Human Services Specialist II - Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Therapist/Case Manager

City of Alexandria • Alexandria, VA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Human Services Specialist II is responsible for working with individuals with a serious mental illness and /or co-occurring (MH/SA) disorders who, because of reasons related to their illness, are often reluctant to engage in services or have been unable to achieve recovery on their own. These individuals may experience homelessness, housing instability as a result of their mental illness, frequent psychiatric hospitalizations, or incarcerations. Services are delivered almost entirely in the community as these individuals have a demonstrated history of difficulty engaging in traditional office-based mental health services. Duties include intensive outreach and engagement; assessing, referring, and monitoring consumers in the shelters or detention center; evaluating consumer progress; and maintaining clear, concise consumer records.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in psychology, social services, public health, guidance, or a related field; three years of experience in the provision of mental health and/or substance abuse treatment services, including some experience at the level of Caseworker; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Employees must possess a valid driver's license issued by the State of their residence.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Human Services or a related field
• three years of experience in the provision of mental health and /or substance abuse treatment services to adults with a serious mental illness.
• MSW graduates seeking supervision toward licensure are encouraged to apply.
• Experience should include working with clients in crises
• engaging individuals and their families in Recovery oriented treatment
• working with individual’s involved with the criminal justice system
• Bilingual English/Spanish, French, African or Middle Eastern language skills.

Responsibilities

• Provides intensive outreach and engagement services and case management/clinical recovery coaching services for clients in the program.
• Interviews consumers to assess current status, history, strengths, areas for growth, stages of change, and preferences.
• Provides supportive services to clients such as crisis intervention, counseling, problem solving, and wellness planning including medication psycho-education.
• Develops individual treatment plans with clients and provides case management/recovery coaching, attending to needs such as housing, family relationships, meaningful activities, day care, family planning, health care, financial management, education, training, and employment.
• Conducts clinical assessments as indicated, including but not limited to Beck Depression Inventory, Mini Mental Status Exam, internal agency bio-psychosocial assessment, diagnostic reviews.
• Locates, procures, coordinates, and monitors the delivery of necessary services for the client and/or their family.
• Completes disability determination reports and assists clients with navigating access to entitlements and benefits.
• Acts as a liaison between substance abuse services, social services, mental health, housing, and shelters.
• Provides advocacy for clients via the court system, social, employment and child care services, and in securing housing.
• Attends daily ACT team meeting to coordinate services for ACT clients.
• Participates in staff meetings and staff development programs.
• Prepares reports and completes records of client and related family contact with the agency
• Attends regular team meetings, relevant training sessions, and conferences.
• Completes and tracks Case Management Pre-Authorization for clients with Medicaid.
• Participates in on-call phone rotation as assigned to help clients needing support after hours
• Works weekend, holiday, and evening shifts as needed to help the program cover required hours of service
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• clinical supervision for employees who are working toward licensure in social work or professional counseling
• flexible work week
• opportunities to earn additional on-call pay
• excellent exposure to clinical training on an interdisciplinary team
• training in an evidenced based model of care
• career advancement once employees obtain licensure in social work and professional counseling
• qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level