Outreach Worker

Transitions Mental Health Asso•San Luis Obispo, CA

22h•$26 - $34

About The Position

The Outreach Worker serves in the Full Service Partnership Intensive Case Management (FSP-ICM) program in San Luis Obispo. FSP-ICM provides intensive, community-based services to adults age 18 and older who are unserved or underserved and have serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorders, particularly people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, incarceration, or institutionalization. Under the Behavioral Health Services Act, FSP-ICM is the least intensive level of care in the FSP continuum and may serve as a step-down from Assertive Community Treatment (ACT). The Outreach Worker provides community-based outreach, engagement, care coordination, and supportive services. The role works primarily in the field to build relationships with people disconnected from services and help them access housing, benefits, medical and behavioral health care, transportation, advocacy, and community resources. With a trauma-informed, person-centered approach, the Outreach Worker supports clients’ stability, community integration, and individualized recovery and wellness goals. This is a full-time, non-exempt position at 40 hours per week. The anticipated hiring range is $25.50–$26.50 per hour; the full salary schedule is $25.50–$33.99 per hour. Direct-service staff are expected to spend at least 50% of work time in direct service and client support unless otherwise assigned by a supervisor. The role involves regular field work, frequent driving and client transportation, computer documentation, and moderate physical activity. Schedules are developed collaboratively with teammates and management to maximize client support.

Requirements

BA/BS and six months of full-time-equivalent experience with the target population; or AA/AS or CADAC/CPRP certification and two years of full-time-equivalent experience with the target population; or four years of full-time-equivalent experience with the target population.
Strong commitment to the right and ability of each person with severe and persistent mental illness to live in a safe environment, develop a meaningful community role, and access competent, continuous supports and services.
Strong commitment to clients’ rights to self-govern and make their own choices.
Strong interpersonal, collaboration, oral communication, and written communication skills.
Well-defined organizational and time-management skills.
Ability to work independently and flexibly.
Ability to handle intense situations, exercise good judgment and decision-making, and remain calm and clearheaded under pressure.
Ability to work effectively with people of varied ages, backgrounds, identities, and socioeconomic levels.
Ability to possess and maintain good physical and mental health.
Ability to work well within a team and maintain a professional, respectful workplace attitude.
Willingness to work under supervisor oversight and direction.
Reliable attendance and ability to perform face-to-face interactions with clients and/or employees.
Ability to promote equality and respect diversity, including race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and national origin.
Ability to deliver culturally responsive services successfully.
Knowledge of dimensions of diversity, including mental health, gender, race, and ethnicity.
Ability to use reasonable precautions and comply with safety rules and practices to maximize safety for oneself, coworkers, clients, and others encountered through TMHA business.
At least 18 years of age.
Valid California driver’s license, at least two years of driving experience, reliable transportation, proof of auto insurance, and a DMV driving record meeting TMHA’s current vehicle insurance requirements; may need to use a personal vehicle and insurance.
Must comply with a TB assessment, and possibly a TB test to confirm a negative result, and obtain criminal record clearance through fingerprinting.
Ability to successfully complete First Aid and CPR training.

Responsibilities

Identify homeless adults with mental illness in the community, build rapport and trust, and support access to appropriate services and available housing options.
Support clients’ transitions to treatment services and local resources.
Recognize and respond to clients experiencing psychiatric crisis or emotional distress, linking them to appropriate outpatient, crisis, or inpatient supports.
Help clients determine and pursue their own goals, review plans, evaluate progress, and foster independence.
Complete program paperwork, including client files, progress evaluations and charting, and timesheets.
Serve as an agency liaison by consulting, collaborating, and communicating with internal and external departments and partners to meet client and program objectives; obtain appropriate releases of information before communicating with outside staff.
Attend weekly and monthly staff meetings and quarterly all-agency meetings, sharing relevant client information and collaborating with peers on support options.
Receive referrals, meet with referred clients in a timely manner to assess needs and service appropriateness, complete intake paperwork, and follow progress until outreach services are no longer needed.
Coordinate with team members to address holistic wellness needs, including medical appointments and transportation.
Meet target outcomes, including outreach to 300 or more severely mentally ill homeless clients per year and attempts to connect them with appropriate mental health treatment.
Connect clients to available resources, including identification, state and federal benefits, income or employment where possible, and related case-management follow-up and paperwork.
Meet documentation and billing goals established by the Team Leader and Director for Medi-Cal billing.
Communicate with other agencies to support task completion and problem-solving.
Work effectively in diverse and unpredictable field environments with clients at varying functional levels, using a nonjudgmental, trauma-informed, whatever-it-takes approach.
Seek team support for difficult or complex cases and implement feedback from the Program Manager.
Promote and maintain trauma-informed practices in services and activities, and practice TMHA’s Collaborative Communication Guidelines in individual work and team meetings.
Complete mandatory training and at least 20 hours of required training per year.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Team Leader and Directors.