POSITION OVERVIEW:

Under the supervision of the Program Director, the Mental Health Specialist will provide mental health and family counseling services to the client/tenants of the program. The Mental Health Specialist assists in applying clinical judgment to determine appropriate treatment needs and levels of care. This includes overseeing and at times performing diagnostic assessment, evaluation, intervention, referral and counseling in both individual and group settings.

KEY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Oversee and provide individual and group mental health counseling along with family therapy to recovering adults with substance use disorders and mental health diagnoses.
• Interview clients, review records, and confer with other professionals to evaluate mental health condition of client in order to complete psychosocial assessments.
• Counsel clients on treatment goals, such as issues with co-occurring disorders, unsatisfactory relationship between partners, parents and/or children; home management and work adjustment; care giving issues; or difficulties encountered in travel or stabilization in new community.
• Conduct group counseling sessions including family groups. Facilitate various workshops on topics such as including HIV education, mental health, parenting, domestic violence, trauma, etc.
• Coordinate services with case managers, counselors, courts and community liaisons. Work with the interdisciplinary team members in addressing client needs and treatment goals.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings including case reviews and case conferences.
• Work with Program Director to collaborate with community service providers, Administration of Children Services, foster care agencies, courts and other referral sources to meet the needs of the client and their families.
• Maintain documentation of client case records according to federal, state and local confidentiality guidelines and other regulations including funder requirements.
• Assist with in service training to staff and clients regarding updates and community service.
• As needed, assist with data collection to generate reports.
• Keep abreast of developments in the field of chemical dependence/abuse, criminal justice, mental health, HIV, welfare reform laws, women issues, and family development via, meetings, conferences, training and literature.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, LMSW preferred or LMHC
• Two years of experience working with individuals with a substance use disorder and/or mental health issues.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; computer proficiency; excellent writing and verbal skills
• Demonstrated ability to interact with client/tenants of different races, ethnicities, ages, and sexual orientations in a multicultural environment, as well as ability to multi-task and work under pressure.
• Bilingual - (Spanish/English), preferred.