also includes clinical case management, staff training, documentation, participation in clinical case conferences, and other duties supporting the organization’s mission. This is a full-time, exempt position of 40 hours per week, scheduled Sunday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The position is based on site at the Venice, California Access Center and Nova Transitional Housing in Los Angeles, California. It reports to the Clinical Director and is classified as a driver position. The annual salary range is $70,304 to $75,000.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a mental health-related field, such as Social Work, Psychology, or Counseling.
Registration as an ASW, AMFT, or APCC, or licensure with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).
At least 2 years of experience providing direct clinical services.
Expertise in substance use treatment principles, crisis management, and rapport building.
Knowledge of adolescent and young adult social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Assessment skills and knowledge of mental health and substance use diagnosing using a whole-person-care and culturally sensitive approach.
Ability to work and communicate effectively with transitional-age youth and a multidisciplinary team.
Commitment to inclusive and restorative justice practices, anti-racism, and trauma-informed care.
Commitment to SPY’s mission, vision, and values.
Self-starter prepared to drive innovative solutions for an emerging organization and open to learning.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and collaborate effectively with individuals, departments, and organizations.
Excellent communication, organizational, and teamwork skills.
Knowledge of child and dependent adult abuse mandated reporting laws.
Cultural responsiveness and humility.
Provide a copy of a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, and a Department of Motor Vehicles driving record; job offers are contingent on a satisfactory driving record.

Responsibilities

Collaborate in developing, innovating, and growing SPY’s clinical services through holistic substance use and mental health services.
Provide in-person individual and group therapy at the Venice drop-in center and housing sites, specializing in substance use and harm reduction.
Develop and facilitate programming that builds community and social support, reduces stigma, promotes safe-use practices, prevents overdose, increases substance-use knowledge, and provides recovery groups.
Participate in the On-Call Clinician rotation during drop-in hours and complete risk assessments and safety plans when clinically indicated.
Facilitate and document comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and verification of disability assessments using a person-centered approach.
Collaborate with members on treatment plans based on member-identified goals; use clinically appropriate trauma-informed interventions and document progress.
Build relationships with providers and serve as a liaison between the clinical department and partner agencies to strengthen the continuum of care.
Attend relevant community convenings and collaborate with community connections to enhance services.
Provide clinical case management as needed, including referrals to detox, residential treatment, intensive outpatient programs, and other levels of care.
Contribute to SPY clinical case conferences.
Complete clinical documentation, activity tracking, outcome surveys, and reporting in a timely manner.
Facilitate member accountability meetings and develop appropriate support and safety plans using a restorative justice approach.
Ensure services are strengths-based, non-judgmental, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and use harm reduction.
Work across internal departments and assist with general SPY programming as needed.
Conduct staff training and presentations to increase knowledge of substance use and appropriate clinical practice.
Work within established legal and ethical guidelines.
Perform other duties as assigned to support the organization’s mission.