Psychiatric Social Worker II

Heluna Health•Los Angeles, CA

32d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) within the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is looking for a Psychiatric Social Worker II (PSWII) to join the ODR Court Pre-Release Team. The PSWI is responsible for assisting the court team in supporting the pre-release and court-based work for ODR’s criminal court diversion programs. ODR’s criminal court diversion programs include ODR Housing and Maternal Health. The ODR Housing program is a permanent supportive housing program serving individuals who are homeless, have a serious mental health disorder, and are diverted into services after being incarcerated in the Los Angeles County Jail. Clients in the ODR Housing program are referred to interim housing and assigned an Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS) provider, who works with the client as they transition from custody to community and on to permanent supportive housing. The PSWII performs professional social work services in connection with the assessment and treatment recommendations of clients in need of mental health and housing services. The Psychiatric Social Worker II coordinates the mental health, physical health, and housing care of ODR clients in collaboration with a multidisciplinary county team and a contracted intensive case management service (ICMS) providers. The PSWII will assist the court leads at one or more of the ODR criminal court hubs (LAX Courthouse, Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Court Center, and Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys) with the assessment, screening, advocacy and court diversion of clients entering the ODR Housing Program. Currently, ODR has a hybrid work schedule with a combination of workdays in the office, in the field and remote. This may change at discretion of DHS.

Requirements

A Master's Degree in Social Work from a graduate school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
A valid and active license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Behavioral Sciences.
The required license, certificate, and/or permit MUST be current and unrestricted; a conditional, provisional, probationary, or restricted license will NOT be accepted.
Required DHS live scan, Health Clearance and Jail Clearance to complete duties.
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Nice To Haves

Clinical social work in community mental health, homeless services, or healthcare strongly preferred.
Experience/expertise in assessing and managing clients with dysfunctional SUD.
Experience/expertise in assessing and managing clients with severe persistent mental illness.
Experience/expertise in trauma-informed care and harm reduction principles.
Familiarity with DMH, DPH and community mental health, substance use, housing/homelessness programs and resources.

Responsibilities

Partner with the ODR Court hub team to assist with all aspects of the pre-release diversion process for the ODR Housing program.
Assists in housing placement, retention, and maintaining supportive relationships with the homeless and formerly homeless individuals during care provided in the field, at the patient’s home, and via telehealth.
Assess and recommend treatment for the complicated psychosocial problems of homeless and formerly homeless individuals including but not limited to mental health/medical condition and/or functional status, untreated or under- treated mental health or substance abuse condition, economic instability, legal problems, and inadequate social supports, housing and transportation.
Conduct assessments of ODR Clinical client's psychosocial and service needs through interview and evaluation, review of medical and mental health records, and consultation with jail health and mental health care team members.
Complete bi-annual client care plans and document interventions supporting progress toward collaborative goals.
Use Behavioral Health Techniques including, but not limited to, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, relapse prevention therapy, psychotherapeutic and/or systems interventions, and trauma-informed care.
Provide oversight of in-reach agency services, including monitoring service plans and progress with assigned clients, identifying, and troubleshooting service issues, and providing consultation to in-reach case
Collaborate with and offer mental health training to community-based providers who will work with the population of clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use
Collaborates with ODR’s Housing team to connect clients housing resources and support providers’ adherence to their contracted scope of work.
Work with the ODR medical and nursing teams on interviewing persons seeking psychiatric assistance on an emergency basis and utilize crisis intervention techniques to prevent hospitalization and to aid the person in dealing with the emotional crisis.
Maintain documentation of social work activities including assessments, service plans and progress notes.
Reviews records and information from both the criminal justice system and the mental health system when making treatment
Participates in team huddles, case conferences, and multidisciplinary team meetings as needed
Participates in performance/quality improvement (PI/QI) activities and contributes to policy development as needed
Shares knowledge and effective practices with other Care Team members