The Clinical Social Worker provides direct behavioral health services, including assessments and evidence-based treatment, to high-acuity patients within the Enriched Residential Care program. Additionally, the role involves providing technical assistance, training, and clinical support to on-site staff to improve the management of complex patient needs.
Requirements summary
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited graduate school and hold a valid Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license or be registered as an Associate Clinical Social Worker in California. The role requires experience in medical, psychiatric, or community social work and proficiency in trauma-informed care and behavioral health interventions.
postgraduate degreeCase ManagementQuality AssuranceDocumentationStaff TrainingCrisis InterventionTrauma-Informed CareHarm ReductionCare CoordinationSubstance Use Disorder TreatmentMotivational InterviewingHousing First ModelBehavioral HealthTechnical AssistanceClinical AssessmentCognitive Behavioral TherapyClinical Social Work
Job description
Salary Range
$32.96-$45.04 per hour
SUMMARY
The Los Angeles County Department of Homeless Services and Housing (HSH) consolidates our countywide response to homelessness. The driving force behind HSH is increasing accountability and transparency, improving care for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and streamlining collaboration with partners including services providers, the County’s 88 cities, and unincorporated areas to deliver high-quality, life-saving care. Staff schedules are based on business need and may include the option of a hybrid work schedule where employees work remotely, in the field and from the office.
This position is for a Clinical Social Worker with the department of HSH and will support the Enriched Residential Care (ERC) program and Interim Housing (IH) sites. The role will entail both direct care to patients through quality clinical bio-psychosocial assessments of patients and technical assistance (TA) and training support to on-site staff on behavioral health issues. The focus on this role will be to provide short-term behavioral health services, evidence-based treatment services to certain complex high acuity patients and also provide training and support to onsite staff at the different sites to support/improve their management of complex patients.
This position is expected to function with a degree of independence and be self-directed as this role works with individualized treatment plans and with onsite staff to accomplish changes in insight, attitudes, and motivations of patients, family and staff to attain optimal health functioning. This position demands professional skills that may include additional expertise in specific therapeutic methods such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, relapse prevention therapy, and trauma-informed care.
The Clinical Social Worker must possess a comprehensive knowledge of established professional standards and principles, pertinent policies and procedures of the department and the assigned facility, community resources available for referral, and State and Federal social welfare laws and regulations. The position reports to the ERC Clinical Social Work Supervisor and works under the direction of the clinical social work supervisor.
Essential functions
Assesses and treats the complicated psychosocial problems of patients including but not limited to untreated or under- treated mental health or substance abuse conditions, economic instability, legal problems, and inadequate social support, housing and transportation.
Works closely with and in partnership with ERC medical case workers, medical team, program managers and other HSH staff for complicated high acuity patients to assess, develop, and help implement care plans for the patients/ participants
Responds to requests for consultation and brief intervention around functional decline related to mental health and/or substance use, behavioral challenges, and higher level of care cases. This will include carrying a caseload, as needed, of clients needing short-term intervention and stabilization.
Provides consultation to team members, community partners, and /or other staff at the sites or facilities in delivery of care support management of chronic medical and behavioral condition.
Provides direct services when needed to patients/participants by conducting a face-to-face comprehensive behavioral health assessment and develops care planning/treatment plans for patients that address the patient’s mental health, substance abuse and behavioral health needs. This includes helping to coordinate SUD and/or mental health services on behalf of the client.
Utilizes motivational interviewing and a trauma informed approach when providing direct services or when providing consultation to other team members in how to support patients.
Complete required documentation in EMR for any direct services provided and create or updates client care plan identifying wrap around supports that align with assessment.
Participate in case conference with the care team, as needed.
Provides technical assistance (TA) and training support to Facility Administrators, facility staff, or IH on-site staff as needed to address mental health and behavioral health issues and support staff in the management of behavioral health issues.
Develops and deliver education and/or training to staff on various mental health topic or mental health resources that help non-clinical providers identify and support residents who have behavior issues that are impacting their functioning and related to mental health and/or substance use issues
Provides education and training programs to other team members on how to implement trauma informed care, harm reduction and housing first models
Provides training implementation support that may include educational outreach visits, consultation, shadowing opportunities, modeling and developing site-specific protocols, techniques, and tools as needed
Conducts and /or participate in meetings/ case conference with ERC facility or IH sites to provide individualized interactive problem-solving support targeting provider and/or residents’ needs
Works with HSH staff to help perform facility-oriented evaluations to improve the physical and social environmental impact on clients, functioning as part of ongoing quality assurance efforts
Works with HSH staff in developing collaborative relationships with ERC facilities and housing and service providers to co-learn and tailor sustainable, responsive, site-specific assistance for change
May work with Clinical Social work supervisor on other macro issues/projects as needed, including liaising with Mental Health and SUD Services for Care Coordination
Participates in performance/quality improvement (PI/QI) activities and contributes to policy development as needed.
Job qualifications
A Master's Degree in Social work from a graduate school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education including supervised clinical social work field work experience - OR - A Master's Degree in Social Work from a graduate school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and one year of experience in medical, community, psychiatric, family, or child welfare social work involving problems of medical, mental, or emotional adjustment.
Certificates/Licenses/Clearances
A valid, current license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences OR registration in good standing as an Associate Clinical Social Worker with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences within six (6) months of employment. Associate Clinical Social Workers must remain in good standing with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for the duration of the waivers permitted by law, not to exceed six years.
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.
Successful clearance of the Live Scan process and health clearance with the County of Los Angeles.
Other Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
Clinical social work in Homeless health care experience
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
Demonstrated teaching and communication skills with clinical and non-clinical staff.
Experience providing clinical and administrative supervision to other behavioral health staff preferred.
Familiarity with DMH, DPH and community mental health and substance use programs and Excellent documentation and clinical skills, ability to set priorities, work independently, works well under pressure and meet deadlines.
Experience with complex case management, outreach, and home visits.
Must demonstrate cultural humility and a strength-based, recovery philosophy.
Must be able to move between different treatment approaches (clinical case management and evidence-based, trauma-focused psychotherapy) depending on the needs of the client.
Excellent organizational and strong interpersonal skills.
Must demonstrate an understanding of trauma-informed care and housing first models
Proficient with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) and Adobe Acrobat software.
Knowledge of the functioning of the healthcare setting.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent time management skills.
Physical demands
Stand: Frequently
Walk: Frequently
Sit: Frequently
Reach Outward: Occasionally
Reach Above Shoulder: Occasionally
Climb, Crawl, Kneel, Bend: Occasionally
Lift / Carry
Occasionally - Up to 15lbs
Push/Pull
Occasionally - Up to 15lbs
See: Constantly
Taste/ Smell: Not Applicable
Not Applicable = Not required for essential functions
Occasionally = (0 - 2 hrs/day)
Frequently = (2 - 5 hrs/day)
Constantly = (5+ hrs/day)
Work environment
General Office Setting, Indoors Temperature Controlled
Eeoc statement
It is the policy of Heluna Health to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, without regard to age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, reproductive health decision making, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or a record or history of cancer), AIDS or HIV, genetic information or characteristics, veteran status or military service.
