Job Title: Social Worker/ Service Coordinator II (ACSW or AMFT)
Location: Los Angeles
Reports To: Director of Veteran Services
Classification: Exempt
Program: VASH

Requisition# 1544

Step Up on Second, a well-known community mental health agency dedicated to providing permanent supportive housing and assistance to individuals and Veterans in recovery from serious & persistent mental illnesses and homelessness.

Step Up embodies the core values or Hope, Wellness, Respect, Voice and Choice, and Collaborative Relationships. Step Up embraces evidenced based practices of Wellness, Rehabilitation and Recovery, Housing First and Motivational Interviewing. The position is field-based and the team are field-based and interdisciplinary in structure. Supervision towards BBS hours as well as a generous benefits package are provided. Recent Graduates are encouraged to apply.

The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA provides these services for participating Veterans at VA medical centers (VAMCs) and community-based outreach clinics. As a VA Contractor, the Step Up VASH Team is comprised of Master's Level clinicians, Case Managers, and Housing Specialists. The Service Coordinators work to engage Veterans who are experiencing homelessness, a mental health diagnosis, and/or co-occurring disorders, and provide supportive services to support these Veterans as they attain and maintain permanent supportive housing. A hiring preference will be made for qualified veterans.

Use trauma informed, evidenced based practices, motivational interviewing, housing first and recovery oriented models of treatment.
Provides clinical therapeutic and case management services for individuals with psychiatric disabilities to assist them in improving their current level of functioning in the community.
Assist in securing appropriate housing, ensure housing stability via home visits, individual therapy, linkage to medication support, vocational and educational opportunities, and reduction of substance use and abuse leading to full recovery.
Collect data and assist with outcomes reports.

BENEFITS AND WHAT WE OFFER:

Competitive salary and benefits package.
Opportunities for growth and professional development.
Health, dental, vision, and life insurance are available after your first month.
Generous paid time off, accrue 10 days of paid time off, 12 days of sick leave, and 13 paid holidays.
403(b) plan starts on your first day, with Step Up contributing 13% of your 3% after one year.

Duties Include:

Engagement:

Engage referred Veterans in services
Perform eligibility assessments to verify eligibility for VA health care services and VASH Housing Choice Voucher
Assess for immediate needs such as crisis intervention, medical attention, showers, clothing, food, emergency shelter, etc.

Enrollment:

Complete assessment and treatment plans in collaboration with the Veterans
Assist throughout housing process including completion of Housing Authority applications, support during voucher issuance process, housing search, and move-in
Make appropriate referrals and assist with linkage
Utilize a Housing First approach while working with Veterans to ensure rapid housing placement and stabilization
Identify opportunities for collaborative ventures with local apartment complexes, rental agencies, and owners of rental houses to begin the process of finding local affordable housing for the Veterans

Housing Services/Life Skills:

Face-to-Face mental health and clinical interventions/therapy with Veterans, consistent with their designated Level of Care (1-5 times a week, 2 times a month, etc.) to ensure they are engaged in treatment and remain housed
Establish and maintain an intensive therapeutic relationship with the veteran, family, Step Up and VA staff, and community programs/agencies
Formulate case-management treatment goals and plans that address identified needs, stressors and problems
Develop appropriate life skills plan, interventions and linkage with Veteran and VA providers
Coordinate interventions with Veterans Administration medical and mental health programs, to ensure services are delivered which will promote housing retention and community integration
Support Veteran once housed to ensure successful transition to permanent housing
Develop collaborative partnerships with the Los Angeles VAMC, Housing Authorities for the City and the County of Los Angeles, local behavioral health organizations as well as any other pertinent community resources for the Veteran

Data, Outcomes and Documentation:

Collect and track relevant outcomes data of all tenants through the VA forms
Document all clinical case management and psychosocial services and overall effectiveness of services provided, including crisis intervention and progress in VA Electronic Health Record
Ensure compliance with VA contract requirements

Skills:

Knowledge of or experience with DSM diagnoses, assessment of level of functioning, EBP’s such as Motivational interviewing, Critical Time Intervention, DBT, Harm Reduction, Cognitive Behavioral Therapies, Trauma Informed Care, Housing First, PTSD, etc.
Ability to work collaboratively with others and on a team. Ability to work independently, take initiative and be solution focused. Uses good time management skills and resources to balance case load direct service and paperwork. Must demonstrate proactive communication skills and embrace the mission of Step Up.
Proficient in Word, Excel and Outlook programs. Familiar with entering data in a database program or electronic health records.

Qualifications:

BBS registered (or registration-eligible) ACSW/AMFT and one years’ experience in case management within a social service position required
Must have clean DMV record and reliable transportation. Position requires frequent driving and transporting.
Hiring preference for Veterans
Must complete government, VA back ground check, finger print and clearance
Drug and alcohol counseling certification in California is not required but is desired
Step Up Benefits and Clinical Training Program:
Step Up offers a rich benefits package: health, dental, vision and 403b match options.
Step Up has a strong clinical supervision program for qualified interns earning clinical hours and registered with CA BBS.
Knowledge of or experience with DSM-5 diagnoses, assessment of level of functioning, DMH documentation, EBP’s such as Motivational interviewing, DBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapies, Trauma Informed Care, Housing First, etc. Ability to work independently and on a collaborative team. Initiative and solution focused practice. Uses good time management skills and resources to balance case load direct service and paperwork.

Step Up utilizes the principles of trauma-informed care and mental health recovery. These principles inform our Core Values of Hope, Wellness, Voice and Choice, Respect, and Collaborative Relationships. As representatives of Step Up, employees agree to adhere to these values in their interactions with members, colleagues, supervisors, and associated community members.

Step Up Core Values:

HOPE – We believe all people have the capacity for positive growth and change. We use hope to inspire and motivate ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

WELLNESS – We believe in promoting a culture that supports healthy and fulfilling lives. We use a supportive environment to foster well-being for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

VOICE AND CHOICE – We believe in the right to choose and be heard. We use voice and choice to create meaningful outcomes and empowerment for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

RESPECT – We believe in promoting interactions that are non-judgmental, transparent. We use respect to guide all of our words and actions with ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS – We believe in forming partnerships to share resources, knowledge, and experiences. We use collaborative relationships to strengthen accomplishments for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

Step Up is committed to providing quality services that adhere to the highest ethical standards and principles. All Step Up employees agree to adhere to the ethical policies and codes of conduct, as outlined in the Employee Handbook and those specified for this grant.

Step Up provides equal employment opportunities without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, mental or physical disability, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

STEP UP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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Social Worker/Service Coordinator II