Job Description:                   Mental Health Clinician

Program:                               Women’s Enrichment Center (WEC)

Department:                          Wellness and Recovery Services

Salary/Wage:                         DOE, with Health Benefits, Vacation, Sick and Holiday Benefits

Status:                                   32-40 hrs/wk, Non-Exempt; must be available Wednesday and Friday

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Women’s Enrichment Center (WEC) is an intensive day treatment program for women uniquely designed to address substance abuse and mental health issues with a strong focus on the treatment of trauma. Clients attend WEC 5 days a week (10:15am – 2:30pm Monday through Friday, with some clients arriving at 9:00 on Tuesday-Friday for individual therapy).  Most women are in the program a minimum of 3 months before completing the program. WEC provides group and individual therapy.  In addition, WEC provides case management to link clients with resources relating to housing, job skills, finances, parenting, family therapy, and medical and dental needs. Daily psycho educational and process therapy groups address topics including recovery, trauma, emotional regulation, health and wellness, parenting, positive communication, and other life skills. We use a wide range of modalities to provide holistic, strength-based treatment.

POSITION PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES:

Clinicians provide individual therapy, group therapy and case management. Applicants need to be comfortable working at an intensive day treatment program with clients with challenging issues, liaising with a client’s multi-disciplinary team, and working as part of a team at WEC. Ideally a clinician would have experience working with substance use as well as mental health issues.

WEC staff work closely together as a team. Clinicians gain in-depth experience working with complex clients in a very supportive environment with ample opportunity to consult on client cases. Both group supervision and individual supervision are provided. Clinicians have the opportunity to develop individual and group therapy skills, and to work with both highly motivated clients and with clients mandated to treatment. Clinicians have access to the full range of San Mateo County trainings, which include trainings on Law and Ethics, Motivational Interviewing, Suicide Prevention, Trauma-informed care, and anxiety treatment.  Clinicians gain experience with resources available in San Mateo County and with Drug Medi-Cal and Managed Care paperwork requirements.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1.      Provide one hour of individual therapy, weekly, to assigned clients.

2.      Facilitate a minimum of two substance abuse/mental health treatment groups per week.

3.      Participate actively in Women’s Enrichment Center team assessment of clients, and the development of client treatment and aftercare plans.

4.      Maintain confidential records and case notes, documenting interventions with clients in adherence with Drug Medical and Medical Managed Care documentation standards.

5.      Participate actively in quality assurance efforts.

6.      Assist Program Director in required data collection, management, and reporting in a timely manner.

7.      Evaluation of program strengths and limitations, taking responsibility for the development of a holistic, functional, innovative, ethical, and client focused program.

8.      Share responsibility with other Women’s Enrichment Center staff to maintain cleanliness of the facility and reporting of facility maintenance needs.

9.      Other duties as assigned by Program Director or Department Director.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

1.      Demonstrable and verifiable clinical skills and experience in providing successful direct services to clients, including intake assessment, individual therapy, group therapy, crisis management, and harm reduction interventions.

2.      Strong ethical principles reflected in practice, including a thorough understanding of client confidentiality requirements.

3.      Understanding of diversity issues, willingness to explore self in relation to these issues, and ability to provide culturally informed therapeutic services to diverse clientele.

4.      Strong organizational and communication skills.

5.      Ability to function as a member of a multidisciplinary team with diplomacy and professionalism.

6.      Ability to work as a team member, when necessary, to accomplish tasks supporting the agency’s mission.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

Mentoring of interns, as necessary.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work in a clinical environment, providing day treatment services to dually diagnosed women.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

1.      Enjoys group and individual psychotherapy

2.      Interest in working with individuals and families of disadvantaged socioeconomic status.

3.      Strength-based orientation to client and family assessment and treatment.

4.      Understanding of, and ability to work within, a “harm reduction” model of substance abuse treatment.

5.      Ability to work as a member of a multidisciplinary team and to promote positive team collaboration and functioning.

6.      Ability to work effectively with professionals from other organizations.

7.      Well-developed communication and organizational skills.

8.      Support for agency direction, purpose, and mission.

9.      Flexibility in meeting changing priorities as the work requires.

10.  Able to make logical and sound decisions for appropriate and effective results; understanding of when to seek help rather than use own judgment.

POSITION STATUS:

Reports to the Women’s Enrichment Center Program Director.

Non-exempt, P/T, 32-40 hrs/week, Benefits include: health, dental, vision, sick leave, vacation, personal days, and holiday pay.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Registered MFT Intern or ASW, team player, group therapy experience, available Monday to Friday daytime hours, able to pass fingerprint clearance.

PREFERED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience working with substance abuse, trauma and the severely mentally ill.  Lived experience of trauma or substance use. Familiarity with San Mateo County resources, and experience liaising with multi-disciplinary teams. Drug Medi-Cal and Managed Care experience.

TO APPLY:

Please send a cover letter and resume to the Program Director, Nancy Quiggle at nancy.quiggle@star-vista.org

Posted

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StarVista is a private non-profit agency in San Mateo County that provides a wide array of free and low-cost services to help children, teens and adults who are dealing with substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health, relationship and communication issues.  More information about the agency and its programs can be found at www.star-vista.org.