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 2,000 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.

Job Description: To work in coordination with Harborview medical staff to help find resources, referrals, and discharge plans for individuals that come to the Hobson Clinic via Medic One or Mobile Crisis Team.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Provide biopsychosocial assessments, risk assessments, information & referral for next day mental health and substance abuse appointments with established providers, help set up medical appointments, help with initial linkage for OPBH services, set up housing assessments, and advocacy for individuals that are referred to Hobson triage services.

· Help individuals that are triaged find appropriate depositions if they are not being referred to the Crisis Solution Center.

· To work in coordination with Crisis Solution Center for indvidual’s that have been referred but have medical concerns, need medications specific to seizure disorder, or other medical issues that CSC medical staff cannot treat.

· To provide transportation to CSC for individuals that are have been referred, screened and are at Hobson under coordination of care agreement.

· To refer to detox when appropriate accessing MOU and provide transportation to facility.

· Register individuals that come to Hobson for triage and document services provided.

· Become familiar with resources, community services and housing options that meet the needs of vulnerable, disabled and homeless adults.

· Become trained in VAT and VISPDAT housing assessments

· Assist with updating, maintaining, and distributing client resource handouts.

· Intervene in crises with individual clients and in the general populations at Hobson Clinic

· Cooperate with other programs and agencies in the social service system to provide good networking of client services.

· Work scheduled hours at Hobson Clinic triage desk and assist HMC with monitoring of clients to maintain order and communicate/enforce agency expectations.

· Register clients and document services provided during shift hours, in accordance with established procedures.

· Actively participate in staff meetings and training sessions.

· Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

· Master’s degree in social work, psychology or other relevant behavioral science or Bachelor of Nursing degree with specialty in mental health.

· Meet minimum criteria as a Mental Health Professional as defined in RCW 71.05, WAC 388-865-0400.

· Current Washington Department of Health minimum credential as an Agency Affiliated Counselor.

· Be able to pass a Washington State Criminal background check.

· Valid Washington state driver’s license and insurable driving record.

· Proven history of providing services to seriously mentally ill and/or chronically homeless adult population and those with substance abuse/co-occurring disorders, acute medical needs.

· Familiar with Recovery Principles, Crisis Intervention and Stabilization, Harm Reduction strategies.

· Strong working knowledge of DSM V.

· Be able to assess situations quickly and respond appropriately and calmly to any type of mental health and/or Substance use crisis to ensure the physical and psychological safety of clients.

· Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behaviors.

· Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

· Have a strong understanding of recovery and resilience, the value of client partnerships and client choice, and the balance between protection from harm and personal dignity.

· Possess effective communication and writing skills. Ability to communicate with and supervise staff from diverse backgrounds.

· Ability to work flexible hours as required by program and staffing needs including evenings, weekends, or holidays. This includes sharing on-call duties and covering shifts as necessary.

· Able and willing to provide community outreach anywhere in King County from which a referral may originate, at times with no first responders present.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

· Master’s degree in social work, psychology or other relevant behavioral science or Bachelor of Nursing degree with specialty in mental health.

· Familiar with King County crisis response system and methods of access. Crisis Outreach and/or Crisis Intervention experience.

· Bilingual in Spanish/English.

· Bi-cultural background/experience and/or qualify as an Ethnic Minority, DD, or Geriatric Mental Health Specialist (per WAC 388-865-0150 definition).

· Strong applicants are able to demonstrate the ability to be positive in their empathetic responses to all persons; understand the value of meaningful and deep client engagement; have the potential to acquire the necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills of an effective crisis worker; and value a non-judgmental response to sensitive issues. Candidates should be able to accept feedback and work in a highly collaborative and potentially stressful environment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit, drive, walk, stand, communicate with other employees and vendors, is required to lift and carry items weighing up to 10 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Considerable stress may occur. Employees will be working both indoors and outdoors in all types of weather.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace, and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Apply Here: https://www.click2apply.net/V7GYwVik4g88zfpN4fO8aO

PI203619490